Inhibition, a break up quilt

How to write about this quilt? I do absolutely love how it came out. LOVE! This was one of those enchanted maker journeys. Designing the quilt and choosing the colors/fabrics was more a process of recognizing the inevitable than planning the ideal. Everything about it feels absolutely meant to be. And yet.

And yet when I look at it I see not just healthy inhibition, but Inhibition in Love. I see a woman who in trying to love the other made herself smaller and quieter to please until she no longer felt free to ask the questions she needed to ask or to share the little wants she often had. I remember how it felt when he wanted less of me than I was offering. Inhibition, self-control, quiet, ask less, give space, let go, until eventually I did say good bye.

So I guess this is my break up quilt, and a pretty darn good one at that. It’s romantic, passionate, beautiful, like a sultry fan dance. But the circles aren’t complete. The shapes are touching, but distinct. And the negative space is almost pushing from the center out, cutting into the circles with sharp, precise angles.

I know that inhibition has its uses and also can give life. But for me this is the sort where something that should be free is contained. Perhaps things look lovely on the outside, but that cramped feeling inside tells you everything you need to know.

Ok, now I think that I can talk again about the quilt, haha. One of my favorite features are those bright pink squares, which represent my heart like Bright Pink Confetti. I’m also quite fond of the red squares around the outside edge. I love how they hold everything in (more containment!), but are also broken up by the wayward fans.

Do you like how I quilted it? I chose an all-over design in hopes of not disturbing the strength of the colors and patchwork design. I found this curvy, interlocking geometric which felt elegant but modern. I think it turned out okay.

Black binding with metallic flecks makes a subtle finish. For the quilt backing I combined a leftover cut of Anna Maria’s Peony wideback fabric as well as the same Kona Garnet as I used on the quilt front.

Now this quilt is a keeper, both for its artistic value and my emotional connection to the design. It’s already found its way to my Stitched in Color collection shelf - the quilts that I keep but don’t use because they are special. And, do you know what? I think that later this month I’ll be selling one of the quilts that has long sat on that shelf, in order to make room for Inhibition.

Thank you for this safe sharing space. xoxo, Rachel