Today we learned an eco-conscious way of upcycling and creating one-of-a-kind quilts. Local seamstress and quilt designer Jenn Boyce, of Stitched With Love Quilts, gave us an interview about sewing in the 21st century as a sustainable practice.
Kelly Marino: What is your favorite type of quilt to make and why?
JB: My favorite kind of quilt to make is the T-shirt quilt. These quilts are created by cutting up and sewing together T-shirts and other cherished clothing items. Often, they include garments from loved ones who have passed away or baby clothes that are too precious to give away. I love making T-shirt quilts because they carry deep personal meaning for the people who receive them. Seeing someone’s face light up when they receive a quilt made from special memories fills me with pride and gratitude. I feel honored to use my sewing talent to create something so lasting and meaningful.
KM: How do you determine the size of a quilt?
JB: One of the first things I ask when someone inquires about a custom quilt is their budget. This helps guide decisions about size, fabric, and design. Many people are surprised when I quote the approximate cost of a queen-size quilt—and I totally understand why. Handmade quilts are a labor of love, but they also require a significant investment in materials and time.
For example, most quality cotton fabric costs around $11 to $12 per yard. The backing alone for a queen-sized quilt can take about six yards of fabric, which adds up to roughly $72 just for the back—depending on the fabric chosen. That doesn’t include the top, batting, or binding materials.
On top of materials, there’s the time it takes to iron, cut, piece, sew, and quilt everything together. I carefully calculate my hourly rate to reflect the time and skill involved, while still trying to keep things fair and affordable. Of course, I do aim to make a modest profit—this is both my passion and my livelihood.
After going over the full cost breakdown, many customers choose to go with a throw-sized quilt instead. It’s a more budget-friendly option, perfect for cozying up on the couch. Even though it’s smaller, it’s still a one-of-a-kind, handmade piece made just for them—and well worth the investment.
KM: Do you design your own patterns or use existing ones?
JB: I typically enjoy working from existing quilt patterns, finding inspiration through the work of talented pattern designers and ordering the ones that catch my eye. However, I’ve also created my own patterns when the project calls for it. One of my most meaningful experiences was a commissioned quilt made from a collection of clothing from various family members. Each piece was a different shape and size—some squares, others rectangles—which required me to design a custom layout to make everything fit harmoniously. It was a rewarding challenge and a reminder that sometimes, the fabric tells its own story, and I just help it come together.
KM: How do you incorporate quilting designs into your quilts?
JB: There are many different stitch styles and patterns that I can use on a quilt, and the design I choose depends on how busy the quilt top is. If the quilt has many pieces and seams, I tend to use a simpler stitch so it doesn’t take away from the overall beauty of the design. Straight-line machine quilting works well with busy patterns, while a gentle meander stitch complements simpler quilt tops. Although I do most of my quilting by machine, I have also hand-stitched a quilt using a quilting hoop. However, hand stitching is very time-consuming and not my preferred method. For more intricate designs, I turn to long arm machine quilting. Since this technique requires specialized equipment that I don’t have, I hire a Professional Long Arm Quilter to complete those quilts for me.The quilting experience can be a memory blanket and a stylish piece of creative warmth and love. Jenn brings us up to date on the quilting scene and it tells us a story with each quilt she sews one stitch at a time. Find her on facebook, Stitched with Love, or on Etsy, StitchedWithLoveRI.
On toxic clothes:
Do you wonder why clothing sells? Is it the way it’s made or the style that you feel from that piece of cloth? Over the generations of making and designing clothes, the textile industry has changed. The first textiles were produced on a spinning wheel in a small cottage town, much like the one Aurora pricked her finger on in Sleeping Beauty. Intrigued by the spinning wheel an unstoppable revolution of events took place. Over time, production of clothing became the demand and factories exploded, keeping the textiles rolling and fashionistas thriving. When water and steam powered textile manufacturing revolutionized, there was an even more demand in clothing, all over the world. With all these machinery changes in the industry how did it change textile production? How do consumers know what process was taken to make the clothes they wear? Consumers are usually the drive behind the innovation over the years.
Sometimes the process can lead to alternative ways of trying to improve the speed and quality is lost. Natural fabrics, like wool, silk, linen, cashmere, lyocell, bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton are natural and can decompose naturally. They feel soft because they have fewer chemicals and are low in toxins. They are healthier choices because they are chemical-free and reduce potential health risks. These fabrics are breathable, reducing sweat and odor. Natural fabrics are gentle on the skin and hypoallergenic. Natural dyes from plants, flowers, and fruits are also better choices than synthetic dyes. Ethical fabric should meet both eco-friendly manufacturing, and environmental standards.
Synthetic fibers to avoid include polyester, acrylic, nylon, and acetate. Polyester is made from petroleum which is cheap to make but uses a lot of energy and water. Poly is mass produced, toxic for our environment, and can find its way into our food. Acrylic, acrylonitrile, is known to be carcinogenic and can pollute the air and water. It takes years to decompose and break down in landfills. Nylon is also made from petroleum and uses energy, causing harmful emissions into the air. Nylon does not break down naturally and adds to textile waste. Acetate is made from wood pulp, processed with anhydride, acetone, and formaldehyde, toxic to both people and our environment.
Nanotextiles are now being created using synthetic materials, such as polyester, and nylon to be added to cotton and wool, in the form of tiny little particles. According to FibreGuard.com, “Nanotextiles are made from tiny particles known as nanofibers that are less than one thousandth of a millimetre wide, or around 100 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.” While these fibers are added to create new textiles, are they healthy to wear or toxic to our body and our Earth? Textile production creates methane gases and releases toxic chemicals into the ground through landfills. Materials that are made from low quality fibers do not decompose quickly and pollutes the air, water, and soil affecting humans and other species. Recycling clothing can help the pollution issue, creating global awareness on mass production, and reducing textile waste can help our environment one fiber at a time.