Quilting a better place

A quilt is more than a warm blanket. For decades, people have used needle and thread to be seen and heard. Separate pieces of fabric, each with its own history, come together to form one whole.

During Cadance Festival, you’re welcome to work on a quilt together with others. From beginner to expert, from Duindorp resident to asylum seeker. No experience is needed, and participation is free.

In February, you can bid on the quilts. The money raised will be donated to our community partner De Stadscoalitie.

Important information if you take part

There will be a well-stocked scrap basket at Korzo, but it’s even better if you bring your own piece of fabric. Please note:

• No stretch. Woven fabric is sturdy, while knitted fabric such as jersey or ribbing stretches too much. Does it contain Lycra or nylon? Then the fabric isn’t suitable.

• Blends are fine. Cotton with a little polyester, silk or viscose works, as long as the fabric isn’t too slippery.

• Colour is welcome. The brighter, the better. Colours never clash, so bring whatever you have. We already have plenty of earth tones, grey and black.

• At least 15 by 15 cm. We can use any piece that is at least 15 cm wide and long.

Loose memories become one

Building a community in a new place is vulnerable, exhausting and sometimes downright lonely. But when your story becomes interwoven with someone else’s, something new emerges. That is exactly what quilting does, and what you are about to do. And we’ll do it under the guidance of none other than Sonja Zweegers of SoGrizz Quilting from Scheveningen.

The cultural meanings of quilting

In Chile, women used arpilleras to tell of family members who disappeared under the dictatorship. In Alabama, African American women built their independence through a quilting cooperative. In San Francisco, the AIDS Memorial Quilt commemorates thousands of people who must not be forgotten.