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Hello and welcome to Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt)
What Makes a Contemporary Quilt?
Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) members are a diverse collection of quilters and textile artists, working at the cutting edge of our practice, creating innovative and dynamic art.
We relish the fact that contemporary textiles is whatever you want it to be - it is without limits or conventions. It thrives through exploration and experiment. It is open to inspiration drawn from sources such as the natural world, family and society, and world cultures, whether captured in memory, photograph, sketchbook or straight from the imagination.
We have abandoned the regularity of the grid and expanded, constricted and contorted its lines. We've experimented with the concept of the block, be it 9 patch, 16 patch or log cabin, designing our own and disintegrating and rearranging to create something unique. We've used curves instead of straight lines, made our edges wonky, and taken the quilt off the bed and onto the wall.
We've abandoned natural fabrics in favour of plastic, paper, leather, Tyvek and Lutradur and then reverted to them, but dyed, painted and printed our own. We've experimented with our fillings, and sometimes had no fillings at all, as long as our layers have been joined by stitch of some sort.
Membership Benefits
Our mission is to continue to push the boundaries and be excited by the possibilities of new materials, new techniques and new ideas. If you love working with textiles in ways like these then Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) is for you.
Once you become a member of CT, the degree to which you become involved is down to individual choice; some prefer to create on their own, feeling supported and informed through the quarterly hard copy newsletter. The content is wide ranging, with articles about well known textile artists, and members sharing their quilting discoveries and advice.
Our programme of free online talks by inspirational speakers is very popular.
Another way in which discovery and experience can be shared, and questions answered, is via the CT Facebook page.
Creative Development
Do you want to develop your design or technical skills? CT offers a range of challenges with something to entice you, whatever your level of experience. You choose how much or how little you participate.
The annual Journal Quilt Challenge is the ideal way to push your creativity - even when time is short - by making small pieces of work which can be used to try out new techniques and work in a series. Sharing images online encourages inspiration and supportive feedback.
The CT Challenge (normally every two years) is announced well in advance to give you time to plan and complete a more substantial piece. Many people find that getting feedback on their work from CT's judges/jurors helps their creative development. New CT members who enter could be eligible for the £180 Anne Tuck Bursary.
Other opportunities include contributing to a themed Suitcase Collection. Collections are hired out to local quilt groups as a conversation starter and to showcase the huge variety of contemporary textile techniques.
Joining in
Craving the chance to get away from it all and learn something new?
Spend time with other enthusiasts online or in person, learn from leading textile artists and teachers, and recharge your creative batteries. Looking for like-minded contemporary textile artists who live near you? Many CT members also join one of the local groups offering meetings and events, including challenges, exhibitions and workshops.
Exhibiting
If you are interested in exhibiting, CT gives you the chance to do this by taking part in a national challenge or by joining a local group.
Grants are available to support members in local groups who are exhibiting contemporary work.
Becoming a CT member
We are part of the Quilters' Guild which promotes quiltmaking across the UK, preserves its heritage and works to ensure a vibrant future for the craft, so if you are not already a member you'll need to join the Guild first.
Join online at www.quiltersguild.org.uk or phone 01904 613242.
About Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt)
The group was set up by Annette Morgan, who handed the job over to Effie Galletly in August 2002 for the following two years. Effie, along with Judy Stephens as our first Newsletter Editor, and Margaret Ramsay, helped shape the beginning of what is now such a successful part of the Guild. As well as our informative and challenging quarterly magazine, we have a facebook group where we can exchange news and views.
More information about Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) can be found on our website: www.contemporaryquilt.org.uk
CQ@20 Gallery at Festival of Quilts 2022
The CQ@20 Gallery celebrated the 20th anniversary of Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt).
This exhibition presented a selection of beautiful quilts, many double sided, on the theme of 'Uncharted', as well as monthly Journal quilts from 2021, each set of 12 joined into a coherent piece. These were shown with quilts from 'On the Road" Suitcase Collection, a travelling collection designed to prompt discussion about the varied themes and techniques used by contemporary quilters.
Click on the photo to see a slide show of the gallery.
Challenges
Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) regularly offers challenges to members. These challenges lead to exhibitions. The CT website has a challenge section which has been set up for Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) members to complete their CT Challenge entries online. The website also includes photo galleries of past challenge entries.
2027 Evolve
Evolve
Here is early notification of its theme, ‘Evolve’. In case you are not familiar with the CT Challenge, it is a curated event open to all members. The selected quilts will be exhibited at various locations in the UK during 2027 (after FOQ) and 2028. This is a golden opportunity to show your work, especially at FOQ, and to promote CQ.
Interpret ‘Evolve’ however you wish! If you need a little help with your thought processes, here are a few ideas:
• When something evolves, it changes, or develops over time, like seasons moving from winter to spring, evolution of the natural world.
• Rural development from village to city.
• Cave drawings to smartphones.
• Growth through struggle, anxiety, healing or empowerment.
• Fabrics from different stages of your life.
• Reflect your journey as a quilter, early work evolving into your current style. Or a juxtaposition of traditional blocks, such as log cabin or flying geese, transitioning into modern asymmetrical interpretations.
• Exploring the transformation of patterns, techniques, and meanings over time, blending heritage methods with contemporary design.
Finished quilts must measure 120 x 60cm. When you are planning, please remember that you need sufficient fabric to make a 20cm sample.
07969 341797
Journal Quilts
Journal quilts are the ideal way to explore a new technique at a manageable scale or to try out working 'in a series'. Every year we set a new theme and a set of loose instructions for the Journal Quilts.
Many members find this way of working - on a small scale - most rewarding.
The 2026 Journal Quilt Challenge
- 12 JQs, notionally one a month, inspired by any historical period eg Tudor, 1940s, 1960s, Medieval, Prehistoric, Art Deco... This year, we are going back to a more structured, defined approach, as used in some of the more successful earlier challenges. For your chosen historical period, make your JQs following these guidelines: •
- For your chosen historical period, make your JQs following these guidelines:
- Four JQs using recycled materials, using as much or as little as you like.
- Four JQs based on a colour of your choice – use as little or as much of it as you like.
- Four JQs incorporating text or inspired by a word or words, perhaps from a book or a poem. Text could be stitched, appliquéd, painted, transferred, printed or any method you choose.
Requirements
- Each JQ must also have at least two layers, be stitched/quilted, and the edges should be finished appropriately.
- JQs
can be any shape or size, provided they are no larger than 12” x
12” (30.5cm x 30.5cm). There is no minimum size.
I hope you enjoy this year’s challenge and if you have any queries or problems (or suggestions for a future theme), do drop me an email.
Sharon Knight
