Tie Kawandi-Inspired Quilt

For those of you who know me, you know I lost my husband (Nate) in June of 2019. Last September, I started a quilt made with his silk ties and some of his shirts using a method I have dubbed "kawandi-inspired." It is sort of like appliqué and quilt as you go combined. The size is decided up front; this kawandi measures approximately 60" X 70".

In my kawandi, the ties and shirts serve as a metaphor for my husband's life, each piece representing a different chapter in his story. By bringing them together in this way, I am creating a new narrative that honors his legacy and the impact he had on my life. As I worked on this kawandi, I found comfort in the rhythmic process of stitching. It was a way for me to reflect on Nate's life and our time together while also creating something beautiful and meaningful.

In this first picture, I have circled in yellow the center of the quilt I have yet to finish. Can you find the five full ties I used? They are distributed all around the kawandi.

Here, I have a closeup of what I decided to use in the center to complete the kawandi. I just have it pinned on at this point. (I don't usually pin anything when I'm working on a kawandi, but the silk pieces slip and don't stay in place without the pins.)

The next pictures are closeups of different sections of the tie kawandi.

In this first picture, you can see that I have used some of the labels from the shirts and ties. I have also included pieces from the shirt sleeves (the navy section with the button in the center). I stitched around the button portion to highlight this piece. The light purple piece on the right-hand side includes the pinkish loop that was on the inside of one of the ties. You can also see some buttons on that purple piece.

In this picture, you can see that I used the triangular portion from the bottom of some of the ties. The navy piece with the buttons is from the cuff. I wouldn't recommend using that piece--I had to sew through thick interfacing to attach it--not fun!

You can see the J. Garcia label here. The navy piece includes a tikli (a decorative piece on top of a larger piece of fabric).

Here is another piece of a cuff from one of Nate's shirts along with a shirt label.

This is one of my favorite pieces. It is from the back of a shirt and includes a pleat, label, and size.

I included some shirt pockets, too. You can see how I stitched it differently to call attention to this special piece.

Making this kawandi was a deeply personal and emotional journey for me. Each tie and shirt has a unique story and history, and incorporating them into this piece allowed me to preserve and honor those memories. Ultimately, this kawandi-inspired quilt is a tribute to my husband's life and the love we shared. It is a testament to the power of art to heal and transform.