Joy Kantha Quilt by Rita Hipwood
Based on Sew-Along instructions by Alisson Glass
2022
Can you see the embroidered word Joy?
The history of Kantha
The origin of the Kantha quilt can be easily traced to eastern South Asia, to the country of Bangladesh. This country of many rivers and lush greenery sits just to the east of India. In fact, Kantha can also be found in the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha, located on the Bay of Bengal.
The craft is referred as “Bengali” rather than Bangladeshi, because it is practiced throughout the wider area. Women in these regions have been practicing Kantha embroidery since ancient times. The word “Kantha” is pronounced KAHN-taa. In general practice, the word refers to two things:
- Discarded cloth or rags that have been reused in a quilted blanket
- A specific, small, straight running stitch that is central to Bengali embroidery
The Kantha throws and quilts you see today have evolved out of a rich tradition. For many centuries, Bengali women living in the poorest regions have produced Kantha quilts and cushions as a way to cheaply reuse old fabric. In Bangladesh, old cloth is said to have protective qualities. Think about how you feel when you touch your ragged baby blanket, your grandmother’s wedding dress, or even your old Girl Scout sash. Fabric carries so many emotions and can, quite literally, feel like a warm hug full of memories and positive feelings. Traditionally, Kantha quilts were a bit like the “t-shirt quilts” we see today—blankets crafted out of heavily used fabric and then passed to family members and loved ones.