The Power of Quilting 2

From June 15 to 18, 2026, at the invitation of the Heussenstamm Stiftung, I worked with a group of 12 ninth-grade students at the Anne Frank Schule for four days. As a hands-on introduction to the world of textile arts—using patchwork and quilts as concrete examples—the students created various fabric pieces by hand, which they designed on their own. We used a lightweight wool fleece from a shepherds’ cooperative as batting. In the process, they familiarized themselves with the rarely explored possibilities offered by textile craft techniques from around the world. The focus was particularly on the creative and artistic qualities of patchwork and quilting.

As their first exercise with needle and thread, everyone sewed a yo-yo—also known as a Suffolk puff—a simple patchwork element that quickly reveals the properties of fabric, such as how the fabric gathers when the thread is pulled tight. The often relaxed yet focused atmosphere in the room gave rise to a variety of results that are astonishing to the trained eye. Some patchwork blocks were embellished with figurative appliqués, while others took up the idea of yo-yos and folds and reinterpreted them in their own way. One student used old brocade blankets and trims for her quilt; another worked with patchwork fragments I had previously improvised on the sewing machine. Still others incorporated sheer fabrics such as lace, as well as velvet, polyester, and existing fabric patterns.

In the end, we presented all of our individual patchworks and quilts as a single quilt—with a front and back—under a tree on the school grounds. It was a remarkable and intense week.

It is important to me to pass on this underrepresented knowledge about the art of making and to shed light on its various manifestations. By learning traditional craft methods, we can share in the countless experiences of many hands working with fibers and textiles, with nature and the human condition. For me, they are a treasure trove of collective knowledge that dates back to our very beginnings. Women are the protagonists of this rarely told story.