In 1820 the Royal wives of two reigning chiefs were invited aboard the brig Thaddeus for what is known today in the history books as the first quilting circle ever held in the Hawaiian Islands. This quilting circle was just the start of an art that would continue for the next 175 years and beyond. This quilting circle would play an integral part in the record keeping of the history of the Hawaiian people. Quilting in Hawaii back in 1820's was done in the patchwork style. The materials were sent from New England were the first missionaries originated from when they first settled in the islands.
The Hawaiian women tediously cut the material into the patchwork squares and sewed them back together as they were taught by the missionaries. This domestic duty to the Hawaiians was confusing for two reasons. The first reason was that they could not understand cutting up material to sew them back together again. They felt it was a waste of time and waste of precious material. The Hawaiians were raised to never waste anything they used and time was precious among all the Hawaiian people. The second reason this domestic duty was confusing is because the weather did not get cold enough to warrant the use of quilts in the islands. The Hawaiians being good students watched, learned and listened and then adapted quilting to their own unique style. The designs that the Hawaiian women adapted into their unique Hawaiian quilts were based on their tapa designs that they created and placed on their clothing before the foreigners came to the islands. The quilt designs would eventually be created in a 1/4 or 1/8 design. The Hawaiians were able to take a full piece of material fold it into their 1/4 or 1/8 design, cut out their pattern and lay out their quilt. The excess material was then given back to the missionaries for their quilts. Like I indicated before the Hawaiian women did not believe in waste.
At the time the Hawaiian women were learning how to quilt their religion, gods, land and self-indentity would be lost to Christianity and the western ways. Knowing that changes were happening at a rapid pace the Hawaiian women designed their quilts based on their beautiful floral surroundings, their old gods, their legends and their sovereign nation. Their quilt designs encompassed their beautiful flowers such as the Mokihana, the Liko Lehua, the Ulei berries to their travels from Tahiti, to the flag quilts which symbolized their self-identity in a rapid changing world. They named their quilts in memory of their love ones who has since passed on to the spiritual world to their grandchildren who have not yet been born. They also designed their quilts after major events in the islands. Every quilt they made had its purpose. No quilt was made to just pass the time. It was believed that some quilt designs even came to the designer and quilter in their dreams. Today the legacy of Hawaiian quilting and designing is still popular in Hawaii. New designs are being made everyday. What make Hawaiian quilting unique are the designs for the technique of quilting is the same almost all over the world but the style and design of the Hawaiian quilts is what makes Hawaiian quilts Hawaiian.
Traditions in Hawaiian quilting has always been a difficult subject for me because quilting was brought into the islands, there really was no traditions in quilting it just kind of developed over the years. Most Hawaiian quilting traditions were based on necessity and habits only a few was based on their old lifestyle.
1. Hawaiians always used white quilting thread? That was the only color available at that time.
2. Hawaiians always made quilts on a white background? They used white sheets as their background material.
3. Never sit on a quilt? This was done only in respect for the quilter. After all that hard work was done in making the quilt you did not sit on it. The quilt was admired but one never sat on it. If you wished to sit on the bed you lifted the quilt off the corner and than sat down. You slept under the quilt not on the quilt.
4. It is OK to trace and use other peoples designs? This is not true but has become popular in the islands. Some designs were made only for specific people or special events and you did not want to take a design unless you knew the background of the quilt. For example, we have done memorial quilts for some of our quilters in memory of a family member who has passed on. Would you do a quilt that is in honor of someone you don't know who had just died?
Here are a couple of examples of the beauty of Hawaiian Quilts.
To read more about Hawaiian Quilts, see more pictures and even order some patterns to make your own Hawaiian quilt visit the Poakalani Website
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