Do you remember back in 2014 the Democracy protests and demonstrating that happened in Hong Kong? The people took to the streets to push the Chinese government to allow Democracy in Hong Kong. Barricades were used. Crowds were tear-gassed. The people used umbrellas to keep the tear gas away from them.
At the time, I was fascinated with the visuals that came from this: photos of crowds, city-blocks wide, completely covered by umbrellas; the metal barricades with the military or police on one side, the other side filled with umbrellas; a wall covered with post-it notes that mostly were drawings of umbrellas; and a giant wooden man with an umbrella.
At the time, I was fascinated with the visuals that came from this: photos of crowds, city-blocks wide, completely covered by umbrellas; the metal barricades with the military or police on one side, the other side filled with umbrellas; a wall covered with post-it notes that mostly were drawings of umbrellas; and a giant wooden man with an umbrella.
I have been thinking about those umbrellas, and the tear gas and the barricades for several years and finally, last year, I started a quilt. A quilt with yellow fabrics to signify the Umbrella Movement (as the protest was known), and reds to represent China and the government. Many of the fabrics are from my Aunt Lil's de-stash. I added to this group some Kona Solids, including yellow and dark grey.
I started with the theme of democracy cracking open the government, and the fabric & shapes came from there through improvisational piecing. Curves, slashing lines, and points came together into form. Next, I needed a background. I tried light, but dark worked best, and I settled on an almost-black grey. I used this fabric throughout.
I loved the result, but I still had ideas for the quilt, and much more fabric, so I started another one--this time the barricades and police force/government push-back was the theme. This one looks into the crowd from the outside of the barricade.
I played off the shapes of the first quilt while overlaying it with the barricade shapes. Yellow begins to dominate the reds in this second quilt.
I played off the shapes of the first quilt while overlaying it with the barricade shapes. Yellow begins to dominate the reds in this second quilt.
With this quilt only partially complete, I realized I would have to make at least one more to complete all my themes. So it was at this point I made rules for the series:
In the third quilt, I concentrated on the umbrellas and tear gas. The yellow curves take over--both as umbrella and as part of the tear gas.
In the movement, hundreds of people with umbrellas held off the police, hoses in hand, tear-gassing the crowds. Next to the barricades, the umbrellas were held sideways. This quilt sees both groups.
- All would use yellow fabrics to signify the Umbrella Movement, and reds to represent China and the government
- All will have the dark background and plaid 'ground'
- All will use the curves and slashing lines for democracy
In the third quilt, I concentrated on the umbrellas and tear gas. The yellow curves take over--both as umbrella and as part of the tear gas.
In the movement, hundreds of people with umbrellas held off the police, hoses in hand, tear-gassing the crowds. Next to the barricades, the umbrellas were held sideways. This quilt sees both groups.
I machine-pieced and appliqued all three quilts. They are all roughly the same size, 36 x 39 inches. The quilting is unique to each, but in all I have used common themes. I used yellow, gold, red and black quilting thread. All have red binding, because in the end, Hong Kong is still part of the country--the Chinese government put down the movement.
Here's a look at the quilting of all three quilts, from the back, before binding:
This quilt series was months of thinking and changing and sewing and re-sewing, but not all at once. Each grew from the basic idea, and the quilt(s) that came before it. I enjoyed the process and have another series in mind to start soon!