ID number: TQ.2016.015
Name of interviewee: Rupasree Tewari
Name of interviewer: Victoria Martin
Name of transcriber: Take 1
Location: Rupa’s home
Address: Rotherham, Yorkshire
Date: 19 March 2016
Length of interview: 1:01:54
Summary
Rupasree introduces the first baby quilt she made which was the catalyst for developing her love of making quilts for babies and children. Rupa got the idea for the quilt from Pinterest and talks about making it, where the fabrics came from and who the quilt was made for. Rupa was born in India; she explains cultural traditions related to making gifts for new babies, using sari fabric in quiltmaking and traditional kantha blankets made for babies. She also describes where her interest in quiltmaking comes from, using the internet for inspiration, learning from her mistakes and attending exhibitions, such as Festival of Quilt. As a retired doctor, she also discusses the mental health benefits of quilting.
Interview
Victoria Martin [VM]: The ID number is TQ.2016.015. The interviewee is Rupasree Tewari, the interviewer is Victoria Martin and we’re at Rupa’s home which is in Rotherham, and the date is the 19th March 2016. OK, that you so much for agreeing to see me today and for inviting me into your home. Can we just start of by, can you tell me a little bit about what the quilt is I’m here to see? [Microphone noise and background noise] [Cough].
Rupasree Tewari [RT]: This is a baby quilt, um, I started making it in 2012. Uh, I got a pattern from Pinterest, so far I remember. And then I started working on it. At that time I was going to a class in Sheffield. Uh, and um, Tricia, who is my, who was my tutor, tutor at that time, she guided me how the best way it can be done, the size and the measurement and some ideas. This quilt has got um, patchwork pattern, so applique, and because it’s from baby quilt, ah, that, there are some um, baby animations. Um, and there are different combination of colours. Uh, it’s a blue uh, base so it’s mainly for a boy. And that time I was uh, my daughter was expecting a baby but unfortunately she didn’t have a little boy. But um, I kept it for my collection. And um, I really enjoyed making it, it took a little while to plan the thing and start working on it. Um, and then, since then, I’ve done a few more other quilts. And this quilt give me inspiration to make quilts for baby, uh, children. Um, because, um, it gave me ideas how to make the quilt. How best way it can be made comfortable for children to use it.
VM: So what do you mean by the best way to make it comfortable for children to use it, what do you need to think about?
RT: It is the material, the lining, which I didn’t have an idea that you can get the wadding, which is the lining of the quilt. That you can get specific lining for children, so that they can sleep comfortably. Um, so I use that particular baby, children um, the baby quilt lining. Um, and different combination of a pattern like applique and some patchwork, some little bit of log cabin so. This gave me a general overview how to make a quilt.
VM: So is this the first quilt that you’ve made?
RT: No, no, no. I made few more, I can show you the one I’ve made before that. Um. This is a, made from sari. You know, I’m uh, Indian origin and I wear my traditional costume called sari. I had few saris which are, have been used for some time and I wanted to use those saris to make a, [microphone noise] a bed spread. So this was my, my first attempt of making quilt. So you can see there are three saris. Saris are just a six meter of material you wore round your body. So in this quilt, this is one sari [pointing to different parts of quilt]. This is one sari. And this is another one. So I made some [clears throat] log cabins, all this blocks, separately and then joined them together with this maroon bounded border. And then added this border at the end. So it’s not a full bedspread, but it’s, it can cover a double bed [microphone noise] half of it. I made some cushion as well, to match with this uh, quilt. So this was one of my first attempt to make um, a quilt. And also I made some baby things. One of them is little bit funny, for, a game for the children, wall hanging. Uh.
VM: And very true.
RT: And very true.
VM: It says ‘good mums have sticky floors, dirty ovens and happy kids’. So you’ve made these ones and then you made this one. Why did you chose to talk about this one today, particularly?
RT: Actually, I have made few more quilts. But they were all have been given away to all nieces and nephews, children, when they were born. So when you approach me, I didn’t have very many quilt [laughs] left, I didn’t keep anything very many for myself. So this was one of the collection I had it with me. And all I have been given away. And this one, I liked it. It was very uh, very much liked it and that’s what I thought, it is good idea, good idea. I mean people make different things. I love making things for children. You know, whenever any child is born in the family, I always make sure I make some uh, quilt for them. It uh, so that, that’s why I chose this particular quilt.
VM: It’s a good reason. It’s a beautiful quilt. So tell me a little bit, you said that you got the design off Pinterest?
RT: It’s from Pinterest.
VM: And did you copy the design exactly?
RT: No. that is another thing. When I saw the design, I liked it. And I tried to download the pattern so that I can get the exact measurement. Unfortunately they blocked that thing, I couldn’t get to download the uh, pattern. So that’s why I went to Tricia, who was my tutor at that time. And she also tried to find out from other sources, like uh, Etsy and other uh, places where you can get to download the design but unfortunately we didn’t get it. So we have to improvise the pattern. She helped me to improvise the pattern and all the measurement. Uh, so yeah. No, we couldn’t get the design. In fact, I wrote to that person who had put this in the Pinterest, but she didn’t allow me to get the measurements and pattern. But we managed, we made it, yeah.
VM: So where did you get the different fabrics from? There’s a lot of different fabrics.
RT: That’s it. There are 12 different combinations. Um, I go to India once a year. and I get some material from India, uh, some combination and also uh, some of the quilting exhibitions, or in the, the shops in where we can get different combination. So it’s very, I’m very fascinated by that wherever I get some good material I buy them [laughs]. So yes, this has got different material from, in fact, we went to Canada one year and we went to a quilting place and got some material from there. Um, mostly from uh, Patchwork Garden, uh, class where they have good stock of material. Uh, yeah, it’s again, it’s a combination of uh, material from different sources.
VM: So how long did it take you to make this?
RT: That’s a good question. It took a little while to make it because this you can see there are 12 different combination of uh, colouring and you have to make all these strips join together, each, uh, a bit of it. And then cutting them and making the side, this applique, this was my first effort of making applique. Uh, so that took a little while, uh, to make it. So I would say it took about two months to make it uh, complete and then the wadding and the lining and some hand stitching to make the piping. So I would say it took in all, a, roughly about two months.
VM: So what’s been done on hand stitching and what’s been done by machine?
RT: Um, mostly they’re all machine. The hand stitching are [clears throat] some of the um, side because I, I was not very familiar with machines of this applique, of the
VM: The teddy bears.
RT: Yes, teddy bears, so this side, look, you can see. I just started um, using the machine and then I was not very steady, so I did with hand stitching, all this. Chain stitch and the boundary. And of course, the piping is all hand stitched. Uh, yeah, that’s all hand stitched, [unsure of word] start all in the machine.
VM: You’ve put some little buttons on there as well. Do you often put extra things on your quilts or?
RT: Not for, eh, this is, I know it’s not a very safe method to put button on children’s um, in a [use]. But this is just because I was not going to give it out to any, any of the babies, so I put the button. But otherwise, you can see the rest, I did it with hand stitching. The eyes here. But this button, I, I like them and I thought, it would be a good use. But I make sure that if it goes to any of the children, I’ll, I’ll take the buttons off. For health and safety reason.
VM: Do you need to do that?
RT: Yes, yes. Yeah. Because in case it gets uh, caught, uh, get, get out and they swallow. So it uh, it’s a health and safety issue.
VM: I didn’t know that.
RT: [Laughs] yeah. No, when I was doing and Tricia said this, said that. Not to use the button. So I, I used it but if I give it out to somebody, I’ll make sure that I’ll do some hand stitching.
VM: It’s very neat, your stitching round the blanket stitch you’ve done around the teddies. Super. So you’re kind of hoping that this would have gone to your daughter.
RT: I was thinking that then, that if she gets a little boy, I’ll, this will be the present. But she didn’t know til she delivered the baby, whether it’s a girl, boy or girl. So I made a set of quit for the baby’s, baby’s cot. Um, neutral, not, not pink, not blue. So that, whatever, whoever comes, it will be, it’ll be used. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of that. So I, on that quilt, I made some um, letters, alphabets and some animal character. Yeah. And of course matching head bumper. Uh, curtains. Some playing mat. So it was a little bit. So it is well used. Now she’s two and a half, so she’s no longer using it. But it stored as a collection.
VM: So do you, you said that you end up making new blanket, new quilts for every baby that’s born in the family, is that your thing that they kind of expect?
RT: They actually now expect. Because I always make something, either knitting or making a dress for baby, but since I started quilting, uh, I started making baby quilt for most of them, yes. And now they, and other day, one of my niece was saying, she had her second baby. And she said, ‘what about my baby?’ I said, oh, no, no, only for the first baby. And they she said, ‘no, no, no, she wants one. Otherwise when she grows up she will say that I didn’t get anything. So I made one for her as well. Yeah.
VM: How does that make you feel though to…?
RT: I feel very uh, satisfied, satisfied, I would say because um, you like to give something with you make yourself. Uh, and so I, I really like it. I always make something before quilting time, making dress or knitting. But once I started this and uh, this gives me a little bit of exploration of finding a new pattern when they, when I know that some baby uh, expecting a baby. I started looking at Pinterest and online [laughs] to look for design. Uh, and also it’s a little bit of superstition in our culture that you don’t prepare anything before the baby arrives. So I tried to keep it universal, so that it’s not made for a particularly baby coming [laughs]. So once the baby arrives then I do the finishing and [prep] and give it to.
VM: So you’ll start making it before they’re born, but you won’t finish it?
RT: No, I wouldn’t finish it. Same thing with my own granddaughter. I made it but I left the little piping to be finishing after she was born. It’s our superstition because as you know, India, uh, has got high motility rate of the babies, so we don’t prepare anything in advance, just in case anything goes wrong, that will be a big disappointment. So usually once the baby’s born, we use some uh, used with clothes from other, uh, children in the family. And then once they’re born, they’re safe. Then you can uh, give new things to them. So that’s a superstition and I follow that superstition unfortunately.
VM: Now, I know a lot of people that I know that have been very much the same, not wanted baby things around until the baby’s safely arrived.
RT: Yeah, I mean my daughter is same and I didn’t enforce anything on her when she was expecting a baby. And she said, ‘no I don’t want anything new when the baby arrives.’ But that she has got lots of friends and cousins who have baby of a similar age. So she had a good collection. So by the time the baby arrived and came home, she had plenty. So this is a, just a, some sort of superstition we have and uh, you know, there’s a scientific reason why we have tried to follow that, just in case things doesn’t go right for any reason. Yeah.
VM: So you said you particularly like making things for children, why do you think that is?
RT: Firstly, it is done quickly, than making a big um, double bed quilt. Um, and also it fascinates me. And the other reason is why how I came to the, to be interesting in quilting, where because my profession was uh, I was, I’m a doctor. When I was working and we had a secretary called Maureen, she was quilt maker. And she used to make beautiful quilts for cushions and baby things and Christmas time, lovely wall decorations and things like that. And I used to, I was very fascinated by her work. And I used to say to Maureen, but I was very busy at work at that time, I said, ‘Maureen, when I will have time, I’ll sit with you and learn how to do quilting.’ But that didn’t happen because I used to live in Scotland before, so I had, I moved down south, so I lost contact with Maureen. But she gave me some good uh, books to have a look and get an idea. So that gave me the inspiration and uh, you know, uh, fascination for making quilt. So when I was retiring, I thought that first thing I will do is look for some quilting class. Um, and it is very fascinating. Because I’ve done stitching, knitting for, from very young age. But to know, know the technique and learn it properly, to, how to cut the material, how to stitch the material. It is very fascinating and I have learned a lot, I must say, since I joined the class, uh, and get an idea from uh, my tutors. And looking at other people’s work, going to the exhibitions and in uh, Birmingham, Harrogate. Get, get an idea of uh, different way. And baby quilt, I think I’m uh, I love babies. That’s why I think I like to make it because lot of uh, babies arrived and this was similar time. So and it is quicker, it’s small [laughs]. So that’s the other reason. Because this took quite a long time to finish the bed spread. Uh.
VM: I bet it did. So how long have you been quilting for, when did you go to that first class?
RT: Yes. Uh, I think 2012. I started the classes. And seriously, putting some time for quilting. And I made sure that every day I used the machine, used some work, if I can. But at the moment, I’m a little bit tied up with the granddaughter. So but I tried to do something. Uh, every day.
VM: So which class is it you first went to?
RT: It’s uh, Patchwork Gardens in Sheffield. Um, the, they run a class uh, so we started with once a week. Me and my other friend, Gopa went to another class. Um, so that gave me uh, inspiration and ideas. Um, how to make quilts. We made some bags and I don’t have it here.
VM: So when you, you say you went with a friend to that first class? Had you motivated her to do a bit of quilting or was she also?
RT: She was also the same, we were both looking for classes. And so we found the classes and we started going to the to the class together and coming home, sharing ideas. If she find any interesting pattern she will send it by WhatsApp nowadays. And shared all the ideas. Uh, bring to the exhibitions together. Um, so we have a nice group here. A few of three or four. We all interested in quilting. Um, everybody has got different uh, ideas, like, I like baby quilting. Some others like other style. But we share our ideas and thoughts.
VM: So the Patchwork Gardens class that you went to, do you still go to that or have you stopped going now?
RT: Unfortunately, it stopped going because she’s um, packing up, yeah, she’s selling the business. But I did go to some of her workshop, um, making bags and things. Uh, unfortunately she is packing up, you know.
VM: But you…
RT: Would love to, love to go some classes if I can. Yeah. But we, yeah, we meet, the groups and share our ideas and. Um, if somebody’s doing some interesting thing, we look at it, get some ideas.
VM: So the quilt that we’ve got here. You bought all these fabrics in all sorts of different places, but the one there you’ve, it’s all…
RT: It’s a sari make, yes. This is [microphone noise] made of three, in fact, four sari. This is also back is also a sari. So this is one with the middle, middle, flower was one sari. And this one was a plain sari and this one was another sari and this sari had the border of this one.
VM: Right, so you used the border from the sari around the border of the quilt. How does it equate, because I mean, I know that people say that fabrics in England are quite expensive. How would it compare using a sari, ’cause they must be quite expensive as well?
RT: Not really. This is, I mean, I would say, this sari would cost £10. Yeah. The whole sari. A whole sari is 6 yards. I didn’t use the whole sari here. So £10, £10 and £10, £30 which and maybe another £5, this is not very good material. So in £30, £40 I can get a good size quilt. Whereas to get all this material they’re expensive here. But I must say, this material is a very good quality. And for quilting, you need a good quality of material. You cannot just use any material because one thing is that it is has to be 100% cotton. Uh, if you have polyester, it doesn’t give you a good outcome. So these all materials are expensive but they’re all 100% cotton. So this materials are really good. But in, when I go to India, I bring good, this kind of material. Which are much cheaper than here. I mean here it will cost maybe £6, £8 per meter. Whereas in India I can get the same material for uh, 3, £4.
VM: So it does save a lot.
RT: It’s saving money. Um, and also nowadays, eBay or um, online shopping you can get a good material as well. I made, oh, it’s in the hall. I made a table runner. With material bought from eBay. Mm.
VM: It sounds like you do a lot of your quilt sourcing or your ideas and fabric on the internet. So you don’t go much to actual fabric shops and do you have many quilting books and things?
RT: Yes. I have quilting books, yeah. Not very many, I must say because of nowadays with online, you can get ideas in the um, YouTube tutor reel and they tell you exact measurement and ideas. I made a uh, table runner, which again I gave it to one of my cousin, with all this kind of blocks joined together. Um, sort of log cabin and that made a nice table runner. Uh, so I now, I bought the material online. Um, uh, so it was quite good. And also when you go to Birmingham or Harrogate, uh, exhibitions. They sell good material and quite reasonable. So we quite buy, quite a lot from there.
VM: When you go to places like Festival of Quilts, what do you go for?
RT: Firstly material, you get a good selection of material. And also they do some uh, tutorials, which are good. Like freehand um, quilting, uh, so these classes are good to attend, getting new ideas. I, and also of course, um, all the equipments for using for quilt.
VM: Do you tend to go and look at the exhibitions?
RT: Mm mm. and their display and exhibition, getting different ideas. Um, how wonderful exhibitions display they have. Yeah. I got so many thing, I mean this is for one of the exhibitions, uh, the baby one. That was from the exhibition, I took a photo.
VM: It’s all got wrapped up…
RT: This was displayed on the wall [microphone noise] and yeah, it’s a good idea.
VM: There’s some lovely colours in that.
RT: [Unsure of word] materials are, yeah. All the equipments you get it in, in exhibition, which are hard to go to any shops. And they’re good price, good for price. Value for money.
VM: They’re all quite traditional sort of fabrics you’ve gone for on here and here. Traditional quilting fabrics I’m thinking. So you’ve got kind of like all your florals and you’re obviously very good with your colour.
RT: Is it. That is I find a bit hard to get the colour, um, combination. That is something which teachers guide you better way. I mean like this one, I took, 3, 4, saris for, to Tricia and said I, this are sitting there, can I do something? Um, she got this idea so nicely. So yes, I must say, I’m, I’m getting better now. But initially it was very hard to make this kind of combination. And every time, every step of it, oh, is this colour can go with that? Is this the right combination I’m getting it? But I think more you do, and more you see, you get a better idea, uh, of the combination.
VM: What sort of techniques do you like? I mean you say this was your first go at applique. What sort of techniques do you like using?
RT: Um, I like log cabin, log cabin, of different type, at the moment I’m making a log cabin which is not a typical, um, just a strips here. If you want, I can go quickly upstairs and show you, if I can bring it.
VM: Yes, if you’d like to, I’ll just pause this….
RT: So this is one log cabin I’m making it.
VM: So is this a project you’re working on at the moment?
RT: Yes. Yeah. Hopefully it will be. Ah, these are also different types of combination, which I plan to make it at some point.
VM: So you’ve got lots of project still in…
RT: Yes, I like to work in um, different things than just the one [unsure of word] [chair scraping] a couple of things, so I start with little things. And feel like making. So this is almost finished, so I plan to make a bedspread with some of different design [clears throat].
VM: That’s lovely. That’s really lovely. But do you do most of your work on the machine then?
RT: Yes. Yeah. Mm. Mostly. Mm.
VM: What sort of machine do you use?
RT: It’s um, Janome 601. So it has got all the fancy things [laughs].Yeah.
VM: Where do you do your sewing?
RT: I have got a room upstairs. Uh, so I get, I have got an extendable table, I can open it. I used to do it in conservatory but in winter time it gets very cold. Uh, so I have a room upstairs. Um, I can spread around. Yeah. So this was one of the bag we also made.
RT: Um, this is also log cabin, I don’t know. This is a combination, different kind of combination. Uh, then joined together. Uh, also quite simple to make it.
VM: So do you have a, do you find that you are drawn to particular colours or not at all?
RT: No, do you think so? I don’t know. No.
VM: No, I don’t think you are.
RT: No. I like to do a variety. Um, like these materials, I bought it from India once. And I didn’t find them very good material. So then I started uh, looking for a pattern and found this too, um, based on this stick, sticking into this material and that’s coming on fine.
VM: Can you describe for me how you’ve actually put that block together?
RT: How did, oh. Yeah.
VM: ’cause, it’s quite complicated.
RT: No, it’s very simple. You can see this is how it is made, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. So you follow the number. So you chose a num, number one for one colour. And when you come to number two, you go to a different colour. So this is number two. This is number three. It’s uh, going like a, uh, how could I say, uh, in a symmetrical way. So this green comes and finishes here and the different shape comes in a, uh, similar way.
VM: It’s almost like a spiral, isn’t it?
RT: It’s a spiral, yeah. So but when you are doing it, it looks complicated when you see it, but when you’re doing it, you follow the line. So you starting with number one, and then fold the material. I can show you one. See, you start with number one, you stitch it here and the material folds like that. And when it comes to number two, you add a different colour. So on the other side you will see the spiral coming. So this is the base, then number two, number three, number four, so this is the way the spiral goes round. So if you follow the number then it’s easy. But when I, I must say, when I first started, I found it very hard. But once you get the grip of um, using the number and the colour, and the material, you, it is become very easy.
VM: Do you find yourself wanting to perfect a particular technique or seek out new things?
RT: No, I want to make one thing perfect before I go into that different one. So this is one I was [clears throat] I think I’ve made 15 or 16 now so far. Initially it was very hard. I used to sit and make mistakes, taking it out, ripping it off, and doing it again. But once I got the grip of the, of the um, mechanism, it become very easy and perfect. Just this morning I was talking to one of my friends, she said, ‘Oh you are so, you can do things more perfectly.’ I said, ‘no, you can’t do it perfectly on the first attempt. You make mistake, you take it off, do it again, uh, but once you understand the principle of making it, it becomes easy.’ So yes, before I go into a different technique, I want to make it perfect. Like I can tell you, this is [microphone noise] of my early quilts. I made it one of the babies. I made few mistakes. People say, ‘oh, we can’t see any mistakes’. But if you look it carefully, there are lots of mistakes, which I can see myself. So I didn’t give this to the baby. I wanted to give it. Because I know there are some uh, error. So this is one of the log cabin. And when I knew that whatever I have done miss, wrong, the next one I made it uh, correctly. Because I don’t want to give out something which has got error. Um, people with uh, uh, quilting I will find out what is it. Because I showed it to friends and they said, ‘no, no, we can’t find anything’ I said, ‘I can find it.’ so I know where the things went wrong. So next one was okay, yeah. Because it’s very easy to make mistake. If, if the stitching is little bit different, whole thing, the whole outcome becomes wrong. If you don’t want to do it. Uh, so now with this, all this sophisticated machine all the measurements are um, accurate. So very unlikely you can make mistake. And if you make mistake, take it out. Straight away. And correct it. Because you don’t want to keep something in, imperfect.
VM: So you are an unpicker, if it’s not right, it gets unpicked and done again?
RT: Yes. Yeah. Often when it, this Tricia, my teacher used to say, oh don’t, nobody will know it. I said, I will know it. I would rather do it corrected now. Than leaving it too late.
VM: And does that matter to you? If you don’t want it to go, if it’s not right? If it’s not perfect?
RT: Um, yes. Yes. I want, because it is very easy to make it perfect. It’s not hard. Only thing, a little bit of adjustment, little bit of um, measurement problem. So why should we keep it imperfect way?
VM: So did the baby who should have this quilt, did they get a quilt eventually?
RT: Another one [laughs] yes, yes.
VM: But what will do you with this quilt now?
RT: Just keep it. Yes. Uh, if another baby, uh, if somebody wants it, uh, for, for uh, the other thing, I might do, but probably I won’t give it because I know it’s not right. Yeah.
VM: Do you put a label on any of your quilts?
RT: No. I should have done it because now, I’m making it few, so many, I should have put a little label, when, even, even when I give it out to uh, friends and family. Yeah, that, that’s what I thought, but never happened. ‘Cause I don’t make it so many quilts, it’s, everything takes so, time consuming. Uh. Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.
VM: So you said that you try and do a little bit every day. How much do you genuinely do in any usual week?
RT: I was told um, by my tutor that not to do more than two hours at a time. And which is, I think is correct. Because um, it, it’s quite a strenuous thing, sitting in the machine, concentrating. Continuously using the iron and jumping around. So I think two hours is, it’s a good time. So I don’t do anything more than two, two hours. Uh, of course, I don’t do it regularly now, because uh, I’m not home uh, every day. Uh, but when I’m home I try to do it. Uh, not more than two hours.
VM: And what equipment do you have? What’s in your sewing room?
RT: Just a sewing machine and mat and cutter. Different skill. Um, basically that different type of uh, cutters. Um, I have a, what do you call um, freehand quilting thing, I, a small pack, it’s not very nice. But I don’t use it regularly. I would love to learn that technique, freehand quilting, um. I’ve seen it in the exhibitions, but some day.
VM: So you just do pretty much straight machine, with the walking foot on it?
RT: With the walking foot on it. Yeah. In fact it’s, I, I don’t use walking foot because it’s all automatic, once I press the button, it goes. It moves. I do freehand quilting myself, but not, I’m not very good at it. Because I don’t have the frame and the proper equipment for it, but I would love to. I’ve seen it in the exhibitions at one, someday I will. Yeah. So many things to learn.
VM: Yes. You find that people feel that they’ve still got so much they want to try and do and.
RT: Yeah, so, yeah, I would love to.
VM: How extensive is your stash of fabric?
RT: Uh, quite a lot at the moment. So not buying anything. Because I was in India a month ago. Although I thought, I’m not going to buy anything. Uh, because I, I will finish them, but I did buy some. So uh, I want to finish them, all, all that I have to, before I go to any next exhibition. Because it is an addition. Whenever you go to see material, you feel like buying. Yeah. Uh, but it is a good idea. One of my friend, she’s a good quilter as well. She only buys material what she wants to do it. Supposing she wants to make a project of this, making this bag. She will only buy the materials which is used for the bag. She wouldn’t buy anything random. But I do. You know. When you see nice material. Okay, we’ll get couple of yards of that. But that’s wrong. It should have a project. And then plan that way [laughs] but uh, someday.
VM: Would you share with me a little bit about your background? About your Indian heritage?
RT: Um, I’m from India, in the eastern part of um, India, a place called Calcutta. Uh, our mother tongue is Bengali. I grew up in a, in a sort of a giant family. My Mum used to do a lot of stitching, knitting, we never had uh, dress made, uh, bought from the shop. She used to make everything by herself. And that’s what’s fascinated me. My sister, I had a sister, she’s, she was also very keen on stitching. So all martial, all dresses were made at home. And she used to, my mother used to do embroidery. Um, applique, this kind of thing. Uh, also in India, there’s another um, stitching technique called, it’s uh, embroidery in a form of run, running stitch. It’s called Kantha and it’s done for babies. When the babies are born. Um, so they used to make those thing, kind of things for newborn baby coming into the family.
VM: So explain that to me again.
RT: Um, I’ll bring the material. I’ll bring a sample.
RT: [movement and microphone noise] …made for babies. Um, sort of running stitch, but different pattern.
VM: So what is this made of [microphone noise]?
RT: This is uh, sari material. All the soft, usually it’s made from [clears throat] old saris because they are nice and soft.
VM: Those are beautiful aren’t they? So have you made these ones?
RT: This is made for my granddaughter from India, they send it to her. When she was born. Uh, one of my friend actually made them. So this is, this kind of things people make it when baby’s arriving or baby has arrived. Um, so my mum used to make it. Everybody in the family. They love to make it.
VM: So there’s like two layers. Two layers of fabric.
RT: It’s two layer, yeah. Mm. Because you can see the sari is very thin and light, so make it two layer, give it a little bit of thickness. So that is the way I grew up. I’ve seen my mum, my sister, they are making different stitching and, and then I started getting interest on making applique, embroidery, things like that. And then, then I went of course, in education, I um, went to medical school to learn, become a doctor. I didn’t hardly have any time. But, but I always liked it. And I used to think, when I will have time I’ll make something. But when my own children were born, I didn’t have time to make for anything for them. Um, but now I retired, the children are grown up, I have got time. So I thought, I’m better while I’m fit and healthy, have good eyesight, I’d better make a use of my um, plans and desire. Yeah.
VM: So but you, it’s interesting that you said you, you saw your mother and your sister embroidering, you did a bit of embroidery. But you’ve gone down the route of quilting. Is it because of that secretary?
RT: Because of the secretary, yes. Quilting, I don’t think I, we did, I mean they do this kind of quilting, you can see layers of material, but not particular this kind of quilting. Because when I go back to India and I tell them about this quilting, uh, nobody has made this kind of quilting in India. They make a different type, which is uh, because India is not a cold country. Um, you don’t hardly need any um, warm, thick material for wrapping around. Only a few months of winter. So hardly there’s a need for making quilt. But we make another different type of work with the wrap round, thing. That is sort of quilting. But it’s not really um, common thing, um, to make it. Yes, I think I was inspired by my secretary, Maureen. Who used to make beautiful quilting. And that fascinated me.
VM: Does she know you ended up having a go?
RT: No. I was telling other day to my friend, uh, that, do you know where Maureen is? I wanted to tell her that I’m doing quilting. ‘Cause I always used to say, whenever I will have time, Maureen, I will come and sit with you to learn the quilting. Where, no unfortunately, she doesn’t know. I, I think she doesn’t know. Yeah.
VM: So the person who inspired you doesn’t even know?
RT: Person inspired yeah. And also going into these exhibitions. Do you go to these exhibitions ah, Birmingham and Harrogate? They are really inspiring. Looking at their work and their artwork. Gives you a good idea. Mm.
VM: So how, I know you get a lot of your ideas from the internet, you’ve got a few books. How do you go about deciding what’s gonna be the next project?
RT: Uh, in the iPad I made a file. [Clears throat] so I’ve save it, actually in Pinterest. And I save what I wanted to do. Um, and from there, whenever I have time, I chose one pattern. This is the way I’m doing it recently. And not before. Now I have a Pinterest file. Um.
RT: So I’m trying to be little bit more organised. [Background chatter and pause]. So yes, I made a file. And I collect whatever I see in Pinterest or online, I save it in the, that file. And that gives me [clears throat] and then I find what I wanted to do next [laughs].
VM: Is that one with the folder there? [Rustling and movement, pause]
RT: What do you think are the best way to do it?
VM: I don’t know. I’m no expert. Everybody seems different in how they go about designing and choosing what to do. [Pause]
RT: The Pinterest file’s coming out. [Pause] No, I think I’ve deleted Pinterest from the phone. Ah, it should come up. [Pause]
VM: Oh, so have you got an app?
RT: So this is how I save all the things I like it. I use Jenny, the Missouri Quilting [Company], she teaches, tutorials are quite good. So wherever I get some good pattern and good design, these are all the table runners I looking for, to make at some point. Uh, some baby quilt. I made this one, it’s on the table over there. [Clears throat] at the front.
VM: Wow, it’s gonna take you a long time to get all these made isn’t it [looking through Pinterest files on iPad]?
RT: Yes, um. I mean this is, just I’ve saving. But uh, I made this one for one of my niece. Uh, a bedspread. This uh, [talking in background] I’ve made this one, for one of the babies. This one for one of the, I was telling you that one I made for one niece’s daughter, and the second one I didn’t make it and she made me make this one. Yeah. So this is how I store all the collection and then of course, I feel like making everything, but time is a factor. So when I chose to make something I want to finish this one first. No, and then maybe move onto something.
VM: Do you tend to follow a pattern meticulously, or will you adapt patterns?
RT: Adapt. Mm but sometimes it is difficult. Like this is log cabin, it’s easy to make. But one pattern I, I really like it, but I couldn’t follow it. I couldn’t find the, this one. I really like, it’s a log cabin, but it has got little bit which needs a good pattern. Mm and sometimes these people are naughty, they don’t want to download the pattern.
VM: Plenty there to keep you busy for a bit. What, I mean you go to the exhibitions and you see all these quilts, what, what do you think makes a good quilt? What’s a nice quilt? Do you think it’s the colours, or the patterns or the workmanship or?
RT: Workmanship is of course a, the main criteria. Combination, colour combination, um, ideas. Yeah. Workmanship is definitely something to learn. I mean, doing my own quilt and then going to exhibition and see the perfection that they like, realise how little I know [laughs] yeah, something to learn. Honestly.
VM: What do you particularly enjoy about quilting?
RT: It’s very relaxing. It’s very relaxing. I find well, nothing can put me off from quilting. If I’m uh, worried, if I’m depressed, if I sit in my uh, table, I can forget everything. I mean I tell my friend, this is such a relaxing hobby. Because I enjoy it, I find it very relaxing.
VM: What do you not enjoy about quilting?
RT: Um.
VM: Is there any parts of the process that you don’t enjoy?
RT: When I was travelling with the pattern, then uh, I go and download the pattern. Uh, I wouldn’t say even that, I can add, and now I can adapt to a different technique. If I’m struggling. Like here, I made 14, 15, samples. Some are not perfect. Some has got some um, error. But I know how to adapt that, now, I can tell you. So yes. I can adapt it. Not adjusting mistake like [unsure of word] I’ve made with this one, but I can fit in, uh, two and [press it all away].
VM: And that’s something you’ve got with experience?
RT: I think so, yeah. What I was in 2012, I can do it much better now. But still to learn. I would love to go to some more classes, some more workshop. Um, ‘Cause there’s a lot to learn.
VM: Well then, just over three years you’ve done an awful lot already, haven’t you, crikey. Right, so my last question I think I’ve got is what do you think is one of the biggest challenges that you find as a quilter?
RT: Uh, achieving what I wanted to, wanted to do for a long, long time. It’s um, it’s a very relaxing hobby. Expensive, no doubt, but it’s a very relaxing hobby I will recommend to anybody. I mean I, with my medical profession, I try to help lot of people who are suffering from depression, worries, anxiety, I say, go to the sewing machine, use some, chose a pattern. So chose it. It will help, it will make you feel better. So it’s a very relaxing therapy. Therapeutic. Um, practice, I would say. I mean, I am doing this as a pleasure, as a hobby. I’m not a professional. I’m not a perfectionist that I can tell myself that I can um, do, put an exhibition and things. This is my hobby, this is my pleasure. And I recommend this to anybody who has got interest.
VM: It’s quite interesting because a lot of people who we talk to say that they find it therapeutic or relaxing. And you’re a healthcare professional. Do you think it actually has health benefits?
RT: It is a health benefit. It is a health benefit. I went to, I approached the council when I retired that this kind of classes should be encouraged to ladies who have a mental health problem, who are isolated, in segregation, like the choir group which uh, we hold here, it’s um, it’s to help people who are in isolation, who are depressed, deprived. Uh, so similarly, if er this kind of classes can be, can benefit people, with starting, it looks complicated. People will say, ‘oh, it’s very complicated’. It is not complicated. We can make it simple. Uh, simple thing. Like this is a simple baby quilt. This very simple to make. It’s just you buy the right material and go through the sewing machine in a um, just a free-hand so quilting. So this kind of small things, they can start and it’s simple, it’s achievement. Once they make it, they’ll feel better. And I have a friend who suffers from depression. I encourage her to start quilting. She made one, and she said, ‘oh, I never thought I can make it. I have always the seen you, Gopa and everybody making it, but I can make it, I never thought it’. So it’s a very therapeutic um, way of approaching it other than taking medicine, going to counselling. This is, I think, should be encouraged and support, supported in the community.
VM: Is there anything else you feel we haven’t talked about that you would like to talk about to do with your quilting?
RT: No, I think you have covered everything nicely and widely.
VM: We’ve covered a lot.
RT: What about this quilting guild, what membership? I’ve ever um, thought about that. What, what are the benefit of becoming?
VM: Ah, we can talk about that after I’ve turned this off, but you’re not a member of the Quilters’ Guild, no?
RT: No. no.
VM: OK. Well thank you very much.
RT: Thank you for coming and bringing all your ideas.
VM: Oh no, thank you so much for sharing all these, all these quilts, getting everything out for me.
RT: I thought you were going to talk about only one quilt [background chatter].
VM: I’m just talking to Rupa again here. Could you just tell me, what’s here?
RT: Yeah, I talked about log cabin and different other quilting uh, pattern which I follow. But also I use a technique called paper piecing which is, it comes in different shape and different uh, style and different shape like, this is I’ve got some hexagon, you can get a triangle and then you get join them together to make a pattern. And these are all scrap material, really. All this leftovers from different uh, artwork. Um, you use them and they are quite [crinkling noise] um, fascinating. And then you can join them together to make a pattern. Like that.
VM: So what’s, have you made many quilts using paper piecing?
RT: No, I haven’t. This is all I’m collecting. So one day, I will sit down and join them together. I’ve think I’ve got some patter of paper piecing like this one. This is a paper piecing design. So you can join them together. This is paper piecing. So you can get different combinations and then join them together.
VM: So when do you do this?
RT: When do I do this? [VM: Hmm] um, mostly in the evening time. Um, when I’m watching, sitting and watching TV. I’m not in front of the sewing machine. Um, so and it, it is very quick. And once you have done it, you take the paper out, so only the material stays in. And then it’s nice and soft.
VM: Thank you for that.