kaleidoscopes — Hilde Hoogwaerts

African Kaleidoscope Quilts

Fly Away With Me
African kaleidoscope quilt, 3x3 meter / 118” square,
machine pieced and quilted, made in Ghana, 2018

Hilde Hoogwaerts lived in Accra, Ghana, from 2015 to 2018. When she moved there, she decided not to bring any fabrics with her as she wanted to work only with those available at the local market, known as Makola market. Her quilt seen here above, ‘Fly Away With Me’ was made there.

After making several Kaleidoscope quilts with African fabrics she was asked to make a background piece for a photo booth at a wedding party. As the groom and his friends were tall men and as the center of this quilt needed to be visible above their heads, Hilde drafted a pattern for the size of 3x3 meter. After making several studies, she decided to highlight depth in texture by alternating dark and light colored fabrics.

When sourcing batting became a challenge in Ghana, Hilde had the work-in-progress sandwiched in The Netherlands. The quilt was then machine-quilted in the ditch. ‘Fly away with me’ is a variation of the Kaleidoscope quilt technique by Ricky Tims. The measurements are 3x3 meters / 9 feet square.

More Kaleidescope quilts

Summer Garden
2x2 meter/78” square
machine pieced and quilted

Summer Garden was featured at the Quilt National 2023: The Best of Contemporary Quilts, in Athens, Ohio

For more pictures please follow her on Instagram!