Patchwork by Maddie Ballard
Lyrical, probing, soothing, and wise, Patchwork is a strikingly original debut and a celebration of the remarkable, everyday process of making and remaking: of story, of clothing, and of ourselves.
“A gorgeous and tender exploration.”—Nina Mingya Powles
- Sale Date
- ISBN
- 9781963108484
- Page Count
- 144
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 5¼ x 7½
- Imprint
- Tin House
Meet the Author
Maddie Ballard
Lyrical, probing, soothing, and wise, Patchwork is a strikingly original debut and a celebration of the remarkable, everyday process of making and remaking: of story, of clothing, and of ourselves.
“A gorgeous and tender exploration.”—Nina Mingya Powles
In Patchwork, a charming and evocative sewist's diary, Maddie Ballard explores the making (and sometimes remaking) of seventeen specific garments over a period of great change in her life—from a jacket lined with the embroidered Cantonese names of her female ancestors, to a dressing gown made as a gift for a dear friend, to an eco-friendly, zero-waste dress.
As the wardrobe grows, so too does Maddie. From her first off-kilter dresses and coats to perfectly fitting pants, readers follow along as she learns to navigate the world around her and how she sees herself in it—both as she is and as she hopes to be. Stitch by stitch, word by word, Maddie drafts her own patterns for ways of living. Throughout the diary, delightful illustrations bring Maddie’s creations to life on the page.
With a focus on the practical comfort and pleasure provided by sewing in a time of personal renewal, Patchwork: A Sewist’s Diary is a warmhearted celebration of the value of craft in the modern age.
“A gorgeous and tender exploration.”—Nina Mingya Powles
In Patchwork, a charming and evocative sewist's diary, Maddie Ballard explores the making (and sometimes remaking) of seventeen specific garments over a period of great change in her life—from a jacket lined with the embroidered Cantonese names of her female ancestors, to a dressing gown made as a gift for a dear friend, to an eco-friendly, zero-waste dress.
As the wardrobe grows, so too does Maddie. From her first off-kilter dresses and coats to perfectly fitting pants, readers follow along as she learns to navigate the world around her and how she sees herself in it—both as she is and as she hopes to be. Stitch by stitch, word by word, Maddie drafts her own patterns for ways of living. Throughout the diary, delightful illustrations bring Maddie’s creations to life on the page.
With a focus on the practical comfort and pleasure provided by sewing in a time of personal renewal, Patchwork: A Sewist’s Diary is a warmhearted celebration of the value of craft in the modern age.
Praise for Patchwork
-
“Charming….. This gently captivating memoir [finds] poignant resonance in the ups and downs of a single person’s life during a tumultuous historical moment. It’s a delight.”
Publishers Weekly -
“Sewing became a ballast as [Ballard] figured out herself and what came next. Her memoir is a thoughtful progression of mistakes and corrections and fabric, as well as in her outlook.”
NPR Weekend Edition, Top Nonfiction Books We Love -
“Through her expert use of language, similar to the simplicity of a single seam, she ties this collection up with a perfect silk ribbon and inspires me to create . . . and to savor the creation.”
The Rumpus
About the Imprint
Where the literary canon of tomorrow is born. Critically acclaimed titles that challenge, illuminate, and linger. Discover award-winning fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from emerging voices you’ll say you found first.
