Pat Forster makes art quilts that are influenced by her career in mathematics. Look closely at her pieces and you’ll see math relationships in profusion.
How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?
Initially, I made traditional bed quilts for my children. My first art quilt was finished in 1984 – a seascape using the Drunkards Path block.
We were living in a remote mining town in Western Australia. A close friend would visit for a regular chat and we would arrange and rearrange the blocks until one day I decided to sew them together.
My next art quilt was made in 2013! I continue to make quilts for beds, and art quilts to hang on walls.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.
Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?
I enjoy designing for themed exhibitions. I usually do background research about the theme, which informs the quilt design. I also often incorporate math relationships, for example reflection and rotation, random distribution of colour, and fractal geometry.
My career was in mathematics. The ‘Night Sky’ quilt is an example of a research-based, fractal-inspired design: research into Australian Aboriginal conceptions of the night sky, which are represented with text, within a spiralling fractal that represents the Milky Way. My other Aboriginal themed quilts with downloadable research can be found at https://patforsterblog.wordpress.com/aboriginal/
Do you plan your work out ahead of time, or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?
I am a planner, often in a computer drawing program.
Do you have a dedicated space for creating?
Yes, a corner of the kitchen! My husband requested this as he never saw me when I sewed in the spare room. Advantages are that the wide kitchen bench is ideal height for cutting fabric, and I can direct cooking efforts of others! I put up two trestle tables for laying out quilt tops and sandwiching. I change the quilt decoration from time to time.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I like using my own scraps but generally not those of other people because of my colour and fabric-pattern preferences.
The fabrics for ‘Orange Beauty: Inspired by the Dempster Quilt #1’ were an exception. They were passed to me and I used them for a replica of an historic quilt (The Dempster Quilt) which was brought to Fremantle, Western Australia in 1859. I replicated the border patterns, not the original beige colours! The quilt was for a group exhibition ‘Memories of Fremantle (Walyalup): Coded with Colonisation’. The traditional British ‘frame’ design suited the exhibition theme perfectly! I made two other colourwise replicas which can be viewed at https://patforsterblog.wordpress.com/fremantle/ together with information on the original Dempster quilt.
Do you use a sketchbook or journal? How does that help your work develop?
I keep a yearly quilt journal, which is a record, rather than a means for planning.
For each quilt I make, I include a photograph, a short artist statement, the quilt dimensions and details of materials used. As well, if making a bed quilt for which I think the pattern could be sold to a magazine, I write instructions in the journal and include diagrams and progress photos.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I am a one-project person and, depending on the work involved, make at least eight quilts per year.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
Like the ‘Orange Beauty’ quilt, ‘Convict Establishment Contributions to Fremantle’ was motivated by the ‘Memories of Fremantle’ exhibition.
I knew British convicts were transported to Western Australia during the early days of settlement, but didn’t know what they had worked on, so sought out research papers etc. I developed a list of key projects and skills drawn upon and used the floor plan of a convict-constructed building as the central (brown) part of the quilt. I included pale pink and textured patches in the background to bring life into the design. Next, I machine appliquéd the title of the quilt in large letters in brown – to contrast with the pale patchwork background, then appliquéd project and skill lists.
How do you make time for creating? Do you try to create daily?
I am retired from the paid workforce and feel very lucky that I can combine my research skills with creative quilt-making, for a meaningful existence! I sew most evenings.
What is your favorite accomplishment?
Probably my favorite quilting accomplishment is a series of blocks I developed by nesting Drunkards Path (DP) blocks. For example, for the ‘Night Sky’ quilt. ‘Pods’ is another example. Others can be seen via https://patforsterblog.wordpress.com/fractals/
What is on your “someday” creative wish list?
‘Fish Market’ uses my most recent nested DP block – I do not claim originality for the block as recently saw similar on the web. However, I want to evolve other art quilts that utilise the block.
Where can people see your work?
https://patforsterblog.wordpress.com
@pat.forster
Interview posted August 2024
Browse through more inspiring art quilts on Create Whimsy.