Fun with African Fabrics
Cultured Expressions Sewing & Quilting Studio
At the Cultured Expressions Sewing & Quilting Studio in Rahway, African fabrics define a lifestyle, and are always a cause for celebration! When owner Lisa Shepard Stewart opened the studio in December of 2017, she already had an established online business that began in 2002, and over 30 years of experience in the sewing industry. With three how-to books and a self-published magazine called Fabrigasm, Shepard Stewart is on a mission to encourage others to enjoy African textiles and culture every day, not something to be “dusted off and displayed” only for Black History Month and Kwanzaa.
After teaching in her Rahway home for a few years, she decided to open a brick-and-mortar location in order to reach more people with an expanded selection of unique merchandise and hands-on classes. “At the same time Rahway was really developing an artsy, creative vibe, and I felt like we needed some African fabrics in the mix” explained Shepard Stewart, who has lived in Rahway with her husband since 2005.
The studio is filled with inspiration to go along with the fabrics, beads and embellishments. The colors, patterns, and textures are a treat for the senses, as shared regularly on Instagram and Facebook @culturedexpressions.
The studio is located at 1417 Main Street in Rahway, and is open Wednesday thru Saturday.
With their vibrant colors, exciting colors, unique textures and cultural relevance, it’s no wonder that African fabrics continue to grow in popularity in the DIY sewing, quilting and craft arena. Ankara African prints, bogolan (aka “mudcloth”), batiks, kuba cloth and other specialty textiles are becoming increasingly mainstream, making it easy to incorporate these treasures into our creative activities all year long! These are just a few of the upcoming month-by-month celebrations of culture and creativity:
• FEBRUARY – African American Heritage Month invites us to explore the beauty and versatility of African fabrics, regardless of skill level. With no sewing at all, a gorgeous cotton print or batik can become a regal headwrap, a table runner, sarong style skirt, wrapped top, or a quick carryall! More experienced sewers and crafters can make more detailed versions of these projects. And in between, fusible (iron-on) and hand-sewn options only increase the creative possibilities.
• MARCH – National Quilting Month AND (and more specifically, National Quilting Day on March 19) encourage stitchers to indulge their senses in rich, colorful prints and batiks. They blend in beautifully with one’s existing fabric stash, adding a pop of excitement to an otherwise familiar quilt project or technique.
National Craft Month also takes place in March, the perfect time to try decoupage with African prints, or create unique jewelry with beads and brass embellishments imported from West Africa. Get a time-saving head start by decorating items you already own, or begin from scratch.
• APRIL – Earth Day inspires us to Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle in creative ways. African prints or bogolan scraps make excellent appliqué patches for “Trendy Mending” projects on your favorite denim garments and other casual clothing. Or, try integrating already-recycled elements into an Earth Day project, like Krobo beads from Ghana, West Africa. Krobo beads are made from recycled glass bottles, in a centuries-old, labor-intensive process that is still used today.
• National Decorating Month also takes place in April, is sure to be on the minds of many, as the stay-at-home lifestyle of the pandemic caused so many of us to update and decorate the space, we now spend so much time in! Now our décor has to not only look great, but we also need our surroundings to provide a feeling of calm and comfort in unsettling times. The neutral palettes and handwoven textures found in Bogolan, from Mali, korhogo from the Ivory Coast and kuba raffia cloths from Central Africa can bring a soothing, earthy quality to any home setting, in simple pillows, sofa throws, bed runners, table toppers, seat covers and more.
For many sewing, quilting and crafts enthusiasts, these unique textiles aren’t just raw materials for projects, they’re a lifestyle! And it’s clear form these few examples thatanytime is the right time to get creative with these fabrics, whether it’s a month-long celebration, a special occasion, or no reason at all – sew many opportunities to “Feel the Fabric and Embrace the Culture”.
