All Kantha! Chapter 2

If you are a Kantha lover, you have already figured out that Kantha quilts come in all sorts of designs. Not only is each Kantha throw unique with regard to the combination of fabrics its maker used, Kanthas also vary in size, weight, thickness, stitching patterns and arrangement of fabrics. Here's some visual input (certainly not exhaustive!) as to what types of Kantha quilts I have come across.
 

1) The Seemingly Plain

I don't really mean plain - after all, a Kantha quilt offers enough excitement, featuring two different sides and unique combinations of colourful vintage fabrics. Some Kantha quilts simply feature "plain", monochrome row stitching. The word Kantha refers to a running stitch. These stitches can be bigger or smaller, denser or sparser. The denser and smaller the stitching, the more accomplished the quilt!

Sometimes, these plain quilts have accentuated rows:

2) The Slim

I have come across Kantha quilts made of just a few thin fabric layers (as opposed to the 10-layer heavy-weights!), stitched together with delicate thread. These quilts are very light, often weighing below one kilo. I use them for making clothes, as you can work with them more or less like with any other medium-weight fabric. Interestingly, they quite often feature stitching arranged in squares rather than in rows.

3) The Ornamentally Stitched

Here, it starts getting really interesting. Many Kantha quilts feature colourful and eye-catching patterns that are stitched into or over the existing, plain rows. These stitched patterns are only visible on one side. Here are a few examples (named freely by myself!):

Quite commonly found are the diamond pattern...

... or butterfly pattern...

... or the zigzag pattern!

There may also be elaborate patterns along the border of a quilt...

... or variously patterned stripes, often seen on white background.

And here is one pattern I have only come across once so far: circles, crosses and diagonal lines.

Last but not least, a beautiful, intricate leaves pattern in tiny stitches!

4) The Heavy Weight

This is the queen of Kantha quilts - made of many layers of recycled fabrics, often artfully arranged in stripes, with borders framing the designs, and very dense stitching. The reverse side commonly features a much simpler design, consisting of a couple of plain fabric sections. These quilts easily weigh above 2 kilos apiece. Often, they are dotted with an array of patches, neatly integrated into the flow of stitching. I can only imagine how long it takes to complete this kind of Kantha quilt. If you come across one, grab it! These are true pieces of art.

Are you interested in buying a Kantha quilt online? Read my next blog post to learn what to pay attention to when looking for a beautiful piece of Kantha art.