Good Morning, Quilters!
Notice how I avoid the words sewer and sewist?
Even when I write the tutorials, I avoid the word “sew” and use “stitch” instead.
I really don’t like the word “sewer” –it looks like plumbing when it’s written.
For a long time I hated the word “sewist“–it’s just a made up word–not even in the dictionary! Furthermore, whenever you type “sewist” it auto-corrects to “sexist“….
Saturdays were a real dilemma…
Should it be “Drain Pipes in Fine Art”
or
“Ruining the Language in Fine Art”?
I settled for the clunky, “Seamstresses in Fine Art”…
I must admit I’m softening to the word “Sewist”…
Scissors have given way to rotary cutters, treadle machines to sewing computers, and quilters no longer create blankets made of old clothes…
New words like: emoji, selfie and vape (smoking an e-cigarette) have been Oxford’s Words of the Year for the past three years.
Perhaps it’s better to be “on trend” than a “fossil”!
What do YOU think?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Happy Stitching, Tailoring, Quilting, Sewing, Vaping, Texting…
Lori
PS…The Second Annual Machine Quilt-a-Long begins next week. If you are out shopping–just pick up 1/4 yard of solid fabric–in any shade of red, blue, turquoise…no more hints until next week!–other than it’s going to be FABULOUS!!!!
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
100 comments
Joyce
Love the photos. I like “sewist “.
Pamela North
Seamstress please…..
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I’m afraid that some of us will have to accept “sewist”
Marie
Sewist should become a ne.w word. Many people use it and it’s a lot better than sewer. Seamstress makes me think of someone that makes clothing. I just think sewist would be a little more general. It’s kind of like when the typewriter was invented. What do you call the person that uses it? Should they be called a type writer? That was too confusing, so “they” settled on typist. Yes, time for sewist to become a word.
Gertrude
I feel just the same on all counts. I understand the need to adjust to new words, just like we need to learn to like certain new clothing or decorating styles but eventually we come to even like these “new” things. So we adjust to sewist and one day will forget it was a point of discussion.
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I’m sure you are right!
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I’m in your camp-but it has taken me awhile!
Pam Arbour
I had to chuckle out loud reading this post! The English language can be really difficult. When I hear the word “seamstress”, I think of one who is highly skilled at garment making. Therefore, I think that word is very appropriate for the Saturday Posts even though they aren’t making garments, they appear to be refined and skilled. I hope you don’t change the name of the Saturday posts.
I think the term quilter has evolved over the years. I have made close to 200 bed size quilts from start to finish, but don’t consider myself a “quilter”. I make quilts but I don’t consider myself to be a master.
The term “sewist” reminds me of methodical assembly line sewing. I don’t care for that term.
I guess until there is a single word to distinguish people who make quilts, we will all need to be called “quilters” even though I don’t think I have reached that level in my mind.
It will be interesting to hear what others think.
Thanks for the chuckles.
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Wow! Very interesting that you think “quilter” implies mastery!–like “artist” implies mastery. Language is so fascinating with all it encompasses!
Rebecca Grace
Pam, if you have made 200 quilts you are DEFINITELY a quilter!! Your quilts don’t have to be perfect in order for you to be a quilter! The famous Ghee’s Bend quilts aren’t perfect, but they were made by quilters. The Dear Jane quilt isn’t perfect, but it’s hanging in a museum and its maker has become one of the most famous quilters of all time.
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Amen!! I agree wholeheartedly!
Amanda Pitman
Seamstresses in Fine Art may not roll off the tongue (not everything can), but like the titles for the pieces you have been sharing it tells us what we are looking at. My experience is that trendy is hard to keep up with and fossils are dead and fragile. Can we, instead, choose to mature elegantly?
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Love it! “Mature Elegance”
Margie
I have issues with the word sew when I type. It wants to auto correct to see. So when I say ” I tried to see today but kept getting distracted” you see what I mean.
I am not fond of sewer either. I am not a seamstress I make quilts. Is there a word that encompasses all? If sewist covers it then sewist it is. Otherwise hold a contest and see if we can make up another word
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I think you hit the nail on the head. There isn’t another word that encompasses all-that’s where sewist comes in.
Rebecca Grace
But there ARE other terms that encompasses all — Textile Artist and Fiber Artist! Why is it that women who sew have such a hard time calling themselves artists?
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I don’t know but “artist” won’t fly because it implies a skill level for some people.
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
I do like sewist, it is gender neutral and combines one who sews with artist. That, to me, is the closest to the actual way I view what we do. We create art with sewing.
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Many people have a difficult time calling themselves artists so sewist would be hard too.
Carol g
I find sewist affected. I just say “I sew”.
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That’s how I felt at first but it does get more complicated when you need several tenses of the word for writing etc.
lswanekamp
Hate sewist. So phony and pretentious sounding. I am a quilter. Quilts require sewing, cutting, planning, finishing, auditioning, ripping, etc. I think the quilt process describes me better than someone who sews. I make quilts. And love it.
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We are lucky because we are quilters but it’s more complicated if you sew many types of projects.
Caren
I don’t like words that are tied to gender. Seamstress is feminine and because of that, undervalued. Didn’t a tailor have more status than a seamstress? I like sewist because it removes gender and elevates the art a bit. Like calling my space a studio instead of a sewing room. I just bought a half yard of a solid aqua. Ready when you are:)
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You make some great points! Aqua is good–can’t wait!
knottedthreadtales
Though i don’t really like sewist, I think it will become the new term for a person who sews. Language is such a moving target, English in the year 500 would have looked far more Germanic (though different) and in the year 1000, it had already gained new words and new grammar, by Shakespeare was an entirely different language with a grammar quite distinct from any other German descendent. What makes us think it should stop changing now? Sigh. But onward we go.
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Language is so interesting when you see that it is ever changing!
Yolande Bergeron
Bonjour
I do not like the word Seamstress. In french the word is COUTURIÈRE, it is less stressfull.
Yolande
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Lol-less stressful!
Carol Fraser
Please not ‘sewist.” I leave any site that uses that word. Who cares what the trend is?
Floy Heidenreich
Some very interesting viewpoints here. I have never liked sewist because I felt it was a ‘snobby’ term. As if seamstress or quilter was not good enough. The fact that it came in with the younger generation and the modern quilt movement only served to solidify that observation in MY humble opinion. I may soften toward the word too, but remember it’s we quilters and seamstresses that paved the way.
Conchita
I really hate “sewist” but to be honest only because it doesn’t exist, is made up and sounds awful. I have no problem with “sewer” or “seamstress” although sewer now reminds me of draining, thank you ? I’ve always used “seamstress” but to be honest as we quilt, I think “Quilters” is the more appropriate for us gals, don’t you think?
Perhaps “sewist” hasn’t made it yet into the Oxford dictionary because it is grammatically incorrect and hard on the ears phonetically. Also sewing is not a new thing like selfies, email etc which aren’t things that existed before and needed a new word. Sewing has been around since man threw out his old fig leaf so giving it a new word is not the same or necessary.
I think I’ll stick to Quilter and Seamstress. ?
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Very good point! But there isn’t a word for people who do many types of stitching
A Fabric Hoarding Grandma
Yes there is such a work – it is needleworker!
Kathy
This topic reminds me of a quote from my 4year old grandson. “Gram, you’re a better sewer than my Mom cause you have more sewing machines”. I liked his logic!
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Love that!
Carol
Since you like the word stitch, why not say stitcher… Or just quilter? Sewist sounds silly to me, sewer is definitely in the gutter, and seamstress sounds old fashioned and garment related.
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The dilemma…stitcher sounds like cross stitcher to me!! Lol
Renee
In French it is couturiere.
It is a beautiful word that defines a person who sew. A man who sew is either a tailor in French Un tailleur ou Un couturier.
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Very pretty!
Pat S
I never cared for any of those words either. They seem awkward to me. Since I only make quilts, it is pretty easy for me to just refer to myself as a quilter.
Jane stump
Has anyone considered the “other” meaning for the word seamstress? In the gold mining days of the FarWest, women of the evening used that term to advertise their business! I wish for a title that is gender neutral and reflects all of us who enjoy sewing, whether for clothing, home decor, quilts, or just for fun…
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I didn’t know that use of the term. Thanks for sharing!
Annette Rose
“Sewer” comes off my lips more naturally than “Sewist.” It’s the spelling that is the problem. So I’ve been spelling it as a hyphenated word — “Sew-er.”
Dorthe
I tend to use patchworker or quilter
scraps2go
I don’t care for “sewist” either. We Quilter aren’t called “Quiltist”
Giuditta
I despise “sewist;” not only is it improper, but it sounds ugly. Love the comment from the previous poster who said it’s pretentious. I agree!
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Fascinating discussion. It is a hard sell for many of us!
Rebecca Grace
I find “sewist” to be simultaneously pretentious AND self-deprecating. “Sewist” says that someone thinks of themselves as somehow superior to the generations of seamstresses, tailors, and quilters who came before them, yet these same “sewists” are too insecure to embrace the term “textile artist” that would not only confer greater respect on today’s cloth-based artistic endeavors, but would also recognize the achievements of prior generations. The garments of Coco Chanel and Mme. Vionnet are in museums because they are works of art. The Dear Jane quilt and many others are in museums because they are works of art. Referring to oneself as a sewist rather than as a textile artist implies a belief that what one is doing with needle and thread is so ground-breaking that it has no connection to what seamstresses, quilters, and tailors have been doing for centuries, and this is clearly false because we are building on skills and techniques that have been passed down through the generations. However, calling ourselves AND our forbears textile artists acknowledges and respects that each generation builds on the work of previous generations of artist, while innovating and creating new ways of expression in the medium.
Laroletta Petty
Wow, interesting commentary. I do not like the word ‘sewist’. It just sounds fabricated to me. I come from a textile background. I took classes to learn ‘to tailor’. This meant garments such as coats and jackets that had a lot of inner construction. They were made for women as well as men. However, the concept evolved that only men were tailors-not even close to being true. I also took ‘draping’ and ‘flat pattern’ classes. The skill was called being a seamstress. We assume the term means ladies apparel. The term ‘quilter’ means to make quilts. It is only gender neutral because it has been invaded by a large number of men who produce wonderful, artful quilts. I feel really led down by the kitchy phrase, ‘sewist’. It means nothing of consequence. New language usage is not always helpful because it has ‘politically correct’ motivation. I am a tailor, seamstress or quilter-whichever describes the task I am doing. I am going to use aqua for the upcoming project and I am going to be a quilter.
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Very interesting. I agree that if the motivation is to be pc we should avoid the change. However I think Sewist is more encompassing to include all types of sewing rather than gender.
Rebecca Grace
Laroletta, you are a prime example in my mind of a textile artist — you have learned the skills and techniques of your craft from the traditions of previous generations, and are applying them to create unique works of textile art today.
A Fabric Hoarding Grandma
I agree with you about the word sewer! It does make you think of plumbing problems. But I don’t care for seamstress either. I tried to attach a beautiful photo I have of my grandfather. It was taken in the early 40s and he was sitting at work sewing something – probably a uniform that needed repair. With so many wonderful male quilters and clothing designers we need to not label those skills as female.
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Agreed!
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Please send the photo to my email. Lckennedy@hotmail.com
SuzieSeamstress
Sewist rings true about as much as quiltist. Seamstress works whether your seams are 5/8″ or 1/4″.
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Lol!
Maggie Nichols
I prefer “artist” and think we short-change ourselves when we use anything less.
Rebecca Grace
YES!!!
Veronica
Sewist doesn’t bother me. Sewer looks funny when written. But on that note, I wish people would stop overusing “awesome” and “pops” and find alternatives among the other gazillion words in the English (or borrow form another) language. “This color makes it pop.” and “That would be awesome!” *sigh*
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After awhile those words lose their meaning through over use. Thanks for the reminder!
Carol Elmer
I like the seamstress term for the fine art. It fits the subject. Always have considered it an elegant old fashioned term.
Rebecca Grace
Love this discussion. Hate “sewist,” not because I’m opposed to the creation of new words for new times, but because it doesn’t follow the conventions of the English language. For instance, one who makes art (art is a noun) is called an artist. One who creates landscapes (also a noun) is called a landscaper. One who quilts (quilt is also a noun) is a quilter. So a sewist is one who makes sew… what?? And I have the same objection to the term “sewer,” which is also not a word but an awkward attempt to create a gender-neutral alternative to “seamstress.”
I am not a fan of “seamstress,” either, because to my mind, a seamstress is a low-level factory sewing job. The seamstress sits at a machine in an assembly line and sews the same seam over and over on each garment that comes down the line, but does not ever make an entire garment from start to finish. One seamstress sews all of the side seams in the T-shirts, and another seamstress attaches the collar ribbing on all the T-shirts. And, of course, “seamstress” is gender specific and excludes the many men who sew.
So I advocate multiple terms that reflect the many different pursuits people engage in related to sewing. In my mind, anyone who makes a quilt is a quilter. Someone who sews tailored suits is a tailor. Someone who sews primarily costumes for theatre or festivals is a costumer. If someone’s sewing consists primarily of embroidery, whether by hand or by machine, that person is an embroiderer. Most other types of sewing these days fits under the umbrella of textile artist, really — and that’s a much more empowering and accurate reflection of what people are doing whether they are exploring couture garment construction, creating one-of-a-kind handbags, or experimenting with combining techniques from different sewing traditions to create something fresh and new.
Going back to that term “sewist”: I would argue that most people advocating for that term would be more accurately described as textile artists, but they are like the commenter who said that she has made 200 quilts but doesn’t feel like she’s good enough to call herself a quilter. They know that what they are doing is something more than “seamstress,” but they balk at the term “textile artist” because it sounds too lofty, too pretentious, perhaps too professional. They feel unworthy.
But consider that Vincent Van Gogh sold only one painting in his entire lifetime. And yet he continued to paint, presumably because — just like the multitude of so-called “sewists” out there — he had a deep, primal urge to create that was central to his very being. Even if his paintings (according to everyone around him) were no good and he wasn’t a “professional” because he didn’t make money at his craft, Van Gogh kept expressing himself through his paintings because that’s who he was and that’s what he had to do. But would any of us dare to call Van Gogh a “paintist” rather than an artist?
Art is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” The sewing activities of the 21st century are no longer strictly utilitarian. We’re all applying and expressing human creative skills and imagination when we create quilts, clothing, costumes, dolls, handbags, and the myriad other things we make with needle and thread. Furthermore, we are absolutely producing these things primarily for their beauty or emotional power, because we all know we can get functional clothing, blankets, and purses at Walmart for a lot less money than it costs us to create something original and unique. This is art, people!
I think we all create today for the same reasons that Van Gogh created back in the 19th century, and those who make any kind of art are artists. We are artists not because our work hangs in galleries or museums, not because our quilts win ribbons or grace magazine covers in our lifetimes, not because our efforts are validated when our works sell for impressive sums. Fabric and thread are textiles. Therefore, those who create art using the medium of fabric and thread should refer to themselves as:
TEXTILE ARTISTS.
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Thank you!!
Sondra Gingery
I’ve enjoyed reading the comments, and got my giggle going strong for the day! But I like Laroletta Petty’s reply. I am a garment maker, I am a quilter, I am one who creates and also one who mends, I make soft toys of any kind, I am a spinner of fiber, I am a knitter and a crocheter, I make and repair outdoor equipment, I upholster furniture. My list could go on, and I’ve come up with many ridiculously funny titles for each one. But what it all comes down to is that I love to create things that are made from fibers, and I also use the medium I understand the best to make my world a better place. I don’t know if there is a title for that.
For your giggles and snickers, I would like to share a title for both the machine and the user I ran across this week. A mostly masculine chat group for those who enjoy making hammocks and other outdoor items calls the machines “Thread Injectors” and I guess that makes them “Thread Injector Operators”.
However we describe ourselves, I’m all for celebrating what we love to do. Nouns (titles) limit me, but adjectives and adverbs free me to describe myself with seriousness or humor – what fun!
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Lol! Great comment. Thanks for sharing!
Eklectika
Nix on the sewist word for me. I totally agree with SuzieSeamstress! Whether 1/4 inch or 5/8ths….we’re all sewing seams! Seamstress, please & thank you! ***smiles***
Tweela Houtekamer
I have heard the terms “fabric artist”, “mixed media artist” and “textile artist” all used by those who create with fabric and thread. One such artist explained that she purposely avoided the word “quilter” because, to others, it had a utilitarian sound and fell in the area of “craft” rather than “art”. It is interesting that a new word can change the perspective of those viewing our creations.
helenmarie
I definitely don’t like sewer…. stitcher can refer to any variety of sewing… I like sewist best. And I don’t care how out of vogue it might be… I would much rather sew on my treadle over any computerized sewing machine any day!
Holly
I loathe the word “Sewist.” It smacks of the pretension I associate with people who learn to hem a towel, then plaster Instagram with photos of it as if they’d personally invented sewing. A hipster-ish conceit that implies the “new” version is somehow better than what came before it – even as it ignores it’s own history.
In understand the problem with “sewer” in print. But there are plenty of other words you can choose:
Seamstress (or Seamster/Sempster if you’re male), Couturier, Needleworker, Quilter, Dressmaker, Tailor/Tailoress, Embroiderer/-ess, heck, “Maker” if you want to include All The Things.
I don’t get the kerfuffle over needing every word to be “gender neutral.” Many other languages apply feminine or masculine identity to every noun. Nor is it that hard to throw in an “or” so everybody feels included.
If you’re discussing quilting, use “quilter.” If you’re talking garment or accessory sewing, “Seamstress” or “Seamster” is appropriate.
Please, please – no “sewist.”
Jacqueline Lee Lambie
Oh boy! I can’t wait! I didn’t know about it last year. How fun!
Can’t wait for your new Craftsy Class comes out also.
Love you, Jacqueline Lambie
June Neigum
When you google sewer you get plumbing answers and depending on your accent sewer is recognized as anything but a seamstress or quilter. What about textelist or textilist . We all work with textiles in so many ways but maybe that is to close to text??
Kathy Appleby
I’m with Rebecca Grace!! Well said!
lilquilter
Me, too! This has been a most interesting discussion and I have enjoyed reading all of the comments. I have been addicted to quilt making since the early 80s and have made bed quilts, wallhangings and various other small projects. I do not consider my self a quilt artist because I’m more of a technician – when I go to quilt shows, I’m more likely to ask “how did she do that?” than “what emotion is she trying to convey?” and I am much more comfortable with a needle and thread than I am with a pencil or paintbrush. Although I call myself a quiltmaker, after all this time, I should probably consider myself a quilter. Or, maybe a UFOmaker!
Betty Jo Tatum
Very interesting discussion on what really is an important issue. We need men, children, and women all in our sewing world to keep it going economically. I love seeing men in the craft.. It’s ok to call oneself a “seamstress” if you are a woman. What do you call yourself if you are a man who sews shirts and quilts but doesn’t make suits? They are not “tailors”. There is such a snobbery in any language. I think “sewist” doesn’t quite roll off the tongue and may not be the best answer, but it does answer the need for defining a person who sews and who may sew many different types of things (like me…I quilt, sew garments, including tailored garments, make home dec and bags). I am therefore a seamstress, a tailor, a quilter, and a sewist. LOL
Linda D
Terminology evolves over time. I’m not just a seamstress or a quilter. You can call me anything you want when referring to my many types of sewing endeavors, but TEXTILE ARTIST does seem to apply to all of us who enjoy working with any kind of needle and thread. The term “art” can encompass a lot of things, as so eloquently detailed by a previous commenter.
Marlys in Indiana
Textile artist, at first, sounds a bit lofty. Yet, as Van Gogh, if we are making our quilts because we enjoy doing it and, perhaps, as gifts for family and not for sale and making up the design as we go (pretty much how I quilt) I guess we really could call ourselves “textile artists”.
As the other poster who stated making at least 200 quilts but doesn’t consider herself/himself a quilter, I would, quite proudly, call myself a quilter. I don’t believe you have to be the greatest quilter in the world to use the term “quilter” to describe yourself.
After making that many quilts you better believe you are a quilter. I haven’t made that many, but I call myself a quilter and I’m definitely not the greatest quilter in the world either.
No matter what we call ourselves, we really are quilter even if we do other types of sewing as well. I’m not crazy about the term sewer, or sewist, seamstress (which to me implies clothing construction). I, too, have made clothing, done embroidery along with quilting.
That’s right! We are textile artists. That settles it. LOL
gladquilts
This “thread” of conversation is interesting. I only learned the word “sewist” recently and think it adds some class to what we do. I am a “quilter”, because I have a long-arm machine and work on other people’s “pieced” quilts. In my life I have been a stitcher, sewer, tailor, seamstress, home dec fabricator, and sail maker. But, I like sewist the best of all. As an artist in fabric, I like the sophistication of that word. Call me a snob, but I think at my senior age and since I belong to the traditional and modern quilting groups in my area, I think I can carry that as my title for now. Thanks
carolejm
Will do on the solid for next week.
Generally I say I am a quilter, but otherwise would just say I am someone who sews. It is funny how there is no proper phrase or title.
Jan Wortinger
I wondered about sewer? also and sewist??? Love your column. Have learned a lot. Thank you and Happy Easter.
Joy
Sewist is not for me. I’m fine with sewer. Spoken or written. Used in context it’s obvious the meaning. Thousands of words in English have more than one meaning.
JanineMarie
Oh my, you could really step into something here. I’ve never liked sewer for the same reason as you. I’m getting somewhat used to sewist, although at first I thought it sounded uppity. I will always refer to myself as a quilter. But even that word is losing it’s meaning a bit because now many people are really patchworkers or piecers–they hire the actual quilting out to someone else. I love Seamstresses in Fine Art because it seems nostalgic, and let’s face it: old art often shows women sewing. Maybe it could be People Who Really Love To Sew in Fine Art. Doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Conchita Quilt
OK, OK, I’ve got it ladies….. drum-roll please we are…. wait for it…. CRAFTY CREATIVE CRAFTERS who can create anything from A to Z????
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Lol!!
Lynne @ boutschoisis
Sewer is definitely smelly plumbing related. Sewist is a terrible word – I would never use it. Perhaps because I am English and live in France I enjoy patchwork and thus quilting is what holds the project together when the patchwork is finished. I describe myself as a needlewoman in English ( because I like cross stitch, patchwork and making clothes etc) and I do like the word “couturière” in French. I do acknowledge that needleman would sound a bit odd – but nowhere near as odd as “sewist”! Seamstress is a good word but a bit Jane Austen era perhaps …
Nancy
I reject all versions of sewer and prefer “Quilter” or “Quilt Artist”. You are a sewer until you make you first quilt. Then you are a Quilter and never looking back. Case closed.
I have disposed of all my dress patterns, knit fabrics and other stuff that was required for sewing and replaced it with quilting books, quilting fabrics, rulers, etc.
I am having the time of my life and will never make a garment again.
lilquilter
DITTO!! I’ve loved the needle arts (crafts??) since i got my knitting knobby when I was little. But once I found quilting, everything else went out the window. Fabrics! Colors! So many patterns and designs and always something new to learn. As to “sewist,” I thought that was a term made up by the new generation of quilters, sewers and makers, as a term to include all of the projects they are doing – quilts and pillows for decor, clothes, purses and totes, stuffed toys, and all the various other things I see in modern quilters’ blogs. I figured they wanted a term that implies modern rather than traditional.
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