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!
101 comments
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.
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.
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.
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”
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.
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!
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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!
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.
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I’m in your camp-but it has taken me awhile!
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!
Pamela North
Seamstress please…..
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I’m afraid that some of us will have to accept “sewist”
Joyce
Love the photos. I like “sewist “.
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