Song Club #48: Patchwork

On patterns, textures, and unlikely juxtaposition.

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I’ve never owned a patchwork quilt, let alone made one. And yet, as I stared at one on a Zoom call earlier this week, I felt I understood them. Or, more truthfully, that I could extract ‘lessons’ from the patchwork quilt to be applied to songwriting.

How I developed such hubris, I’m not sure. I did watch How To Make An American Quilt a number of times in the 90s, but I think I learned mostly from that how much I loved (LOVED) Winona Ryder.

No, this unwarranted confidence comes from a fascination with patterns, textures, and unlikely juxtaposition when writing and arranging songs. I see all of these things expressed through patchwork quilts, and as such they seemed like a very promising map for music-making.

Beyond these parallels, my very quick research revealed such notions as applique, and the fact back in the day patchwork blocks
were made out of scraps, over time. Both these things feel applicable to songs too.

And so, this week I want us to explore patchwork quilts in relation to our songwriting.

Big love and keep going,
Lucy

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