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If you have a favourite Sewer you would like to see profiled, or if you are interested in being profiled yourself, please send Sarah an email at sarah@sewn.net.au

SUE SPARGO

Sewn talks with folk art quilt designer, Sue Spargo.

Sue was born in Zambia, Southern Africa. She has since lived in England and now in the USA, but Africa remains a source of creativity and flavours her work. Her wonderfully whimsical woollen quilts carry this theme through them, as well as a focus on colour and texture.

Sue designs and sews her wonderful quilts using mostly a range of hand dyed wools, dyed for her by her very talented sister, Wendy! What a wonderful luxury to have someone on tap to create just the colour you are looking for. Through her classes and books, Sue passes her love of quilting to her students.
I was lucky enough to meet Sue on several occasions and to spend some time with her during her recent visit to Australia! She and her sister Wendy gave the lucky students who attended her classes an amazing few days instruction in her techniques. Another trip is planned for August 2010 so watch Sewn for details!

I hope you enjoy this wonderful interview from Sue, and don’t forget to go and download the beautiful free pattern for her Blue Bird Needle Keeper. I think this one has to be on my project list! Thank you Sue for your friendship and generosity.

Insights from Sue

Q. Where did you learn to sew? What was the first thing you remember sewing or knitting?

My mom was a great sewer. She taught me to sew at a young age. I remember making many outfits for my Barbie dolls. While I was in high school my mom and dad used to visit the USA and bring back packages of cotton calicos which I treasured. These were not readily available in South Africa. I made my first quilt, a grandmother’s flower garden, in high school.

Q. Have you been creative since you were a child or did you discover your creativity as an adult?

I have always loved to create. My dad is very artistic and he encouraged both Wendy and I to take many different classes while growing up. These are a few of the techniques I have dabbled in; pottery, pastel portrait painting, stain glass, encaustics, jewellery making and many sewing techniques.

Q. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be an occupational therapist. I ended up doing nursing for the first few years of my working career but now I feel very blessed to be creating every day. It is wonderful to do something daily that I am so passionate about.

Q. You grew up in South Africa. Has this influenced your work?

Yes, I think it definitely has.  Having lived in Africa has influenced both my design and colour palette. I think the simplistic but graphic designs, with contrasting colours was very prevalent in my childhood.

Q. You use mainly wool in your quilts. Tell us about what first made you use wool and why you like it.

Five years ago I was looking to branch out on my own and form my own company. There were so many designers in the quilting business that I knew I needed a unique image. My sister Wendy offered to dye some wool for my website. We started with 49 colours dyed over exceptional quality wool. What more do I have to say! I can have any colour of wool to design with, the sky is the limit.  I have never turned back. Wool is a wonderful medium to stitch and I just don’t believe there is another medium that embellishes so wonderfully.

Q. Your quilts are often highly embellished. What dimension does this add to the work for you?

I love to use hand dyed yarns, threads and beads to embellish. It adds wonderful interest as well as dimension to each piece. I layer so each appliqué piece is embellished with embroidery stitches and fibres. This defines the edges of the appliqué and makes them come alive. I do not do very contrasting embellishments so when you look at my quilts you seem to be drawn into them and then discover all the added hand work.

Q. You journal your quilts very thoroughly. When did you start doing this and does if affect the way you work on your quilts?

I have sketched for years and have many journals which I keep full of ideas that would work for appliqué and pieced projects. I like to do black ink drawings and then let the quilt idea evolve as I go along. Nothing is set in stone I use the drawings as a starting point as the final project has many layers and is far more involved than the initial idea. I also do individual journals for some of my ‘Journey Cloths’. These are more involved and have a definite focus. Journaling is a wonderful way to edit your thoughts.

Q. Which quilters/ designers/ authors do you find inspiring?

I am very inspired by the work of Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and Nancy Crow. I just love their use of colour and graphic design. I also am intrigued with the Gees Bend Quilts.

Q. What are you working on next?

I have an endless list of projects I would love to do. One of them is a collaborative project with Wendy. We would love to do a series of quilts from our travels together which include South Africa, Vietnam, Australia and Italy.
I am also working on a couple of new quilts including new techniques and fabrics.
And I can’t wait to see the finished quilt I am doing with my favourite Australian designer. I believe it is still a secret so you will have to wait passionately to hear all about it.

(Don’t give the game away Sue!! You can all sneak on over to The Last Piece to see a little peak of this quilt. We have had WAY too much fun doing this!! All will be revealed soon in Down Under Quilts. Sarah)

AND here is a FREE pattern from Sue exclusive to SEWN! Click on quilt to go to download page



If you or your local shop are interested in hosting Sue Spargo for classes in Australia or New Zealand in August 2010, please contact sarah@sewn.net.au