An interview with the master of mimimalist quilting: Yoshiko Jinzenji
Almost a decade ago I was working at a major book wholesaler. Near the water cooler was a cart of books that came through the department on their way to cataloguing. When I had a few moments, I’d browse through the random selection of books. I can only recall one book from that cart that changed my life, Quilt Artistry by Yoshiko Jinzenji.
This was before the online modern quilting community existed. The quilts in the book were like nothing I had seen before. They were revolutionary to how I was thinking about quilting. I did an awful thing and photocopied a couple pages out of it because it was so amazing and to capture the info to order the book. I ordered the book through our employee discount order, but a couple weeks later it came back with red pen dashed through the title and a note saying “not in stock”. I checked Amazon and it was a title that was not available. I figured it would show up on Amazon in a few weeks. It didn’t.
All I had were a couple pages of photocopies, a title and a name. I would look at the photocopies, wishing I had made more copies, wishing I could own the book. I stalked Amazon for years and asked multiple bookshops if they could order it for me before it was finally republished in 2008.
Like her book, even her fabrics were enigmatic for me. I heard of, but never saw her out-of-print fabrics, until unexpectedly stumbling upon them at the Houston Quilt Show a couple years ago. I am incredibly excited that Yuwa fabrics is releasing her fabric again. If you are a retailer that will be carrying her fabric, please post in the comments. For wholesale inquires on carrying Yoshiko’s line of fabric, please contact Etsuko Shibayama.
Yoshiko Jinzenji is the New York Dolls of the modern quilt world. She influences the influencers. She lives in Kyoto, Japan and first encountered quilts when she lived in Toronto, Canada. Her unique and revolutionary perspective is highlighted in her books, Quilt Artistry, Quilting: Line + Color, Simple Quilt and Quilt Creation. She has exhibited all over the world and her quilts hang in the permanent collections of several museums. A pioneer of minimalist quilt design, she teaches workshops in Kyoto, Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia. More information can be found from her website.
Yoshiko Jinzenji’s Fabric Collection with Yuwa Fabrics. Additional photos in the Yoshiko Jinzenji Flickr group.
What is your chief characteristic? Creative Activity
What is your main fault? I don’t know
What is your favorite occupation? Creator
What is your idea of happiness? Do as I like to do
What is your idea of misery? Force to do which I don’t like
If not yourself, who would you be? I don’t know
What is the quality you most admire in someone? Creative and honest
What do you appreciate most in friends? Understand the way of my life
What inspires you? Nature
Who is your favorite artist? The architect Mr. Yoshio Taniguichi
Who is your favorite non-fabric designer? Issei Miyake
What is your favorite color? White
What is your favorite neutral? Sky Blue
When did you complete your first quilt? Where is it now? 1972, I don’t know.
What are the number of WIPs, UFOs and projects on your to do list? 2 WIP, 5 UFO
How old is your oldest UFO? 3 years
What is the current state of your studio? Same as usual
What do you listen to when you sew? I don’t listen to anything
What was your first machine? Singer sewing machine
What is your current machine? Bernina
What is your favorite sewing tool? Sewing machine
What was the last piece of fabric you bought? Organic cotton
What was your last completed project? Organic cotton Quilts series
Do you have one of your quilts on your bed? Yes
What is your favorite part of the quilting process? Construction
What is your least favorite part of the quilting process? I have never thought
What is your favorite time of day to sew? Night
Do you fudge? No
Cats or Dogs? I have dogs
Your favorite motto? TRUTH IS ALMIGHTY
Admin Note: I will be on vacation until the end of July, new quilts and posts will be back in August.
