Sewing With Nancy

Even when stitchers and quilters don't speak the same language communication can abound. My Nancy's Corner's guest found that out firsthand as she teaches Hmong women to quilt while they teach her, oh, so much more. Please welcome Martha Sumi. Martha is of Sew Sumi Quilt Designs. Welcome to Sewing with Nancy. Thank you so much, Nancy. When I heard your story I knew it was for Sewing with Nancy. Oh, thank you. It started out with a quilters newsletter. Yes, my quilt guild, Mad City Quilters had a newsletter. In the newsletter, there was an article saying that there was a group of Hmong women in Madison and that their group was in need of some sewing supplies and sewing machines. So I thought, I've got an extra machine I'd love to donate it. So I spoke with the coordinator who was collecting the materials. She was very clever and she said "Well, I'd love to have your donation but why don't you come out and meet these women and see who you're donating to." The hook was set. It's been such a lovely experience since then. I was showing them one of my quilts and one of them who had some English held it up and said, "You teach me to make?" I said, "Yes, I will teach you." You started by teaching the basic log cabin using foundation. These are your samples you work with. These are the samples. Because they don't speak much English and I certainly don't speak Hmong I teach them by showing them with a sample how things are actually made. A traditional American-style quilt block. Exactly, and what happens through the process of teaching them the western style is that they incorporate their own traditional styles. Here we have a very traditional, east or west, a star block. But the Hmong women make this in a very unusual way by folding fabric, making those corners and points and then appliquing it by hand. So they make this part, the star and then they added the more western style traditional log cabin block. The colorations are typical Hmong colorations. Yes, their color choices are just wonderful. I have to show you, because there's an Honorable Mention from a quilt show. Who made this? A woman named -- Vang made this. It's just charming. Then in the traditional Hmong culture they don't use patterns, you were telling me. This is a cross stitch embroidered piece traditional for a New Year's celebration. No, they don't have written patterns. They do it from memory. She had made these blocks 20 years ago and didn't know what to do with them. After she learned about making the log cabin she made this into a log cabin piece. It's lovely. We owe a lot to the Hmong culture. We do, and when I talk to people about who I'm teaching and what I'm doing they don't have a good understanding. The Hmong are here because during the Vietnam War era they were the troops on the ground in Laos for and on behalf of the United States. When things collapsed and the U.S. pulled out most of the Hmong were left behind. Now they're able to immigrate to the United States. There are about a quarter-million Hmong in America. You're learning from them, as well. Oh, so much, it's unbelievable. You told me that you work with an interpreter. Yes. Every Thursday, you work with them together at the women's center. It's in Madison, Wisconsin. It's a day program. The women who come there are so creative. They take the supplies that I'm able to offer them and they re-create. This is a very traditional Hmong cross stitch block. She's added things that we have taught and experimented with in terms of appliqu. Little, little stitching. This is very western, but at the same time very Hmong this particular pattern. The combination of fabrics is fascinating. It's stunning. They use whatever they have. Every Thursday, you teach but then it's reciprocal. I am invited for lunch. We have a delightful lunch. What a wonderful way to teach, Martha. Thanks for sharing these beautiful works of art. You can see that creativity has no boundaries cultural or geographic. That's exactly right. If you'd like to learn more about the program that Martha teaches, you can go to NancyZieman.com where you'll find all things Sewing with Nancy whether it's re-watching the program. You can watch this program again 52 of our shows are there. If you click on Nancy's Corner you'll be able to go to Martha's website and then be connected and read another story about the people that she works with and teaches. Thanks for joining us for this first program of "Travel Gear Made Easy." Bye for now.