Patchwork: A World Tour, Catherine Legrand

Patchwork: A World Tour is a global celebration of the ancient art of patchwork and appliqué. Over 300 examples—from Korean bojagi wrapping cloths to Cameroonian Bamileke boubous, Peruvian montera hats and Hungarian shepherd coats—are drawn together in a richly illustrated tapestry. Each piece is not merely shown but woven into its cultural context, spotlighting local techniques and motifs while revealing the shared human impulse to piece together fabric, memory and identity.

Like the craft it honours, the volume itself is constructed from fragments—vibrant photographs, insightful captions and evocative travelogue narration—that allow the practitioners’ creativity and labour to shine. Legrand’s deep field research across continents infuses the book with authenticity; this is more than a showcase of beautiful textiles, it’s a celebration of lives and traditions stitched together across time and place.

About the Author
Catherine Legrand began her journey as a graphic designer with the Théâtre du Soleil in 1963, later working in New York and Paris before establishing herself as a textile designer and passionate collector. Her extensive ‘textile voyages’—across Asia, Africa and the Americas—are the foundation of her curatorial approach.

Publication date: 2022
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Pages: 216
ISBN: 9780500025819

Enchanted by Patchwork: A World Tour? Begin your own journey—try these free, charming tutorials: Make a Patchwork Placemat and Patchwork Pincushion.