Making of a Very Manly Quilt

Solar Fast printing process of a quote by Doug Emhoff.

When I came across this quote in a New York Times article, it stopped me in my tracks. I’d never heard anything like this, ever, from anyone. Stunning. Of course I wanted to print it.

Originally, my plan was to print this quote on a hankie. My collection of vintage hankies is only of women’s vintage, printed or embroidered handkerchiefs, so I ordered a set of new men’s handkerchiefs.

Usually, I print my cyanotypes and Solar Fast prints indoors, with a special UV light box. When I tried to print this one, above, I was doing some other cyanotype printing outdoors and I thought I’d try this one outdoors as well, especially because the hankie is larger than my light box.

Cyantype prints are generally printed dry, that is, you apply the chemicals to your paper or fabric and allow it to dry in the dark. Solar Fast dye must be printed while the dye is wet, so immediately after application. This is usually fine. The issue I did not anticipate is that the plastic transparency film that has the words, on a hot sunny day in early fall, would gather condensation on the underside of it. This meant I didn’t get a quality print.

I could have solved that by using cyanotype chemicals, applied to a hankie and allowed to dry, but I took it as a sign that this piece wanted to be bigger.

I printed the text on regular white fabric, as a cyanotype, and made a small quilt, or quilted banner.

Quilt in progress, showing materials. Elaine Luther’s studio.

The purchased, pre-treated cyanotype fabric was a little shorter than my found (i.e. purchased) quilt blocks made of men’s shirts. These are probably the only quilt blocks I own that read masculine. I made up the size using this vintage Japanese fabric that I’ve had for years – it’s one of those things that’s both too precious and too distinctive to use easily. I finally cut into it.

Completed quilt by Elaine Luther, with quote from Doug Emhoff. September, 2024. The quote says, “Lifting up women so that they can carry out important work is a very manly thing to do.” -Doug Emhoff.

In the photo above, you can see that the quilt is done, except for the binding, which will be a solid navy blue. After this point, I have to stop to finish some other art on deadline.

That’s it!  That’s the piece!  It connects to my other quilt banners about women’s rights, role and labor.  I’ll be including this one in my exhibition proposal for my next solo show.