Patchwork quilt value added products - Consumer acceptance*. Crafts of tribal people have their own characteristics in respect of patterns, colour schemes, ...
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (2) : (265-267) 2011
Patchwork quilt value added products - Consumer acceptance* Crafts of tribal people have their own characteristics in respect of patterns, colour schemes, shapes and techniques which can be exclusively recognized as 'tribal'. The tribal craft specimens mainly include utilitarian and decorative objects. Of the utilitarian objects, mention may be made of textile items such as cotton coat, cloth, shawl, skirt, sari, chaddar, loin cloth, blouse, jacket, vein, bag, caps and so on. Tribal people earn their livelihood by undertaking many occupations such as forestry and food gathering, shifting cultivation, settled agriculture, agricultural and industrial labour, animal husbandry, fishing, trade and commerce of household industry including handicrafts is a prime occupation (Chaudhari, 1982). Patchwork enjoyed a widespread revival during the great depression after world war - I, because it was a way to recycle worn out clothing into warm quilts. Every small and worn out pieces of material are suitable for patchwork. Some textile artists worked with patchwork often combining it with embroidery and other forms of stitchery (Valintine, 1973). Quilting was originally worked by stitching two layers of fabric together with a soft padding in between as the most practical way of obtaining warmth. The villagers in Northern Karnataka are famous in making quilts of typical style that are elaborate and exclusively handmade. Quilt is called as 'kaudi' in Kannada the regional language of Karnataka. Quilting is now the family occupation of nomadic tribal women belonging to 'Gondhali' community. Hence, the present investigation was taken up with a view to develop patchwork quilt value added products, thus throwing light on the opinion of consumers towards modernization of traditional quilt (kaudi) making technology. The present study was conducted at Department of Textiles and Apparel Designing, College of Rural Home Science, University of Agricultural Sciences during 2007-09. Four value added articles viz., baby quilts, table runners, table mats and wall hangings were developed using three types of patchworks
viz., block, mosaic and crazy patchworks in combination with traditional quilt (kaudi) making technique. Sixty respondents were selected randomly and were categorized as rural (30) and urban (30). Four point rating performa was prepared to obtain the preference for fibre content and percentage. Weighted Average Ranking (WAR) was calculated using the formula: ΣRifi WAR= ———— Σfi Where, Ri - Ranks given by rural and urban consumers for patchwork quilt value added articles Fi - the frequency It is observed from Table 1 that the order of ranking for the combination of patchwork quilt technique was common among both the rural and urban consumers. Combination mosaic patchwork with quilting technique was ranked first by majority of urban (96.66%) and rural (93.33%) consumers followed by block patchwork quilt technique (Urban - 96.66% and Rural 73.33%). Further, 86.66 per cent of urban and 70.00 per cent of rural respondents gave third rank for the combination of crazy patchwork and quilting technique. Mosaic patchwork included many number of small diamond shaped swatches of definite dimensions, with harmonious colour combination that added a three dimensional effect like cuboids. Block patchwork, especially the 'standing star' motif was highlighted by the use of bright coloured rayon fabric. Moreover the fabric used for the shashing (background) of the quilt tops was darker and highlighted the horizontal, vertical and continuous concentric square stitches of quilting technique using white yarn. Table 2 explains about the preferences of consumers for patchwork quilt value added products viz., baby quilts, table runners, table mats and magazine holders.
Table 1. Preference of consumers for combination of patchwork and quilting technique Sl. Different techniques No. 1
Traditional quilt (Control)
2
Block quilt
3
Mosaic quilt
4
Crazy quilt
Note:
1 02 (6.66) 28 (93.33) -
Ranks by rural consumers n = 30 2 3 4 01 03 26 (3.33) (10.00) (86.66) 22 06 (73.33) (20.00) 02 (6.66) 05 21 04 (16.66) (70.00) (13.33)
WAR 3.8 IV 2.1 II 1.0 I
1 01 (3.33) 29 (96.66)
2.9 III -
N=60 Ranks by urban consumers n = 30 2 3 4 WAR 04 26 3.8 IV (13.33) (86.66) 29 1.9 II (96.66) 01 1.0 I (3.33) 26 04 3.1 III (86.66) (13.33)
Figures in parentheses indicate percentages WAR: Weighted Average Ranking
*Part of the M.H.Sc. thesis submitted by the first author to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India 265
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (2) : 2011 Table 2. Preference of consumers for patchwork quilt value added products Sl. No.
Products
I. 1
Baby quilts Traditional (Control)
2
Block
3
Mosaic
4
Crazy
II. 1
Table runners Traditional (Control)
2
Block
3
Mosaic
4
Crazy
III. 1
Table mats Traditional (Control)
2
Block
3
Mosaic
4
Crazy
IV. 1
Magazine holder Traditional (Control)
2
Block
3
Mosaic
4
Crazy
1
Note:
03 (10.00) 02 (6.66) 23 (76.66) 02 (6.66) 01 (3.33) 07
Ranks by rural respondents n = 30 2 3 4 25 (83.33) 03 (10.00) 02 (6.66)
20 (66.66) 02 (66.66)
03 (10.00) 19 (23.33) 04 (13.33) 04 (13.33)
-
-
04 (13.33) 26 (86.66) -
25 (83.33) 04 (13.33) 01 (3.33)
01 (3.33) 07 (23.33) 10 (30.33) 03 (10.00)
04 (13.33) 09 (30.00) 10 (30.33) 07 (23.33)
WAR
1 01 (3.33) 02 (6.66) 26 (86.66) 01 (3.33)
N=60 Ranks by urban respondents n = 30 2 3 4 WAR
07 (23.33) 03 (10.00) 04 (13.33) 16 (54.33)
20 (66.66) -
3.4 IV
-
1.3 I
10 (33.33)
2.1 III
-
3.7 IV
-
-
02 (63.33) -
26 (86.66) 02 (66.66) -
1.9 II (66.66) 1.5 I
04
02 (66.66)
02 (66.66)
2.8 III
24 (80.00) 02 (6.66)
23 (13.33) 04 (13.33) 03 (10.00)
03 (10.00) 01 (3.33) -
27 (90.00) -
3.9 IV
-
-
1.9 II
-
1.1 I
(3.33)
26 (86.66)
3.0 III
06 (20.00) 24 (80.00) -
24 (80.00) 06 (20.00) -
11 (36.66) 09 (30.00) 08 (26.66) 02 (66.66)
05 (16.66) 05 (16.66) 02 (66.66) 18 (60.00)
2.3 II
03 (10.00) 04 (13.33) 21 (70.00) 02 (6.66)
05 (16.66) 21 (70.00) 02 (6.66) 02 (6.66)
2.0 II
1.9 III 2.0 I 3.1 IV
26 (86.66) 02 (6.66) -
02 (6.66) 02 (6.66) 02 (6.66) 24
27 (90.00) -
3.8 IV
-
1.2 I
03 (80.00)
2.9 III (10.00)
07 (23.33) 03 (76.66) 02 (6.66) 18 (60.00)
23 (76.66) (10.00) -
3.7 IV
07 (23.33)
3.0 III
02 (6.66) -
28 (93.33) -
3.8 IV
-
-
1.2 I
28 (93.33)
02 (6.66)
2.8 III
08 (26.66) 03 (10.00) 04 (13.33) 15 (50.00)
14 (46.66) 02 (6.66) 03 (10.00) 11 (36.66)
3.1 III
1.9 II
1.9 II 1.2 I
1.9 II
2.1 II 1.6 I 3.1 IV
Figures in parentheses indicate percentages WAR: Weighted Average Ranking
Among the urban consumers, 86.66 per cent of them given the first preference to mosaic patchwork baby quilt and second rank to the block patchwork baby quilt. The combination of crazy baby quilt was given third rank by 80.00 per cent of urban consumers, least preferred the traditional baby quilt. Rural consumers also had given same opinion about the baby quilt i.e., the first rank to mosaic baby quilt (83.33%), for crazy quilt third rank and fourth rank to the traditional baby quilt. For the table runners also consumers expressed the same rankings irrespective of their region. Eighty six per cent of rural consumers least preferred (4th rank) the traditional quilt table runner. Where as, 80.00 per cent of urban consumers highly preferred (1st rank) the mosaic patchwork quilt table runner.
Also 76.66 per cent of urban consumers given second rank to block quilt and fourth rank to traditional quilt table runner. Both urban (93.33%) and rural (90.00%) women given fourth rank to the traditional quilt table mats where as, 86.00 per cent of rural consumers given first rank to mosaic quilt table mats and third rank to crazy quilt ones. Both rural (83.33%) and urban (80.00%) respondents given second rank to block quilt table mats. Among the magazine holders, mosaic quilt gained first rank and block quilt magazine holder second rank by the 70.00 per cent of urban consumers. Traditional quilt magazine holder earned third rank followed by crazy quilt magazine holder. 266
Patchwork quilt value added products - Consumer acceptance As far as rural responses were considered, mosaic patchwork quilting and traditional quilt magazine holders earned first and second ranks respectively. In general, irrespective of the rural and urban regions, all the three i.e., baby quilts, table runners and table mats has got same rankings regarding types of patchwork viz., first rank for mosaic quilt, second rank for block quilt and third rank for traditional quilting. On the contrary, the traditional quilt magazine holder got second (2.3) and third (3.1) ranks from both rural and urban consumers respectively. This may be due to the fibre content and colour combination used for the products. Moreover, the three dimensional effect imparted to the quilt top enhanced the aesthetic appeal making it more elegant and versatile for varied application. All the block patchwork quilt value added products were ranked second by the consumers that is mainly because of the standing star motif that was not only appealing but also could be functionally used for educating children. The bold and bright coloured blocks in
patchwork pattern could be used to extend the concept of size and colour to pre-school children using indigenous resources. Traditional quilt value added products included quilt tops with random placement of swatches giving less importance to size, shape, colour, texture and fibre content. There is a need to educate the quilt makers regarding the designing and development of value added products with all the above considerations. Majority of the consumers from both rural and urban areas preferred the combination of mosaic patchwork with quilting technique followed by block and crazy patchworks. Among the patchwork quilt value added products, all the mosaic quilt value added products were highly accepted by both rural and urban consumers. Consumers also opined that if more number of items were developed through patchwork and quilting technique, that products may hold lots of market potentials and can be adapted to cottage level. Women can start a small enterprise for developing articles as per demand by forming selp-help group.
Department of Textiles and Apparel Designing, College of RHSC, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India
SUJATA JYOTI V. VASTRAD
(Received: August, 2009) References Babel, S. and Sodha, N., 2007, Market potentials of value added articles made by jute fabric and phulkari embroideries, man-made. Tex. India, 50 (6): 223-224.
Prashanti, C. and Jacob, M., 1999, Banjara embroidery for Salwar Kameez. Indian Tex. J., 110 (1-3): 138-143.
Chaudhari, B., 1982, Tribal development in India – problems and prospects. Inter India Publications, Delhi, pp.49-52.
Valentine, M.D., 1973, Practical encyclopedia of crafts, Sterling Publishing Company, New York, pp. 120-126.
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