The Quilt of My Becoming

By Trish Briggs

Sewing has been part of my life since middle school. I made almost all my clothes through high school, mostly out of necessity because there were no stores nearby. Later, after having my two girls, sewing returned to me in a new way. I made their outfits, dance costumes, and anything their imaginations dreamed of. It wasn’t a necessity anymore - just freedom, creativity, and joy.

I learned early to save all my scraps. Each one held a memory: a favorite blouse, a twirly skirt, a costume stitched with excitement. In between all those projects, I began trying my hand at quilting.

Both my grandmothers were quilters - one by hand, one by machine - and without realizing it, they passed down more than a skill. They passed down a way of seeing life.

A quilt, like a life, is pieced together one small square at a time.

We collect fabrics - experiences, beliefs, joys, wounds - sometimes consciously, sometimes without noticing. Some pieces are bright, some soft, some worn around the edges. But they’re all part of who we’ve become.

Healing often feels like the cutting table: reshaping old beliefs, trimming away what no longer fits, releasing what we’ve carried too long. It can feel uncomfortable, but it makes space for new patterns to emerge.

Then comes the stitching - slow, steady, meditative. Sewing has always given me that sense of quiet belonging. In those small motions, I feel God and Spirit guiding me, helping scattered pieces come together in a way my mind could never force.

And just like quilting, we often don’t see the pattern until we step back. Up close, life looks messy and mismatched. But with a little distance, a little grace, the design begins to make sense.

Underneath every quilt is the backing - the foundation that holds everything together. For me, that foundation is Spirit. Constant, steady, and always there, even when I forget.

In the end, making a quilt isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty - allowing every part of ourselves to belong.

Your life is a quilt too. It’s meant to warm you, comfort you, and remind you of your own becoming.

Trish’s newest creation: Quilted Thanksgiving Table Runner