Composting Fabrics
I’m glad I chose to explore the process of decay in textiles for this year’s the Fifteen by Fifteen quilt challenge group. At first, I thought I was diving into uncharted territory—but as I researched, I discovered a rich history of artists who have been captivated by the same idea. They viewed the decay of fabric not as destruction, but as transformation: a quiet continuation of the material’s story, and a natural extension of the artistic spirit woven into cloth.
If you’re curious to learn more, here are a couple of insightful articles that inspired me:
👉 Decay is Beautiful – Garland Magazine
👉 Decay – Outlook8Studio
Even before this year began, I had already decided to experiment with fabric decomposition. Last fall, I buried a variety of fabrics in a bucket filled with dirt, autumn leaves, and a few overripe tomatoes from my daughter’s garden. The materials included:
- 100% cotton
- A 50/50 cotton-linen blend
- Dupioni silk
- Wool
After seven weeks underground, I unearthed them to see what nature had done. The results were striking. The cotton had completely disintegrated, disappearing into the soil. The cotton-linen blend survived, but only partially—most of the cotton fibers had broken down, leaving behind a delicate, ghost-like web of linen.
Decay #3
This composed fabric became the basis for Decay #3. I faced a new challenge: how to preserve and present these fragile remains. To stabilize them, I used Super 77 spray adhesive to mount the fabric onto a background. Then I quilted it in place using invisible thread and added hand stitching for texture and strength. I now wish I had used the original 50/50 fabric as the background itself—but I did photograph it beside the decayed sample for reference.
Detail with original piece of fabric on the right:
Decay #4
The results from the silk and wool fabrics were revealed in Decay #4.
After being buried in dirt mixed with leaves and rotten tomatoes for seven weeks, both fabrics-wool and Dupioni silk – developed dark spots and holes. I believe the damage occurred where the fabrics contacted the rotten tomatoes. Their original colors (light yellow wool and off-White Dupioni silk) also became muted.
For my quilt, I selected pieces of both fabrics with holes and placed them next to pieces of the original fabrics to show the contrast. Behind the holes, I added contrasting fabrics. In the center is a piece of neutral cotton.
From my experiment of composting fabrics I can draw a conclusion that plant based fibers (cotton, linen) desintegrate much faster that animal based fibers (silk, wool).
Each piece is a small collaboration with time, moisture, and bacteria—a reminder that even in disintegration, there is beauty, mystery, and meaning.
Thanks for following along on this journey. I’d love to hear your thoughts—have you ever worked with organic processes in your own art or craft?
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