If you live for hand-sewn seams, improvisational patchwork, and vibrant textile traditions, One Hundred Stitches, One Hundred Villages: The Beauty of Patchwork from Rural China at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, is an absolute must-see this spring. This exhibition brings nearly 20 stunning examples of rural Chinese patchwork, most of which are rarely shown outside the villages where they were made.
Extraordinary Quilts for Everyday Life
The quilts in the exhibition were created for everyday life—as bedcovers, window panels, door curtains, and children’s clothing—yet they embody extraordinary creativity and are visually striking. The makers thoughtfully improvise with available scraps and experiment with repeating motifs that echo geometric and abstract quilting designs familiar to many Western needleworkers, while remaining rooted in a distinctly Chinese aesthetic.
The exhibition draws from villages across Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces, highlighting local and individual styles. The quilts reveal how stitchers in rural communities have developed piecing and patch placement skills over generations. The designs are perfect inspiration if you love exploring pattern rhythm and hand-stitched texture.
Li Jiyin with her grandchild and a sleeping mat she made in the 1990s. Photography © Lois Conner. Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Stories Collected Stitch by Stitch
Curator Nancy Berliner traveled door-to-door to meet many of the women who made these quilts as she collected them for the Museum’s permanent collection. Photographer Lois Conner traveled with her, documenting the stories of the makers, their textiles, and the stories behind them. This exhibition isn’t just about finished textiles but also highlights the process.
Home of quilter Chen Yuai, Chenjiashan village. Photography © Lois Conner, Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
For anyone passionate about handwork, contrast, improvisational patching, and women’s histories stitched into cloth, One Hundred Stitches, One Hundred Villages is a wonderful opportunity to see a living needlework tradition in all its color, complexity, and joy.
On view now at MFA Boston through May 3, 2026.
Happy viewing,
Karen