Welcome to Epida Studio
Make Beautiful Things with Quilting, Pojagi, and Embroidery
Quilting
Beginner-friendly tutorials for traditional quilting.
Pojagi
Traditional wrapping cloths and batik window hangings.
Embroidery
Surface embroidery and counted thread techniques.
Welcome to Epida Studio
My name is Elizabeth DeCroos and I help you make beautiful things with quilting, pojagi and embroidery.
You can learn with patterns, on-demand courses and live workshops. I’m also happy to visit your guild or stitching group.
Quilting
My style of quilting is probably best described as “eclectic”. I love traditional blocks and patterns, but I also like using them in new ways and exploring modern interpretations. I am also influenced by pojagi (traditional Korean patchwork) which has a more improvisational style.
I make quilts to be used and enjoyed daily, not hidden away in cupboards to keep them safe. Simple piecing and quilting can be combined to make beautiful quilts.
Pojagi
Pojagi is the name for traditional Korean sewing techniques used to make wrapping cloths (also called pojagi). It has been around for hundreds of years, pre-dating quilting by centuries.
Although I am not Korean, I had the opportunity to study and learn pojagi when I lived in Korea with my young family. Since then, I have continued to research and learn about this beautiful art form.
If you want to learn traditional hand-stitched pojagi techniques, I do have a few tutorials to get you started. I enjoy this, but I don’t teach this in detail. If you want to continue your education beyond what I offer, please check out these resources and teachers.
One of the unusual techniques in traditional pojagi is patchwork that does not have a backing. The seams are reversible and it is only one layer of fabric. I have experimented a lot with doing this technique on a sewing machine. This is great for anytime you want patchwork, but not necessarily a quilt. Think – curtains, tablecloths, clothing, etc.
When hung in sunlight, these pieces look like stained glass even though there is no black fabric in them. The effect comes from the special pojagi seams.
I have a lot of tutorials, patterns and inspiration to get you started with this unusual technique.
Embroidery
I enjoy many different types of embroidery – both surface embroidery and counted thread. Check out tutorials for specific techniques and stitches or follow projects along for inspiration.
What is Epida?
The name “Epida” (ee-pid-ah) comes from “yehpidah” – the Korean word for “beautiful”. Pojagi is a traditional Korean textile art. “Epida” is a tribute to the influence of of pojagi and Korean design in my work.