Project Overview
"Make It With Hemp" began as a student project in Oregon State University's Design for Social Impact (DSI 415) course. Students and faculty worked together to explore how hemp fabrics might fit into quiltmaking practices. Since then, the project has grown into a community-based exploration of hemp fabrics in quiltmaking and the textile arts. Through education, material testing, and community participation, we aim to better understand how makers, retailers, and consumers view hemp fabrics and how they may fit alongside other materials used in creative practice.
The U.S. quilting industry is a major part of the craft economy, generating $4.5 billion in annual revenue and supporting 9–11 million active quilters in 2025 [R-023]. Cotton remains the most common fiber used in quiltmaking, but many quilters are also exploring other natural fibers, textured woven fabrics, and linen blends that add texture, depth, and visual interest to their work [R-023, R-024, R-025]. At the same time, growing interest in sustainability and thoughtful material choices has encouraged conversations about a wider range of fabric options within the quiltmaking community.
Hemp is one of the natural fibers gaining attention in the broader textile industry. The U.S. hemp fiber market is expected to grow from $120.4 million in 2024 to $360.2 million by 2033, showing increased interest in new uses for hemp-based materials [R-026]. Hemp fabricss are known for being durable, breathable, and biodegradable, and hemp can be grown using relatively low amounts of water and pesticides [R-006, R-009, R-012, R-014]. Even with this growing interest, hemp fabrics are still uncommon in quiltmaking. Limited availability, unfamiliarity with the material, historical associations with marijuana, and misconceptions about texture and softness continue to influence how people view hemp and whether they choose to use it.
Quiltmaking is an ideal way to explore perceptions of materials because it is a deeply tactile, material-driven craft where makers handle, test, and compare fabrics through hands-on making. Through “Make it with Hemp,” we hope to learn how quiltmakers, quilt industry professionals, and other members of the fiber arts community view hemp fabrics, what opportunities and challenges they see, and what factors influence how they are perceived, selected, and used. By combining research, education, and community engagement, we hope to support conversations about material choice, sustainability, and innovation in the textile arts. Most importantly, the experiences and perspectives shared by the quiltmaking community will help guide future research and improve our understanding of how hemp fabrics may work alongside other fibers in quilting and beyond. Together, can we stitch a more sustainable future.
