Sarah Mills: Canadians travelling to the U.S. are down dramatically
Sarah Mills says Mexico and Europe became a destination for Canadians in January, showing the elbows-up approach is havi...
By day, Ashleigh Hemsleigh is a nurse, but when she’s off the clock you’ll find her at her sewing table, gently slicing into memories with steady hands and a tender heart.
Hemsley transforms old quilts — some rescued from thrift stores, others passed down through generations — into wearable coats and jackets. It’s a craft she came to with both reverence and a bit of fear.
Read More:
- Meet the alpacas turning heads on a Saskatchewan grain farm
- The Bird Lady: Meet the Saskatoon woman rescuing abandoned parrots
- Explore Freba Pottery: Saskatchewan’s honour-system shop on Hwy 16
This corner of Ashleigh Hemsley’s home has been completely taken over by the tools of her quilting trade. Piles of quilts sit on furniture, all waiting to be transformed into something new. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
“There were so many people that approached me to cut up the quilt they got from their grandma or their wedding gift,” she recalled. “I was so scared! Eventually I just found a thrifted quilt and took the leap and did it. It’s kind of where it started.”
Listen to the story on Behind the Headlines:
That first cut was the hardest — an act of transformation and trust. But over time, Hemsley found her rhythm through a mix of careful planning and intuitive artistry. She said the first steps in her process are careful and deliberate.
Hemsley said she still feels nervous each time she cuts into a quilt. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
“I’ll bring it home, lay it out, and decide on what kind of pattern of jacket or coat I’d like to make,” she explained. “I try to not waste a lot of fabric. I don’t want to just throw it in the trash; I want to give it new life and give it as much use as possible.”
Each jacket is a labour of love. Quilting is already a time-intensive art — Hemsley once tracked 48 hours making a single quilt from scratch — but repurposing old ones adds a unique challenge. Every quilt tells a story, and Hemsley said she has learned to listen.
Each coat Hemsley makes is one of a kind. She carefully plans out the placement of each pattern piece she cuts from quilts. (Submitted)
“When I either get a thrifted quilt or someone gives it to me, I look at the shape it’s in, the quality of the fabric,” she said. “Lots of vintage quilts are made from old clothing, 100 per cent cotton, and those are perfect.”
Each quilt goes through a gentle pre-wash with colour catchers to prevent running or shrinking. Only then does she lay it out, visualizing how to make the most of each patch, each block and each memory.
Hemsley said she makes a concerted effort to reuse as much material as possible from these old quilts. “I don’t want to just throw it in the trash,” she explained. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
“It’s terrifying,” she laughed. “Sometimes I even trace the pattern just to make sure it’s OK. I’ve had those ‘Oh no’ moments where I didn’t account for seam allowances and had to go back, reuse that piece for something else, or add to it so it balances out.”
But even in the missteps, there’s something special taking place. Hemsley isn’t just cutting fabric — she’s preserving a legacy.
The idea of breathing new life into fabric that might otherwise be forgotten is what anchors her work. She said she sees these projects as more than just fashion. It’s a kind of quiet restoration.
“Honestly, I feel like it just gives it a new life,” she said. “These are heirloom pieces, so they’re durable, but lots of times I find people have quilts that are special pieces, so they don’t want to use them. They leave them folded in a cupboard. This way they can be seen. They can be used.”
Hemsley puts in the work to ensure her quilted jackets will stand the test of time, adding additional quilting or making repairs to these vintage treasures if need be. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
Some jackets are made from thrifted quilts with worn spots or stains. Others are deeply personal, with fabric from a loved one’s shirt or even a wedding dress included.
One client asked to open her quilt coat in front of Hemsley, an experience that she recalled as nerve-racking.
“She started to cry,” Hemsley recalled with a smile. “She was very happy.”
This pair of jackets included fabric from a wedding dress. Hemsley said cutting into the precious garment was a nerve wracking experience. (Submitted)
In that moment, Hemsley said she realized the full weight of what she was doing: not just making coats, but offering something deeper — a tangible connection to memories, a wearable piece of someone’s story, and a way to keep cherished moments close.
“It’s more than just a fashion fad,” she said proudly. “It’s a labour of love.”
Ashleigh Hemsley Quilts can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
While some may cringe at the thought of cutting up a quilt, Hemsley said she feels that her work gives these heirlooms a second chance to be used and loved. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
