Why Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife Quilt Became the Wanderer’s Wife

If you’ve ever stitched one of Jen Kingwell’s patterns, you know her quilts have a way of taking you on an adventure. A Long, usually hand-pieced, and scrappy, adventure her original Gypsy Wife Quilt is a perfect example, known for its unique, wandering style that challenges quilters to read the pattern carefully, embrace creativity, play with fabric choices, and use up those scraps we have.

Recently, though, you might have noticed it’s now called the Wanderer’s Wife Quilt.

So, what’s the story behind this name change? I was so confused—I didn’t know what was going on! I’ve done a bit of digging to share what I’ve learned. And while its still a bit of a mystery, I wanted to share what I found.

Jen Kingwell herself mentioned in an interview that she doesn’t know why she originally chose the name Gypsy Wife in this YouTube in 2015.

For those of us who’ve known and had this quilt on the bucket list for years, the name change was a bit surprising. I’d known this pattern as Gypsy Wife for so long that seeing it reintroduced as Wanderer’s Wife caught me slightly off guard.

When I first heard the name Gypsy Wife, it made me think of a free-spirited person travelling between towns, maybe with a wagon full of eclectic items and stories to share. Like many, I didn’t realise that the term Gypsy could be seen as offensive or that it was closely connected to Romani people, who have a rich and diverse cultural history.

For me, the name evoked images of richly dressed women dancing with long, flowing skirts made from beautiful, varied fabrics. I’m probably just sharing my own ignorance and lack of cultural sensitivity here. We’re a long way from Europe, so it’s easy to forget that Gypsy has different meanings and associations in other parts of the world.

Of course, I would never speak for Jen, but having taken one of her classes, I can’t imagine she ever intended to use the word maliciously or to cause offence. Jen is just so lovely, and I think she chose the name Gypsy Wife with that free-spirited, eclectic imagery in mind, but as she said in the above clip she doesn’t know why.

However, over time, the word “Gypsy” has come to carry associations and stereotypes that don’t reflect Romani culture accurately. I have seen on some forums that some quilters are quite unhappy with the previous name and many quilters have welcomed the new name, Wanderer’s Wife, seeing it as a way to preserve the adventurous spirit of the pattern while being mindful of cultural awareness.

The quilting community has an enduring and supportive spirit that has embraced this name change. Wanderer’s Wife retains the essence of a journey—still celebrating a sense of adventure and creativity.

The new name feels especially fitting for a quilt pattern that invites quilters to piece together blocks in unexpected ways, creating a design that feels both cohesive and spontaneous. I have seen many quilters have noted their appreciation for the update, seeing it as an opportunity to create beautiful work while also being mindful of the language we use in our quilty lives.

So, I hope that clears up any confusion! 😂 I did look on the internet, but I couldn’t find anything official about the name change—so this is just my opinion and understanding.

Happy Quilting 

Kelly