patchwork

Something made up of many different parts that form a whole.

• The fields formed a green patchwork.
• The country has a patchwork of local transport systems.
• Her memoir is a patchwork of letters, memories, and photographs.

How to use it: a patchwork of something (The region is a patchwork of farms and villages.)

Similar words: mixture, mosaic

Common phrases: patchwork of something, a complex patchwork, a colorful patchwork

Cloth or an object made by sewing together small pieces of cloth with different colors or designs.

• She made a patchwork quilt.
• The blanket is a patchwork of bright cotton squares.
• I used leftover fabric to make some patchwork.

Common phrases: patchwork quilt, patchwork blanket, piece of patchwork

To join small pieces of cloth together by sewing them into one piece.

• She patchworked scraps into a blanket.
• We patchworked the bright squares together.
• He is learning to patchwork a cushion cover.

How to use it: patchwork something together (She patchworked the fabric squares together.)

Similar words: piece together

Common phrases: patchwork a quilt, patchwork fabric together

To make something by combining pieces from several different sources.

• They patchworked a plan from several suggestions.
• She patchworked the report together using old records.
• His account was patchworked from interviews and newspaper stories.

How to use it: patchwork something from something (He patchworked a speech from old notes.)

Similar words: piece together, cobble together, assemble

Common phrases: patchwork something together, patchwork an account