Quilting is a traditional skill that came over on the Mayflower and all the other boats that brought settlers from Europe. The oldest surviving quilt is not a bed covering but a rug found in a Mongolian cave, but historians believe that quilting was done even earlier in ancient Egypt. Apparently quilted vests were part of early armor worn by knights and crusaders. However, most people who want to know how to make a quilt are thinking of a bedspread or a wall hanging.
Basically, a quilt is a three-layer fabric creation consisting of a top, padded middle layer, and bottom. The top is often decorative, with colorful patches, fine stitching, embroidery, or anything else the person who creates it wants to use. The layers are bound together at the edge and also at many central points, to keep the inner padding from shifting and bunching.
During the early days of settlement in America, women didn't have the time to make quilts. The first quilts were brought over from Europe by wealthy people. Later, slaves made them as part of their labor for their masters.
During the late 1800's, women began making quilts for home use. At first, this was a way to reuse old feed sacks, worn-out clothing, or scraps to make warm coverings for the family. Later, even these homemade spreads became decorative. Quilting-bees were social occasions when women would gather and work on one project at a time.
Patchwork quilts have tops made from small pieces of cloth sewn together in random designs or detailed patterns. A whole-cloth top is made of one or more large pieces of one color, stitched together and then decorated with the stitching itself. The stitching indents the layers and catches the light; white on white can be incredibly beautiful.
There are still many people who make quilts entirely by hand, loving the whole process and not worrying about how long it takes. Others have found that machine-quilting can look as attractive without such an extreme input of time and effort. In a finished project, it's hard to tell the difference. A fine homemade bed covering or wall hanging can become a family treasure.
Another fairly quick method - and one used for thicker quilts made for warmth - is 'tying'. In this method, knots are tied with thread, yarn, or string at regular intervals to keep the inner layer in place. Buttons can be used instead of knots. The effect is very decorative, and the results are durable if knots are tied securely.
Anyone can make a quilt, but working with an experienced quilter or taking a class is definitely recommended for beginners. There are many, many sites online that talk about quilting, as well as instructional videos. All sorts of materials can be used; some can be machine washed while others must be laundered by hand. Community colleges offer classes in this fabric art form. Go online to view different kinds of quilts: easy and quick, traditional, or one-of-a-kind works of art.
Basically, a quilt is a three-layer fabric creation consisting of a top, padded middle layer, and bottom. The top is often decorative, with colorful patches, fine stitching, embroidery, or anything else the person who creates it wants to use. The layers are bound together at the edge and also at many central points, to keep the inner padding from shifting and bunching.
During the early days of settlement in America, women didn't have the time to make quilts. The first quilts were brought over from Europe by wealthy people. Later, slaves made them as part of their labor for their masters.
During the late 1800's, women began making quilts for home use. At first, this was a way to reuse old feed sacks, worn-out clothing, or scraps to make warm coverings for the family. Later, even these homemade spreads became decorative. Quilting-bees were social occasions when women would gather and work on one project at a time.
Patchwork quilts have tops made from small pieces of cloth sewn together in random designs or detailed patterns. A whole-cloth top is made of one or more large pieces of one color, stitched together and then decorated with the stitching itself. The stitching indents the layers and catches the light; white on white can be incredibly beautiful.
There are still many people who make quilts entirely by hand, loving the whole process and not worrying about how long it takes. Others have found that machine-quilting can look as attractive without such an extreme input of time and effort. In a finished project, it's hard to tell the difference. A fine homemade bed covering or wall hanging can become a family treasure.
Another fairly quick method - and one used for thicker quilts made for warmth - is 'tying'. In this method, knots are tied with thread, yarn, or string at regular intervals to keep the inner layer in place. Buttons can be used instead of knots. The effect is very decorative, and the results are durable if knots are tied securely.
Anyone can make a quilt, but working with an experienced quilter or taking a class is definitely recommended for beginners. There are many, many sites online that talk about quilting, as well as instructional videos. All sorts of materials can be used; some can be machine washed while others must be laundered by hand. Community colleges offer classes in this fabric art form. Go online to view different kinds of quilts: easy and quick, traditional, or one-of-a-kind works of art.
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