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.
The late 1800s saw a rise in this handicraft, which is practical and can be among the most beautiful of domestic arts. Women became proud of their skill, and social gatherings called quilting bees brought many together to work on communal projects. Many patterns became traditional, as mothers taught daughters the skill.
There are many different types of quilts. Some are made of small pieces of cloth; each individual piece is joined to others in what is called 'patchwork'. Others have tops of one or more large pieces, usually one color, that are joined together and then quilted. In this 'whole-cloth' method, the stitching is the decorative element. There are many beautiful designs in white-on-white. The stitching would be the same on both the top and bottom, making the spread reversible if carefully finished.
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.
The late 1800s saw a rise in this handicraft, which is practical and can be among the most beautiful of domestic arts. Women became proud of their skill, and social gatherings called quilting bees brought many together to work on communal projects. Many patterns became traditional, as mothers taught daughters the skill.
There are many different types of quilts. Some are made of small pieces of cloth; each individual piece is joined to others in what is called 'patchwork'. Others have tops of one or more large pieces, usually one color, that are joined together and then quilted. In this 'whole-cloth' method, the stitching is the decorative element. There are many beautiful designs in white-on-white. The stitching would be the same on both the top and bottom, making the spread reversible if carefully finished.
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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