Quilts have long had a place in the hearts of Americans, dating from the days when pioneer wives used scraps of old clothing, feed sacks, or other material too good to throw away to make warm coverings for family beds. The technique was brought over by European settlers, although in colonial days only the wealthy had quilts. They are time-consuming to make and few people had the leisure hours required. Today, there's a wealth of information on how to make a quilt for practical or artistic purposes.
The basic concept is not difficult to understand. A quilt is usually made of three layers: a top, a middle layer that adds weight and warmth, and a bottom layer. The layers are held together around the edges with binding but also need to be secured at points throughout the whole to keep the inner layer from shifting around, causing lumpiness and thin spots.
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.
In the late 1800s, women began the 'piecing' of bed coverings, using scraps, feed sacks, or worn-out clothing for the tops. Patterns became popular as women had more leisure and became proud of their handiwork. Groups of women would come together in 'quilting bees', which were popular frontier social gatherings.
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.
People still like the slow, painstaking process of making quilts by hand, but the majority do at least the final quilting with a machine. Machine stitching is both strong and regular, giving a nice look to the finished piece. However, those who work with needle and thread love the process as much as the result.
If a thick, warm covering is desired, stitching the layers together may be almost impossible. Tying is the method used for heavier quilts. Strong, heavy thread, yarn, or string is pulled through all three layers at regular points and knotted. This keeps the layers together and keeps the inner one from shifting; the effect can be very decorative. Buttons can be used instead of knots.
Taking a class or working with an experienced quilter is best when starting out. The basic concept is simple but a lot of time and material can be wasted when mistakes are made. There are many, many sites online that give tips, as well as instructional videos. Searchers will quickly find that hundreds of people love making quilts.
The basic concept is not difficult to understand. A quilt is usually made of three layers: a top, a middle layer that adds weight and warmth, and a bottom layer. The layers are held together around the edges with binding but also need to be secured at points throughout the whole to keep the inner layer from shifting around, causing lumpiness and thin spots.
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.
In the late 1800s, women began the 'piecing' of bed coverings, using scraps, feed sacks, or worn-out clothing for the tops. Patterns became popular as women had more leisure and became proud of their handiwork. Groups of women would come together in 'quilting bees', which were popular frontier social gatherings.
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.
People still like the slow, painstaking process of making quilts by hand, but the majority do at least the final quilting with a machine. Machine stitching is both strong and regular, giving a nice look to the finished piece. However, those who work with needle and thread love the process as much as the result.
If a thick, warm covering is desired, stitching the layers together may be almost impossible. Tying is the method used for heavier quilts. Strong, heavy thread, yarn, or string is pulled through all three layers at regular points and knotted. This keeps the layers together and keeps the inner one from shifting; the effect can be very decorative. Buttons can be used instead of knots.
Taking a class or working with an experienced quilter is best when starting out. The basic concept is simple but a lot of time and material can be wasted when mistakes are made. There are many, many sites online that give tips, as well as instructional videos. Searchers will quickly find that hundreds of people love making quilts.
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