Archive for March 16th, 2010
Quilt making (quilting) is a craft that has been around for centuries. The Chinese have used quilted cloth for padding their winter clothing for hundreds of years. Quilted shirts offered a lot of warmth and protection. Later the process was adapted by European women for use in creating bedcovers.
It is interesting to note that quilting came to America with the pilgrims. Because of their lack of resources, it became necessary for the settlers to recycle their clothing and other fabrics. They made quilt tops by cutting the fabric into smaller pieces and patching them over and over until they eventually wore out completely.
These first quilts, as we might assume, were more practical than pretty. However, as the settlers prospered, their designs became more colorful and elaborate.
Today quilts are available in many, many designs and colors and are highly treasured by collectors and the public in general.