Posts Tagged ‘Quilts’
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.
Quilt making has remained a popular pastime over the years. Because there are so many fabrics and designs available to the quilter, we can understand why quilt making and quilt collecting have become a passion with many people. An old, but still popular method of quilt making is the process of making quilt blocks and combining them to form a chosen pattern or design.
The quilt pictured here was made by my mother-in-law when she was over 90 years old. The colors are soft pastels of mainly pinks and a little blue, with various small roses and other flowers. There are 567 quilt squares in this particular quilt, and at the time, she made a total of 9 quilts, one for each of her 4 children, and one each for 5 of her 6 grandchildren. (This quilt is very large. For the photo it was folded in half longways and draped over the clothesline so what you see is only a portion of it.) I have no idea how much time she spent making these as it was quite a surprise when she gave them to all of us. I do know that these are gorgeous and very nicely made. I really love mine.
Quilts are a labor of love. They are very time and labor intensive, and quilt making is a hard-learned skill. The end result, however, is a stunningly beautiful display. And because a quilt is so much hard work, they can serve as a meaningful and personal gift.
For graduations, milestone birthdays, weddings, or other significant events, a quilt can be the perfect, personal gesture.
Because the quilter has so much leeway within the framework, pick quilt fabric and patterns that suit the receiver. Utilize favorite colors, hobbies, or experiences as inspiration, and the recipient is sure to treasure the gift.
And even beyond that, it is the kind of item that is special enough to be passed down through a family line. If the highest quality materials are used, the care and attention of construction are sure to make the blanket last for years to come.