A quilt is a bed covering composed of two layers of fabric and a layer of batting in between, generally made by the technique of quilting. Another technique for creating a quilt is tying. This method is easier and more forgiving if the quilt is made by hand. A tied quilt is called a hap. Many quilts are made with decorative designs; indeed, some quilts are not used as bed covering at all, but are rather made to be hung on a wall or otherwise displayed.
Some uses of quilts:
 Bedding
Decorative
Armoury
Commemorative
Educational
Campaigning
Documenting events / social history etc.
Artistic Expression
Amongst famous quilts in history is the AIDS Memorial Quilt, begun in San Francisco in 1987 and cared for by the NAMES Project Foundation.
Quilting is a method of sewing two layers of cloth with a layer of insulating batting in between. A bed covering or similar large rectangular piece of quilting work is called a quilt.
History of Quilting
Quilting originated in utilitarianism rather than decoration. This is what distinguishes it from most other fine needlework.
The origins of this method of craft are thought to be in the Crusades, when soldiers needed warmth as well as protection from the chafing caused by heavy armour. Additionally, there are ancient Egyptian sculptures showing figures which appear to be wearing clothing which is quilted, possibly for warmth in the chilly desert evenings.
Quilting is used in the making of a garment called a gambeson (A gambeson (or aketon) is a padded defensive surcoat, worn as armour separately, or combined with mail or plate armour. Gambeson were produced with a sewing technique called quilting. Usually constructed of linen or wool, the stuffing varied, and could be for example scrap cloth or horse hair. During the 14th century, illustrations usually show buttons or laces up the front.)
In modern times, art quilts have started to become popular for their aesthetic, artistic qualities rather than for functionality (i.e. they may hang on a wall instead of lying on a bed).
Other History of Quilting Links
Early Quilting and Textiles
Stitching Your Way Into the Past
From Family Ties to Grand Events
Quilt History Timeline - Prehistory to 1800's (PDF)
The Practice of Quilting
The most basic form of quilting is a simple geometric grid sewn either by hand or nowadays by machine. The gridwork of stitches traps air in the material, making it much warmer than a single layer of fabric would be, or even the layers separately.
Quilting can also be used as a form of elaborate decoration, where the stitchery creates complex designs and patterns, with or without the use of color. Designs in the original fabrics can be put together to form new patterns.
A quilt using a single piece of fabric as a quilt top is called a whole cloth quilt.
Quilting is very often combined with embroidery, patchwork, appliqué and other forms of needlework to create patchwork quilts.
Specialist quilting techniques:
Sashiko quilting (Sasiko quilting is a form of quilting originating from Japan. Centuries ago, Japanese peasants practiced a running-stitch technique called "little stabs" to patch torn or worn clothes. Mending was vital as cloth and thread were scarce and therefore valuable.) When white cotton thread became available, this was used for patching indigo blue garments, and this gave Sasiko its distinctive appearance.
Trapunto quilting, also known as Italian quilting
Shadow trapunto - quilting a design in fine Lawn and filling the pattern with small lengths of colored wool.
Crazy quilting (The term "crazy quilting" is often used to refer to the textile art of crazy patchwork and is sometimes used interchangeably with that term. Crazy quilting does not actually refer to a specific kind of quilting (the needlework which binds two or more layers of fabric together), but a specific kind of patchwork. Regular patchwork combines the pieces of fabric into a predetermined and regular design, but crazy patchwork uses irregular pieces of fabric to create haphazard-looking and asymmetrical designs. Crazy quilts differs from "regular" quilts in other ways as well. Because the careful geometric design of a quilt block is much less important in crazy quilts, the quilters are able to employ much smaller and more irregularly-shaped pieces of fabric. In comparison to standard quilts, crazy quilts are far more likely to use exotic pieces of fabric, such as velvet, satin, tulle, or silk, and embellishments such as buttons, lace, ribbons, beads, or embroidery. Crazy quilting as a textile art is extremely creative and free-flowing by nature, and crazy quilters will often learn as much about specific embellishments as they will about crazy quilting itself.)
Social Aspects of Quilting
Quilters are cooperative people. They exchange fabrics or quilt blocks with each other.
They also frequently gather in larger groups (sometimes called "quilting bees") to collectively apply the gridwork of quilting.
Quilters may also attend Quilt Guild meetings in their local area. Many quilt guilds meet monthly and feature lectures and other activities.
Quilters are usually very charitable, giving away many of the beautiful projects to loved ones and to organizations which then redistribute the quilts to children's hospitals, crisis centers, and similar groups.
Quilts are often made to commemorate events (e.g. weddings and births) and can incorporate pieces of fabric from used or worn-out clothing. Such quilts become historical documents for the quiltmaker and his or her loved ones.
Quilting is an excellent educational tool. It requires students to use mathematical, geometric, spatial, artistic and manual skills. It can be used in conjunction with any unit of study (examples would be to make a pictorial quilt that depicts a story the class is reading, or a particular event in history). It can be made age-appropriate by choice of materials (paper, fabric, etc.) and complexity of design.
Quilters have embraced the use of technology and the Internet to reach other quilters and to share quilting practices and how-tos.
Patchwork is a form of needlework or craft that involves using small pieces of fabric and stitching them together into a larger design, which is then usually quilted, or else tied together with pieces of yarn at regular intervals, a practice known as tying. Patchwork is traditionally 'pieced' by hand, but modern quiltmakers often use a sewing machine instead.
Patchwork enjoyed a widespread revival during the Great Depression because it was a way to recycle worn clothing into warm quilts. Even very small and worn pieces of material are suitable for use in patchwork, although crafters today more often use specially bought patchwork material as the basis for their designs, especially 100% cotton.
Patchwork is most often used to make quilts, but it can also be used to make bags, wall-hangings, warm jackets, skirts and other items of clothing. Some textile artists work with patchwork, often combining it with embroidery and other forms of stitchery.
Patchwork and quilting are both enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity around the world, particularly in the United States and Japan. A survey in America identified Quilting as a multi-million dollar industry. International quilting exhibitions attract thousands of visitors from around the globe, while countless smaller exhibitions are held every weekend in local regions. Active cyber-quilting communities abound on the web, books and magazines on the subject are published in the hundreds every year, and there are many active local quilting guilds and shops in different countries. 'Quilt Art' is established as a legitimate artistic medium, with quilted works of art selling for thousands of dollars to corporate buyers and galleries. Quilt historians and Quilt appraisers are re-evaluating the heritage of traditional quilting and antique quilts, while superb examples of antique quilts are purchased for large sums by collectors and museums.
Types of Patchwork
Stained glass window patchwork (Stained glass window patchwork is a type of patchwork which simulates the effect of stained glass in church windows. Satin fabrics simulate the colored glass, and black bias binding tape simulates the lead.)
Cathedral window patchwork
Somerset patchwork
Trapunto (Stuffed or Puff patchwork)
Crazy quilting (The term "crazy quilting" is often used to refer to the textile art of crazy patchwork and is sometimes used interchangeably with that term. Crazy quilting does not actually refer to a specific kind of quilting (the needlework which binds two or more layers of fabric together), but a specific kind of patchwork. Regular patchwork combines the pieces of fabric into a predetermined and regular design, but crazy patchwork uses irregular pieces of fabric to create haphazard-looking and asymmetrical designs. Crazy quilts differs from "regular" quilts in other ways as well. Because the careful geometric design of a quilt block is much less important in crazy quilts, the quilters are able to employ much smaller and more irregularly-shaped pieces of fabric. In comparison to standard quilts, crazy quilts are far more likely to use exotic pieces of fabric, such as velvet, satin, tulle, or silk, and embellishments such as buttons, lace, ribbons, beads, or embroidery. Crazy quilting as a textile art is extremely creative and free-flowing by nature, and crazy quilters will often learn as much about specific embellishments as they will about crazy quilting itself.)
Types of Patchwork Blocks
Baby Blocks |
Lincoln's Platform |
Bear's Paw |
Log Cabin |
Blazing Sun |
Morning Star |
Bow Tie |
Next Door Neighbor |
Bridal Wreath |
Nine-patch |
Brown Goose |
Ocean Waves |
Cactus Flower |
Ohio Star |
California |
Old Maid's Puzzle |
Clay's Choice |
Old Tippecanoe |
Crosses and Losses |
Pineapple |
Double Irish Chain |
Prairie Queen |
Double X |
Road to California |
Dresden Plate |
Rocky Road to Kansas |
Drunkard's Path |
Schoolhouse |
Eccentric Star |
Shoo Fly |
Flying Geese |
Spider Web |
Grandmother's Fan |
Star of Bethlehem |
Hen and Chickens |
Steps to the Altar |
Hexagon |
Tree of Life |
Hole in the Barn Door |
Tulip |
Hovering Hawks |
Turkey Tracks |
Jack-in-the-box |
Wandering Foot |
Jacob's Ladder |
Winding Ways |
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