Quilt

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For other uses, see Quilt (disambiguation).
For the sewing technique, see Quilting.
Mrs. Bill Stagg of Pie Town, New Mexico with her patchwork and embroidery quilt that displays all the United States state flowers and birds, October 1940.

A quilt is a type of bedding composed several layers generally combined using the technique of quilting. Many are made with decorative designs, and some of these are not used as bed covering at all, but are rather made to be hung on a wall or otherwise displayed.

In addition to quilting the quilt layers can be combinde by tying. Tying refers to the technique of using thread, yarn or ribbon to pass through all three layers of the quilt at regular intervals. These "ties" hold the layers together during use and especially when the quilt is washed. This method is easier and more forgiving if the quilt is made by hand. Tied quilts are called, depending on the regional area, "lap", "comfort" or "comforter", among other names.

In British English, duvet may be used instead of quilt, wadding is another way of saying batting, and calico refers to muslin, rather than to a fabric with a printed pattern on it.

Contents

[edit] Uses of quilts

Little Amsterdam.
  • Bedding
  • Decoration
  • Armoury (see Gambeson)
  • Commemoration (e.g., the "Twentieth Century Women of Faith" quilt on the Patchwork page)
  • Education (e.g., a "Science" quilt)
  • Campaigning
  • Documenting events / social history etc.
  • Artistic expression
  • Traditional gift

[edit] Types and traditions

[edit] United States

[edit] Amish

Amish quilts are reflections of the Amish way of life. Because the Amish people believe in not being "flashy" or "worldly" in dress and lifestyle, their quilts reflect this religious philosophy. They use only solid colors in their clothing and quilts. Some church districts limit the use of certain colors such as yellow or red because those are considered "too worldly". Black is a dominant color. Although Amish quilts appear austere from a distance, the craftsmanship is often of the highest quality and the stitching forms vigorous patterns that contrast well with the plain background. These traits appeal to a modern aesthetic; antique Amish quilts are among the most highly prized among collectors and quilting enthusiasts.

[edit] Baltimore album

Baltimore album quilts originated in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1840s, and are made up of in blocks in which each block is appliquéd with a different design. The designs are often floral, but many other motifs are also used.

[edit] Hawaiian

Hawaiian quilt.

Hawaiian quilts are whole-cloth (not pieced) quilts featuring large-scale symmetrical appliqué in solid colors on a solid color (usually white) ground fabric. Traditionally, the quilter would fold a square piece of fabric into quarters or eighths and then cut out a border design, followed by a center design. The cutouts would then be appliquéd onto a contrasting background fabric. The center and border designs were typically inspired by local fauna. The most common color for the appliquéd design was red, due to the wide availability of turkey-red fabric. [1]

[edit] Log Cabin

Log cabin quilts are pieced quilts featuring blocks made of strips of fabric typically encircling a small centered square. Dramatic contrast effects with light and dark fabrics are created by various layouts of the blocks when forming a quilt top.

[edit] Other nations

[edit] Bangladeshi Quilts

Contemporary Bangladeshi Quilt (Kantha).

Bangladeshi quilts, known as Kantha, are not pieced together. Rather, they are two to three pieces of cloth (mainly used sarees) joined together for thickness. They are made out of worn out clothes (saris) and are mainly used for bedding, as a blanket. Sometimes they may be used as a decorative piece as well. They are made by women mainly in the Monsoon season before winter.

[edit] Tivaevae Cook Island quilts

Tivaevae are also quilts made by Cook Island women for ceremonial occasions. Quilting is thought to have been imported to the Islands by missionaries. The quilts are highly prized and are given as gifts with other finely made works on important occasions such as weddings and christenings.

[edit] Ralli quilts

Handmade appliqué ralli quilt.

Ralli quilts are traditional quilts made in Pakistan and India. Ralli quilts are also called rilli quilts. Handmade ralli quilts are used as blankets and bedspreads. They combine patchwork, appliqué and embroidery. Parents present rallis to their daughters on their weddings as a dowry. The another kind of ralli quilt is sami ralli, used by the samis, jogis and gypsies. This type of rall quilt is popular due to many colors and extensive hand stitching.

[edit] Quillow

A quillow is a quilt with an attached pocket into which the whole blanket can be folded, thus making a pillow.

[edit] Quilting technique

Main article: Quilting

As an example, the quilt image above has 24 blocks arranged in a 4x6 pattern, set with dark sashing strips, corner stones in a contrasting color, an outside sashing strip but no border, and a multicolored binding. Click on the image to see these details in a larger view.

[edit] Quilts on display

Amongst famous quilts in history is the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was begun in San Francisco in 1987, and is cared for by The NAMES Project Foundation. It is periodically displayed in various arranged locations.

The Museum of the American Quilter's Society (also known as the National Quilt Museum) is located in Paducah, Kentucky. The museum houses a large collection of quilts, most of which are winning entries from the annual American Quilter's Society festival and quilt competition held in April. The Museum also houses other exhibits of quilt collections, both historic and modern.

Many historic quilts can be seen in Bath at the American Museum in Britain, and Beamish Museum preserves examples of the North East England quiltmaking tradition.

The largest known public collection of quilts is housed at the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Examples of Tivaevae and other quilts can be found in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles in California also display traditional and modern quilts. There is free admission to the museum on the first Friday of every month, as part of the San Jose Art Walk.

The New England Quilt Museum is located in Lowell, Massachusetts.

[edit] In literature

  • Ismat Chughtai wrote an Urdu-language story entitled "Lihaf" ("The Quilt", 1941) that lead to scandal and an unsuccessful attempt at legal prosecution of the author because it was about a lesbian relationship.
  • The Quilter's Apprentice and many others by Jennifer Chiaverini
  • The Quiltmaker's Gift and The Quiltmaker's Journey by Jeff Brumbeau, illustrated by Gail de Marcken
  • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
  • Wild Goose Chase by Terri Thayer
  • Old Maid's Puzzle by Terri Thayer
  • How to Make an American Quilt (Fiction) by Whitney Otto
  • A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry uses the theme of a quilt to symbolize how the four main characters with vastly different backgrounds come to meet under one roof.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 1990: Susanna Pfeffer. "Quilt Masterpieces" Outlet Book Company, Inc. ISBN 0-517-03297X

[edit] Further reading

  • Celia Eddy, Quilted Planet: A Sourcebook of Quilts from Around the World ISBN: 1400054575

[edit] External links

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