Quilting Tools: A Motivating Sample Of Quilting History

The reason for what began as the European American tradition of quilting was to increase the weight and warmth to garments underneath armor. From that simple beginning a slight divergence occurred.

Quilters of the Victorian age utilized every scrap of cloth they had collected from the leftovers of their previous projects to sew together what was known as a crazy quilt. Often the finished product of their endeavor was utilized as a decorative showpiece for their homes.

Of necessity, American quilters created quilts for a more utilitarian purpose. They made use of the material on hand, including feed sacks, in their fabric blocks to save funds. Many made a living at selling their quilts to unattached men, but the main goal was to provide warmth on cold nights for their families.

No single quilt design is more popular than the others. Religion, end purpose of the quilt, and region in which it is produced, often are influences in the choice of pattern. One interesting use to which quilt making was put was at a time when paper and ink were not readily available was the recording of history on a local, family and national level.

Quilts were also used to express caring and friendship to close friends. The friendship quilt was one used for such a purpose. Contributions of blocks or pieces of fabric would be made by a group of quilters to make a quilt for someone special to them. Once there was enough material gathered then the group would come together in what was known as a quilting bee, or circle to finish the quilt.

A signature or autograph quilt is another type of friendship quilt. Community, friends and family would autograph individual quilt pieces, which would be collected together for assembly into the quilt. An individual or a group of quilters would then sew it together for the commemoration of a significant event in the life of the one who is to receive it.

Not every signature quilt was made for friendship purposes. Quite a few were created for the purpose of fund raising. Important and famous people would be asked to autograph a quilt block for a charity. Once all the blocks were collected and the quilt sewn together it would be auctioned off or a raffle would be held. A variation of this type of fundraiser was to have members of the community who wish to participate pay a fee for the privilege of autographing a quilt piece themselves.

The crazy quilt design was another way that quilters could raise money for a good cause. They would write to famous people asking for clothing scraps to sew into their quilt. When they finished their quilt it would be auctioned off.

Practicers of the art of quilting are able to use their skills for more than just the providing of warmth or weight to undergarments. Preserving memories and the raising of funds for charity is also a significant part of the tradition of quilting.