Quilting can be defined as the process
of stitching three layers of cloth together - modern day quilters call it a
quilt sandwich consisting of a top layer of cloth, usually cotton, a layer of
wadding or batting, usually wool or cotton and a bottom layer of cloth. All three layers are stitched through, so
they are held together firmly with the rows of stitching close enough to stop
the filling moving inside. The three layers are stronger and warmer than single
layers of clothing.
The skill of weaving is older even than
spinning, as weaving began with grasses and leaves. When people began to
produce cloth they opened the way for all the other textile related skills. Samples of quilting have been found in
ruins of ancient Egypt and in ancient China. Quilted fabrics of cotton, flax, wool and silk, were used to make tents
and floor covers as well as clothing like jackets, pants, headwear,
undergarments and padding to wear underneath armour.
There were no factories to produce
fabric before the 19th century so fabrics woven on looms in homes. This made
fabric valuable and scraps from sewing, as well as usable sections of worn out
clothing, were kept to be recycled as other clothing and bed covers. This patch
work was combined with quilting to make warmer coverings.
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| Quilted jacket |
During
the middle ages in Britain heavy cloth, quilted with strong thread stitched in
straight lines was worn as body armour by the army of William the Conqueror and
the Crusaders. Through the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, quilted bed covers
were mentioned in household inventories and accounts.
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| Whole cloth quilt |
In
the 14th century the climate of Western Europe changed and they experienced
bitter winters. People used whatever
they could find to fill their quilts from lamb's wool to grass, moss or feathers. In Britain and Holland making bed covers, or
'bed furniture' became a business for many people. The quilted bed covers
became prized possessions that were handed down through generations and other traditions developed around the craft. Before a girl married she was
expected to have a number of quilts completed and the last one was often
quilted by her relatives and friends. This quilt would become a part of her
dowry. It was popular to hold quilting bees, where friends gathered to share
the work, sitting around homemade quilting frames and enjoying the social
occasion while sharing patterns and skills
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| Quilting bee |
In Europe quilted bed covers and wall
hangings were in use before the 16th century.
These quilts were whole cloth quilts, just one colour fabric all over
with a design created by quilting. Patterns for the quilting stitches to follow
ranged from very simple to very complicated and women with fine quilting skills
were sought out to work for wealthy people. The sewing machine was invented
around 1790 and this made piecing a quilt top easier and faster but the
quilting was still done by hand.
Today quilting is used in a wide range
of items such as ski jackets and other cold weather clothing, dressing gowns, slippers,
seat covers, tote bags, baby cot liners and change mats, bedding such as pillow
covers and mattresses as well as decorative bed quilts. Commercial quilting is done on huge machines
in factories and is not what ladies who love handcrafts mean when they refer to
quilting.
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| Section of a winning quilt from the Australian National Quilt Show |
If you asked women in America about
quilts they would say that quilting was an American invention. Possibly they don't realise that quilting was
a skill used by the Pilgrims, who were told to take at least one piece of bed
furniture with them. IN the early 19th century patchwork and quilting came to
Australia with the convicts, who practiced their stitching skills aboard ship.
A great example of quilting skills
moving from Europe to America is the Amish.
Their quilts are known around the world and Amish quilting patterns and
quilts are even sold on the internet. As
part of their life style, being 'plain' people, the Amish wear homemade
clothing of plain colours. Their quilts are made from clothing scraps, and
while their geometric patchwork designs are greatly admired, it's in the
quilting that they become art works.
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| Amish Quilt |
Across the world the skills of
patchwork and quilting were in use up until World War l broke out in 1914. With the men away women found they didn't
have the time for sewing and after the war improvements in shipping meant that
readymade items were available at reasonable cost. As people became more
prosperous they gave their time to other things. The handcraft skills began to
fade until the 1960's when the 'back to the basics lifestyle' became popular.
By the early 20th century quilters all
around the world were able to use their sewing machines for simple quilting.
Today sewing machines are computerised and some are capable of producing very
fancy quilting patterns. Special quilting
machines are also available for home use and installed in garages, sheds and
spare rooms all over the world.
---------------- QUILTERS will understand this ----------------
I've been put on this earth to sew
and finish a certain number of projects.
I am so far behind now…
I will never die!
and finish a certain number of projects.
I am so far behind now…
I will never die!
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