PDF: quilt history
History of Quilts
People:
- people use to use padded fabrics for clothing, bedding, armor…
- English and Dutch settlers brought quilting to North America
- Used as hangings for doors and windows that were not sealed well enough to keep out cold
- Early settlers in America reused resources- when blankets became worn, they were patched combined with other blankets or used as filler between other blankets
- When fabrics were manufactured in america and were more affordable, this allowed women to be more artistic in quiliting because they didn’t need to make their own yarns and fabric
- Earliest settlers had had no materials to spare so they the block style pieced quilt was a functional design for them
- Custom- mothers make quilts for children to have when leave; heirloom quilts
General:
- “quilt” comes from the Latin word “culcita” meaning a stuffed sack
- 2 meanings-
- three layer stitched bedcovering
- act of stitching through the three layers to hold them together
- made up of a top, back, and filler
- Quilt blocks- patterned square of fabric that is repeated or alternated with plain blocks to form overall design on the top of a quilt
- History of America seen thru history of quilts
3 Different Types of Quilts:
- the plain or whole cloth quilt = made of single pieces of material on the top and back, and the decoration is obtained by means of padded or corded quilting
- applique quilts = top made of whole cloth with smaller pieces of fabric cut into shapes or forms that are applied or stitched down, “show” or “best” quilt
- pieced or patchwork quilts =”utility” quilt
- tufted quilt- tied through in enough places to keep filling in place, no stitching holding the layers together, it has 3 layers
- “summer” quilt– no middle filling
- Medallion quilt- brought to America from colonists, central motif surrounded by multiple borders- endless designs for quilters, who could use patchwork, applique, embroidery alone or all together
History by Date/Year:
- 1800s styles– whole cloth quilts, broderie perse, and medallion quilts
- 1800s– intro of sewing machine, quilting machine attachment didn’t become used, hand quilting remained popular
- 1825-1875- handwork =relaxation for pioneer women, fine handwork shows status/pride
- after front conquered, living conditions improved- more time, more creative
- quilting bee- women bring quilt tops that were already pieced and work together to quilt the top- chance to socialize
- WW1– quiltmaking for fundraising and awareness
- Great Depression– saving pieces of material, no money
- WWII– raise money to support Red Cross- signature quilt became popular
- Signature quilt- businesses, stores, people would pay to have name embroidered on a quilt block, the blocks were sewn together and quilted and the finish quilt was raffled and proceeds go to Red Cross
- 1950s-1960s- less interest in quilting, viewed as dated, old fashion, and lean times
- 1970s-1980s- granddaughters of older women began to revive quiltmaking, back to the land movement denerated desire to learn hand skill
- 1976- bicentennial-quilts meant national pride and achievement and reminder of past
- early 2000s- relaxation, artistic medium, now a renewed interest
Sources:
http://www.quilting-in-america.com/History-of-Quilts.html
http://www.emporia.edu/cgps/tales/quilte~1.html