by Beverly S.
The 1st century CE saw the birth of an amazing art form, quilts. Fabrics then were sewn together much as they are now, and for similar purposes. Amazingly, some of these hand-quilted items have survived, and are visible on display at museums around the world. Some display scenes from the culture of the time, others are the patchwork beauties we associate with this art form today. This article shares with you the history of these amazing artifacts and why quilting is so important to us today.
Throughout history, there has been a need to sew fabric together to create clothing or daily used articles. In the medieval era, soldiers wore suits of quilted fabric underneath their armor to protect them from the sometimes poorly closed metal rings. Even everyday clothing had quilting during that time, due to the little ice age of the era. Even a few quilted blankets were made, but these are considered broadcloth quilts, as they do not feature patchwork and are instead made from whole sheets of fabric.
Quilting is sometimes seen as different pieces of fabric sewn together to create a top layer, but this style (known as patchwork) did not appear until the 19th century. Before then, only women of leisure with servants to do the household chores had any time to enjoy the hobby of crafting broadcloth quilts. Quilts of this nature were two pieces of fabric with a middle layer of carded wool or cotton stitched all the way through. Poorer women were unable to create such works because they were typically too busy spinning and weaving to make clothing for their families.
It was really the Industrial Revolution that changed the way women viewed quilts. Once women no longer had to spend their time spinning and weaving for their families due to the ready availability of affordable commercial fabrics, quilt making became widespread. Quilts made up of blocks became common around the 1840s, as many quilters wanted to showcase the beautiful fabrics they'd found. In the 1850s, household sewing machines became available for sale, and this speeded up the process of clothes-making and quilt piecing. Often, however, quilting was still done by hand.
The Civil War saw the first popular spread of "quilting for a cause". Quilts were sold to raise funds for the abolitionist movement before the war, and during the war funds from quilts sold often went to soldiers or the general war effort. Women often turned older bedspreads into quilts, turning two blankets into three quilts due to how small the men's cots were. The South was unable to compete with the North in terms of fabric, however, as all the manufacturing plants were in the North. In order to get blankets to the men, women were required to go back to spinning and weaving, which took much longer.
The Victorian era saw a new style of quilting, the Crazy quilt. Made up of abstract shapes and fanciful designs, this style of quilt featured detailed embroidery along the seams, and later designs like a spider in its web for good luck, flowers, and birds across the fabric itself. Crazy quilts were very popular with younger women of that period, but these quilts were frequently smaller, and used as decorative throws rather than bedspreads.
In the twentieth century, quilting definitely had its highs and lows. In the 1920s, women wanted soft pastel heritage quilts, and during this time quilting became seen as an art as well as a craft. The Great Depression saw another spike in quilt-making, due to how easy it was to reuse fabric scraps and save them from being wasted. After World War II, however, consumerist ideals said that quilting was a hobby for the poor, and so the craft fell out of favor. Amazingly, quilts were revived in the mid-1960s with the Back to Nature movement that strived for old-fashioned craftsmanship. The 1976 American bicentennial only fueled the fire of quilting passion.
So the next time you are chilled, and climb into your warm bed, under your favorite quilt, think of how much work went into any quilt creation, from the past to today. We have a history of quilting because so many women worked hard to create something for their families. Thanks to their loving hands, this tradition is carried on to today. Create your own quilt to be a part of this historic craft!
Throughout history, there has been a need to sew fabric together to create clothing or daily used articles. In the medieval era, soldiers wore suits of quilted fabric underneath their armor to protect them from the sometimes poorly closed metal rings. Even everyday clothing had quilting during that time, due to the little ice age of the era. Even a few quilted blankets were made, but these are considered broadcloth quilts, as they do not feature patchwork and are instead made from whole sheets of fabric.
Quilting is sometimes seen as different pieces of fabric sewn together to create a top layer, but this style (known as patchwork) did not appear until the 19th century. Before then, only women of leisure with servants to do the household chores had any time to enjoy the hobby of crafting broadcloth quilts. Quilts of this nature were two pieces of fabric with a middle layer of carded wool or cotton stitched all the way through. Poorer women were unable to create such works because they were typically too busy spinning and weaving to make clothing for their families.
It was really the Industrial Revolution that changed the way women viewed quilts. Once women no longer had to spend their time spinning and weaving for their families due to the ready availability of affordable commercial fabrics, quilt making became widespread. Quilts made up of blocks became common around the 1840s, as many quilters wanted to showcase the beautiful fabrics they'd found. In the 1850s, household sewing machines became available for sale, and this speeded up the process of clothes-making and quilt piecing. Often, however, quilting was still done by hand.
The Civil War saw the first popular spread of "quilting for a cause". Quilts were sold to raise funds for the abolitionist movement before the war, and during the war funds from quilts sold often went to soldiers or the general war effort. Women often turned older bedspreads into quilts, turning two blankets into three quilts due to how small the men's cots were. The South was unable to compete with the North in terms of fabric, however, as all the manufacturing plants were in the North. In order to get blankets to the men, women were required to go back to spinning and weaving, which took much longer.
The Victorian era saw a new style of quilting, the Crazy quilt. Made up of abstract shapes and fanciful designs, this style of quilt featured detailed embroidery along the seams, and later designs like a spider in its web for good luck, flowers, and birds across the fabric itself. Crazy quilts were very popular with younger women of that period, but these quilts were frequently smaller, and used as decorative throws rather than bedspreads.
In the twentieth century, quilting definitely had its highs and lows. In the 1920s, women wanted soft pastel heritage quilts, and during this time quilting became seen as an art as well as a craft. The Great Depression saw another spike in quilt-making, due to how easy it was to reuse fabric scraps and save them from being wasted. After World War II, however, consumerist ideals said that quilting was a hobby for the poor, and so the craft fell out of favor. Amazingly, quilts were revived in the mid-1960s with the Back to Nature movement that strived for old-fashioned craftsmanship. The 1976 American bicentennial only fueled the fire of quilting passion.
So the next time you are chilled, and climb into your warm bed, under your favorite quilt, think of how much work went into any quilt creation, from the past to today. We have a history of quilting because so many women worked hard to create something for their families. Thanks to their loving hands, this tradition is carried on to today. Create your own quilt to be a part of this historic craft!
About the Author:
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