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A Brief History of Quilting

How Quilts Moved From Items of Clothing to Bed Coverings to Artwork

Quilting has been around for centuries. One of its original uses was to create warm clothing, usually underwear. Another early use was as padding under the armor French knights would wear in combat. Even today, the highly trained horses used in bull fighting wear quilted armor.

The idea of piecing together bits of expensive fabric as a way of saving money and putting to good use what would otherwise be wasted has a long tradition in parts of Europe, particularly in England, Wales and Holland. The quilting craft eventually made its way to America as more people emigrated there.

When America was first settled, fabric was scarce and the settlers had more important things to do than make quilts. Before the Revolutionary War, commercially made fabrics and quilts were imported to the Colonies, which had not yet developed a fabric industry of their own.

Since quilts were considered a luxury, most likely the wealthier residents of the east coast, those closest to the major ports where fabric arrived by ship, were the only ones able to acquire them. The American quilting industry was born there, as tailors and housewives saw a market they could fill.

In the early 1700’s floral fabrics from France began to arrive. They were quite expensive, so the quilters of the day would carefully cut out the designs and attach them to cheaper backings. This was the beginning of the pieced quilting movement in America and the first of many original mosaic style quilts featuring popular quilt patterns, such as the “Tree of Life” began to appear.

Over the years leading up to the Revolution, quilting became more popular, but the war itself put a crimp in the availability of fabric, something that would reoccur with just about every period of war until recent times.

In the early 19th Century, quilting “bees” began to spring up. This was an important means of socializing for colonial and pioneer women and might be the only time they would see each other for months.

Through the winter months, the women pieced their quilt tops. Since only the central or main room of the house was heated, there was no room for a quilt frame to be assembled.

When warmer weather arrived, invitations for quilting bees would go out to the far flung neighbors.

The hostess would have the makings of supper prepared and would have stretched her quilt top on the quilting frame. The ladies arrived early and positioned their chairs around the frame.

The day would be spent in pleasant conversation, catching up on family and community events that had transpired over the cold winter months. At larger quilting bees, neighbors were invited to bring their own quilt tops and quilting frames. Several quilts might be completed in one day.

As the quilting bee was drawing to a close, some of the women would break away to complete and lay out the meal. About that time, the men would arrive to join the party. Dinner was frequently followed by square dancing and other festivities.

The Amish, whose quilts are so prized today, came quite late to quilting. Very few samples of their work are known to have been made before the 1870’s. Quilting had been considered a worldly pursuit, not worthy of their time. But as economies change, so do some ideas of what is frivolous and what is productive.

By the 1890’s, Amish quilts were becoming quite common. The first Amish quilts were made in one solid dark color. Though the fabrics were plain, the quilting done to hold the layers together was intricate and decorative and included curlicues, grids, even swirling feathers.

Gradually basic piecing was added. Quilting bees (sans the dancing) fit in very well with Amish community life.

As the United States became more settled and continued to grow, needle, thread and fabric became more affordable and more and more women took up the craft. In the late 18th Century, cheaper cotton fabrics began to reach the market, causing tremendous growth in quilting.

As time went by, styles of quilting patterns changed. Different themes would match the times: for example, patriotic and memorial during times of war, the “Drunkard’s Path” at the height of the Temperance Movement and “Crazy Quilts” during late Victorian times. Of course styles continually changed as well when new and improved fabrics, dyes and techniques came along.

Quilting remained popular until the early 20th Century, when interest in it began to wane.

During the Great Depression it was used frequently, more out of necessity than anything else. Worn clothing was put to good use. Then in the early 70’s interest in quilting as a serious craft was revived. In 1971, the Whitney Museum of American Art exhibited a collection of antique American quilts. This show which traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe for the next four years caused many to recognize quilting as a native American craft that was worthy of being considered a true art form.

This has led to the popularity of quilting which lasts to today.

For more articles about quilting and quilting design, please click here.

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Recommended Reading

These books are excellent resources for quilters, no matter the level of experience.

Quiltmaking by Hand: Simple Stitches, Exquisite Quilts By: Jinny Beyer

Machine Quilting Made Easy By:Maurine Noble

Quilter's Complete Guide By: Marianne Fons

Contemporary Machine Embroidered Quilts: Innovative Techniques and Designs By: Eileen Roche

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