Patchwork Quilting goes back many years. Examples of quilting have been found in tombs of Pharohs dating back to 3400BC. Joseph’s coat of many colors was probably patchwork. Even armour was made by quilting heavy fabrics together. Quilted bed covers were recorded in household inventories from the 17th century. Patchwork quilting has even evolved into an art form known as art quilts. The Amish have developed the quilting traditions of other immigrants into America, into their own style.

Emigrants from Europe took their traditions of making quilts from scraps with them to America. Ideas and designs and even fabrics were exchanged across the Atlantic. The Log Cabin Quilt Design that was originally known in Ireland as the Folded Quilt Design, was a good way of using small scraps of fabric to create a very practical piece of art. It is doubtful if women quilters viewed their creations as art, it is much more likely they were simply seen as a quilt to cover a bed and provide warmth, albeit still a beautiful item. Crazy quilts are made from randomly stitching together odd pieces of cloth. In colonial times all cloth had to be shipped from Europe at great expense so nothing could be wasted.

A patchwork quilt was never regarded as being finished until it had been quilted. Quilting combined the three layers of the quilt – the backing, the wadding and the pieced top together, so the woollen or cotton wadding would be held in place. Quilting was a time consuming yet essential task as it provided a hard wearing warm durable quilt that had cost very little as it was made of the scraps from other projects.

Quilting is generally regarded as a female pastime since traditionally men did not learn to sew, while sewing was an essential skill for a young woman. Quilting was also a social pastime. Women would gather together to piece the top together and while they worked they would exchange gossip and tales. Sometimes after a quilting party the men would join the women for supper and often romances would begin.

Lives are displayed in traditional patchwork quilts. Part of the dress of a dead child or part of a cherished Father’s shirt could be pieced in to allow the maker to hold her memories. Quilts have been made over years, lifetimes or even generations. Telling the tales of women’s lives though embroidery, color and embellishment.

One group of special mention is the Amish, a religious group who migrated to America in the 1800s’. Quilting was not a skill they bought to America, but rather a skill they learnt from ex-English neighbours in their new land. In Amish societies, a simple life is a core belief and continues to be today avoiding modern mechanisation. While they do use a treadle-operated sewing machine to piece their quilts together the quilting is always done by hand.

The Amish do not use patterned fabrics in their quilts, the piecing patterns they use readily distinguish Amish quilts from other varieties of patchworking. The patterned fabrics are considered to worldly for use in a conservative Amish home. Some Amish quilts do not even use pieced tops; the only pattern is the intricate quilting designs. For an Amish woman an elaborately quilted design is not extra work but a creative outlet.

Traditionally Amish quilts were made from scraps left from clothes or recycled fabrics. This is another Amish value to waste as little as possible. Characteristically Amish quilts will have borders (almost always at least one and usually two) added because they increase the size and frame the pieced design. Borders are cut conservatively on the grain so as not to waste fabric. The inner border is cut from strips of cloth with a square in the corner to join it. Mitre corners or bias cut borders are rarely used as this wastes fabric. Often the quilts are bordered simply by cutting the backing larger, allowing it to be folded over.

Amish quilts are very striking despite their simplicity. This is usually due to the colors used. Although it is commonly believed that there are color restrictions in Amish quilts, this does not appear to be true. The only restriction is what is available to the quilter and the quilter’s own color sense. Typically an Amish quilt will feature two or three dominant colors with an accent color, e.g. Slate blue, black and deep mauve. White is not often used as it is hard to keep clean.

For the wider quilting enthusiast population, quilting has evolved into more of an art form. While traditional patchwork relies on pattern and color to create an image. Art quilts (or water color quilts) are more like painting with fabric than traditional patchwork designs.

Art quilts range in size but generally they are more often seen hanging on a wall rather than on a bed. There is no form of embellishment that is forbidden in Art Quilting, if you can imagine it you can use it. Because of these rather vague boundaries this is the perfect art form, for any creative fabric artist.

There are many groups for modern quilters to join and sell their works. The internet provides an excellent medium for groups to collaborate with each other to create a quilt together. Thanks to T.V. shows, Quilting is reaching a wider audience and is no longer viewed solely as a women’s pastime. Quilts and quilting have never been more popular.

When you walk into quilting store and are greeted by walls full of quilting fabric, so bright and so colorful, you might just find yourself overwhelmed by the possibilities. For some people, choosing the fabric for their quilting masterpiece is the most exciting part of the process. Your creative juices are flowing, you’re surrounded by beautiful patterns and prints, and anything is possible.

But not all quilting fabrics are equal. Some really are better than others, and when you walk into that store, you can’t let the bright colors and intricate patterns fool you. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface.

First of all, what is the fabric made out of? Most quilters look for 100% cotton since natural fibers tend to be easier to work with – easier to sew, press, and quilt. Thread count is also important here. Lower thread counts fray and wear out much easier than a higher quality fabric. The best count is somewhere between 68 and 78. This will give you a thicker and more durable quilting fabric that will stand up to wear and tear and resist shrinking.

Next, consider the fabric grain. Fabrics are woven in two directions – lengthwise and crosswise. A quality quilting fabric will be straight along both directions, forming perfect right angles where they cross. The print that lies on top of the grain needs to be properly aligned with the grain as well. If it doesn’t, you may find yourself cutting to match the print instead of the grain, which will only result in a weaker, easily distorted pattern.

Good quality quilting fabric might also require a little testing to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. Some manufacturers attempt to “enhance” lower quality material by adding chemicals. Does the fabric have a strong smell? You might be smelling the bleach or sizing that some manufacturers add in order to make the material seem stronger and thicker than it really is. Unfortunately these chemicals wash out immediately, and all you’re left with is an inferior product. These do not make a quality fabric and should be avoided.

Does the color come off on your fingers? If it did, it’s probably not colorfast, which is also not a good sign. Good quilting fabric will always seal the colors into the material. After all, what good are all those wonderful colors and patterns on the material if they’re just going to fade and go dull after the first wash?
Another way to make sure you’re getting good quilting fabric is to unroll the bolt enough to get a good look at the print and the colors. Consistency is an important indicator of quality material. Does the color fade in parts? Does the design overlap in some places? These could easily ruin an otherwise beautiful quilt.

So why go through the trouble of finding the good quilting fabric – especially if you can find the same print for cheaper at a discount store? Isn’t that good enough?

The short answer is: no. When you are creating something as intricate and beautiful as your masterpiece quilt, it’s not the time to skimp. And when it comes to fabric, you really do get what you pay for. The discount may carry the same print, but chances are it was printed on an inferior fabric. Take the time to look for the quality indicators of good quilting fabric, and then those wonderful prints and patterns that were calling out to you when you first entered the store will last a lifetime.

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