| Quilting is an ancient activity, present | | | | the parent of the quilting stitch |
| in many cultures and each of these | | | | represented by the coarse line and |
| cultures influencing its development and | | | | embroidery. |
| particularity through time. The quilts | | | | The 17th century gives us the first bed |
| became the expression of their maker's | | | | covering the Levens Hall, made from |
| feelings, the witness of historical | | | | imported Indian chintzes. The details |
| events or happy moments in simple | | | | and the exquisite craft design indicate |
| people's lives. From its beginning until | | | | it as an example of high quality |
| the present days, quilting had its ups | | | | quilting, not just an ordinary bed |
| and downs. Today, the development of the | | | | covering. |
| textiles industry and those of the | | | | When colonists brought the first |
| machines and accessories used in making | | | | patchwork-quilted products in America, |
| the quilts, the improved techniques of | | | | they did not know how much this art |
| quilting have transformed this simple | | | | would develop here. American women saw |
| activity into a true art. | | | | the great advantages of quilting, the |
| The oldest quilt was comes from ancient | | | | functionality and the artistic |
| Egypt and it consists in a clothing item | | | | experience of quilts and decided to |
| found on the statue of an Egyptian | | | | expand and improve the scarce samples |
| pharaoh, who lived around the year 3400 | | | | brought by the colonists. Therefore, |
| before Jesus Christ. The technique used | | | | they started to create interesting |
| in quilting stitches was also found in | | | | geometrical designs that became very |
| decorative objects from Middle eve | | | | popular in the 1880's fairs and |
| churches. It is considered that the | | | | competitions. |
| Templar Knights themselves took over the | | | | Long with the modern sawing techniques |
| idea of quilted garments from the Muslim | | | | of the 20th century, the traditional |
| soldiers, who used it to replace parts | | | | craft of quilted bed coverings, table |
| of their armour when the metal was not | | | | coverings or child comforts slightly |
| enough. | | | | decreased. Cheap and mass-produced |
| In America, the ones who have brought | | | | garments and comforters replaced the |
| and developed quilting were the Dutch | | | | original quilted bed coverings. |
| and the English colonists, who made | | | | The 1960's brought the remerge of the |
| three laired clothes to protect them | | | | quilting activity in the southern areas |
| from cold and, from the remains of the | | | | of the United States and the tradition |
| fabrics they made bed coverings. This | | | | was once again brought back to life and |
| happened in the early 12th century and | | | | passed from one generation to another. |
| there are some written records about the | | | | It took almost 20 years, until 1980, to |
| quilting craft and the designed used in | | | | make the art of quilting be |
| those times, but few samples were found | | | | re-appreciated and practiced all over |
| because the fabrics were perishable. | | | | the country by passions women, even |
| Though, a well-preserved sample is dated | | | | became a flowering business. |
| 15th century and you can observe here | | | | |