| Amish, Mennonite and Picture Quilts are a tradition of | | | | reproducing furniture styles and quilts of colonial times |
| folklore with the art of quilting and pattern making being | | | | through what was termed the "quilting B". The quilting B |
| passed down for centuries. Brilliant colors, beautiful | | | | was the all American woman's pastime when her |
| patterns, soft textures and handmade durability give | | | | work was done. Quilting B quilt patterns began on |
| years of enjoyment. | | | | traditional patterns brought to America by the Amish |
| Amish, Mennonite and Picture Quilts were a way of | | | | Mennonites, some of which are still popular patterns |
| passing family heritage and stories to the next | | | | today. |
| generation. Some of today's most prized quilt patterns | | | | Heirloom Quality Available Today |
| were once a family treasured story worked | | | | The fine Heirloom Quality Amish Mennonite Quilts are |
| painstakingly with thread and needle into a quilted | | | | available today and still "handmade" by some of the |
| heirloom. | | | | company's reproducing them. Quilts that are handmade |
| Hit the sack? | | | | hand crafted are more durable and will last for years |
| Quilts have been around for centuries dating back to | | | | retaining both brilliant color and soft textures. The |
| 3400 BC. The earliest recorded quilting was found as | | | | brilliant colors, beautiful patterns and soft textures in |
| an embellishment for a carved ivory figure of a | | | | totality are quality works of art deemed to be an |
| Pharaoh. It is believed that quilting originated in China | | | | heirloom of wonderful memories. |
| and Egypt simultaneously and brought to Europe by | | | | Picture Quilts |
| crusaders. | | | | Picture Quilts were made to tell a story. Often the |
| From humble but necessary beginnings, the quilting | | | | family Crest embellished a family Picture Quilt. Names |
| process has incorporated the techniques of many | | | | and birth dates of children and grandchildren were |
| cultures; Italy's Trapunto, Japan's Yosegire, England's | | | | often embroidered onto a quilt casing. A common |
| Cowlite "Stuffed Sack" or "Sack Bed" and France's | | | | rendition of this today is the quilt square swap in which |
| Applique. Amish settlers came to the United States | | | | participants each bring a completed picture square of |
| from Germany and Switzerland in the early 1700s | | | | a pre-determined subject matter that is then sewn |
| bringing with them their quilting craft. | | | | together using fabric strips between each square. |
| The New England Colonial Quilt Deemed a Myth | | | | Manufacturers offer picture Quilts today, including |
| New settlers to the New England states have been | | | | some with the pictures made with the quilting stitch and |
| thought of as the originators of Quilting in the | | | | some with the quilting stitch outlining a fabric picture or |
| America's, but the Colonial Quilt is in actuality an Amish | | | | applique. |
| Mennonite quilt brought to the country. Life was hard | | | | Timeless Gift |
| for the early settlers and time was reserved for | | | | A quilt, whether an Amish, Mennonite or Picture Quilt, |
| chores of necessity, not learning the art of "quilt | | | | makes a timeless gift choice and the gift of a quilt is |
| piercing". Hand "tied quilts" or "knotted quilts" were the | | | | always an appropriate gift for anyone for any |
| Colonial New England quilt. | | | | occasion. |
| In the mid 19th century the Colonial decor revival began | | | | |