Quilting through history

Quilting is an ancient activity, present in many cultureswell-preserved sample is dated 15th century and you
and each of these cultures influencing its developmentcan observe here the parent of the quilting stitch
and particularity through time. The quilts became therepresented by the coarse line and embroidery. The
expression of their maker's feelings, the witness of17th century gives us the first bed covering the Levens
historical events or happy moments in simple people'sHall, made from imported Indian chintzes. The details
lives. From its beginning until the present days, quiltingand the exquisite craft design indicate it as an example
had its ups and downs. Today, the development of theof high quality quilting, not just an ordinary bed covering.
textiles industry and those of the machines andWhen colonists brought the first patchwork-quilted
accessories used in making the quilts, the improvedproducts in America, they did not know how much this
techniques of quilting have transformed this simpleart would develop here. American women saw the
activity into a true art. The oldest quilt was comesgreat advantages of quilting, the functionality and the
from ancient Egypt and it consists in a clothing itemartistic experience of quilts and decided to expand and
found on the statue of an Egyptian pharaoh, who livedimprove the scarce samples brought by the colonists.
around the year 3400 before Jesus Christ. TheTherefore, they started to create interesting
technique used in quilting stitches was also found ingeometrical designs that became very popular in the
decorative objects from Middle eve churches. It is1880's fairs and competitions. Long with the modern
considered that the Templar Knights themselves tooksawing techniques of the 20th century, the traditional
over the idea of quilted garments from the Muslimcraft of quilted bed coverings, table coverings or child
soldiers, who used it to replace parts of their armourcomforts slightly decreased. Cheap and
when the metal was not enough. In America, the onesmass-produced garments and comforters replaced
who have brought and developed quilting were thethe original quilted bed coverings. The 1960's brought
Dutch and the English colonists, who made three lairedthe remerge of the quilting activity in the southern
clothes to protect them from cold and, from theareas of the United States and the tradition was once
remains of the fabrics they made bed coverings. Thisagain brought back to life and passed from one
happened in the early 12th century and there are somegeneration to another. It took almost 20 years, until
written records about the quilting craft and the1980, to make the art of quilting be re-appreciated and
designed used in those times, but few samples werepracticed all over the country by passions women,
found because the fabrics were perishable. Though, aeven became a flowering business.