| Quilting is a sewing method done either | | | | called a rocking stitch, where the |
| by hand, sewing machine or Longarm | | | | quilter has one hand, usually with a |
| quilting system. The process uses a | | | | finger wearing a thimble, on top of the |
| needle and thread to join two or more | | | | quilt, while the other hand is located |
| layers of material together to make a | | | | beneath the piece to push the needle |
| quilt. Typical quilting is done with | | | | back up. The third option is called |
| three layers, the top fabric or quilt | | | | "loading the needle" and involves doing |
| top, batting or insulating material and | | | | four or more stitches before pulling the |
| backing material. The quilter's hand or | | | | needle through the cloth. |
| sewing machine passes the needle and | | | | Tying is another form of hand quilting. |
| thread through all layers and then | | | | This type of quilting is done primarily |
| brings the needle back up. The process | | | | on quilts that are made to be used and |
| is repeated across the entire piece | | | | are needed quickly. The process of tying |
| where quilting is wanted. A straight or | | | | the quilt is done with yarns or multiple |
| running stitch is commonly used and | | | | strands of thread. Square knots are used |
| these stitches can be purely functional | | | | to finish off the ties so that the quilt |
| or decorative and elaborate. Quilting is | | | | may be washed and used without fear of |
| done on bed spreads, art quilt wall | | | | the knots coming undone. |
| hangings, clothing, and a variety of | | | | Machine Quilting is the process of using |
| textile products. Quilting can make a | | | | a home sewing machine or a Longarm |
| project puffy, or with dense quilting, | | | | machine to sew the layers together. With |
| can raise one area so that another | | | | the home sewing machine the layers are |
| stands out. | | | | tacked together before quilting. This |
| History | | | | involves laying the top, batting and |
| There is a common belief that quilting | | | | backing out on a flat surface and either |
| originated for its utility rather than | | | | pinning (using large safety pins) or |
| decoration. | | | | tacking the layers together. Longarm |
| The origins of this method of craft are | | | | Quilting involves placing the layers to |
| thought to be in the Crusades, when | | | | be quilted on a special frame. The frame |
| soldiers needed warmth as well as | | | | has bars on which the layers are rolled, |
| protection from the chafing caused by | | | | keeping these together without the need |
| heavy armor. Additionally, there are | | | | for basting or pinning. These frames are |
| ancient Egyptian sculptures showing | | | | used with a professional sewing machine |
| figures which appear to be wearing | | | | mounted on a platform. The platform |
| clothing which is quilted, possibly for | | | | rides along tracks so that the machine |
| warmth in the chilly desert evenings. | | | | can be moved across the layers on the |
| Quilting is used in the making of | | | | frame. A Longarm machine is moved across |
| garments, as far back as the gambeson. | | | | the fabric. In contrast, the fabric is |
| In American Colonial times most women | | | | moved through a home sewing machine. |
| were busy spinning, weaving and making | | | | Quilting's Functions and Process |
| clothing. Meanwhile women of the | | | | Traditional quilting involves a process |
| wealthier classes prided themselves on | | | | that has four steps: piecing, layering, |
| their fine quilting of wholecloth | | | | quilting, and binding. Piecing is the |
| quilts. Both their trapunto and broderie | | | | sewing of the quilt top, which is |
| perse were considered fine needlework. | | | | composed of small pieces of cloth |
| Quilts made during the early 1800s were | | | | arranged in a pattern. A unit of the |
| not constructed of pieced blocks but | | | | pattern is called a block. These blocks |
| instead whole cloth quilts. Broderie | | | | are sewn together, either edge to edge, |
| perse quilts and medallion quilts were | | | | or with separator strips of cloth called |
| made. | | | | sashing. In some quilts, a whole piece |
| Some antique quilts made in North | | | | of cloth is used for the top layer, so |
| America have worn-out blankets or older | | | | piecing is not done. Layering places the |
| quilts as the internal batting layer, | | | | quilt's backing, batting, and top in |
| quilted between new layers of fabric and | | | | place. Quilting involves attaching the |
| thereby extending the usefulness of old | | | | three layers together as well as adding |
| material. | | | | decorative elements. Binding completes |
| Quilts made without any insulation or | | | | the quilt by finishing the edges with a |
| batting were referred to as summer | | | | trim of fabric. Sometimes borders are |
| quilts. They were not made for warmth, | | | | added before the binding is done. |
| only to keep the chill off on cooler | | | | Quilting is usually done starting from |
| summer evenings. | | | | the middle, going out to the edges. Most |
| Harriet Powers, a slave-born African | | | | frequently, quilting is done along seam |
| American woman, made two famous story | | | | lines (i.e., stitching in the ditch). |
| quilts. She was just one of the many | | | | Quilting can be done over a simple |
| African American quilters who | | | | geometric grid or using more complex |
| contributed to the evolution of | | | | designs such as tessellations. The |
| quilting. | | | | gridwork of stitches traps air in the |
| Just recently the Quilts of Gees Bend | | | | material, making it much warmer than a |
| offers another piece of quilt history | | | | single layer of fabric would be, or even |
| that is traveling the United States. | | | | the layers separately. |
| This exhibit is the history of quilts | | | | Quilting can also be used as a form of |
| made by African American women living in | | | | elaborate decoration, where the |
| Gee's Bend Alabama. These quilts were | | | | stitching creates complex designs and |
| made for warmth and use. | | | | patterns, with or without the use of |
| In modern times, art quilts have started | | | | color. Many draw the design they plan to |
| to become popular for their aesthetic | | | | quilt on the quilt top before stitching, |
| and artistic qualities rather than for | | | | while others stitch "freehand". |
| functionality (i.e., they are displayed | | | | While the majority of quilt tops are |
| on a wall rather than spread on a bed). | | | | pieced (patchwork quilt), elaborate |
| Quilting Types and Equipment | | | | quilting can be done on a top layer |
| Hand Quilting is the process of using a | | | | composed of only a single piece of |
| needle and thread to sew a running type | | | | fabric (whole cloth quilt). Chintz, |
| stitch by hand across the entire area to | | | | sateen and other shiny fabrics are often |
| be quilted. This binds the layers | | | | used for the top layer since these |
| together. A quilting frame or hoop is | | | | enhance the intricacy of detailed |
| often used to assist in holding the | | | | quilting. |
| piece being quilted, off the quilter's | | | | Quilting is very often combined with |
| lap. A quilter can make one running | | | | embroidery, patchwork, appliqué and |
| stitch at a time. Another option is | | | | other forms of needlework. |