| Quilts are colorful bed coverings made | | | | quilts represent in its entirety the |
| by sewing together pieces of cloth into | | | | contribution of thousands of black |
| different designs. Quilts were more than | | | | quiltmakers working at the craft over |
| warm protection against cold winters. | | | | two centuries. What should one think of |
| Quilt making provided women with an | | | | African-American quilts, made over such |
| important form of creative expression | | | | a long period of time that did not |
| and invention. Quilts frequently | | | | conform to the aesthetics-based |
| celebrate birthdays, graduations, | | | | identification. The casual answer that |
| weddings, anniversaries, and retirements | | | | African-American quilts not in |
| and a number of the winning entries | | | | compliance with the criteria were simply |
| commemorate such events. Quilters come | | | | copies of white-made, traditional |
| together at quilting bees to work on | | | | Euro-American quilts was unacceptable. |
| coverings together and to enjoy | | | | More and more questions about |
| socializing. | | | | African-American quilts emerged as quilt |
| Design | | | | historians realized that findings |
| Many quilts are made with decorative | | | | gathered in these early studies of |
| designs;, some quilts are not used as | | | | black-mad quilts had been extrapolated |
| bed covering at all, but are rather made | | | | far beyond what the evidence would |
| to be hung on a wall or otherwise | | | | legitimately support. Further research |
| displayed. Crazy quilts are a popular | | | | began to place African-American quilts |
| form of quilt design. The stitches can | | | | in the larger context of black history. |
| be made in such a way as to form | | | | Making |
| detailed patterns or designs on the | | | | Quilt making provided women with an |
| quilt. Patchwork quilts are made from | | | | important form of creative expression |
| many pieces of different colored fabrics | | | | and invention. While quilters have many |
| that have been sewn together, or | | | | tools and techniques to choose from to |
| "pieced," in a design. A quilter can | | | | facilitate the process, the truth is |
| also sew different pieces of fabric onto | | | | that making a quilt, particularly a |
| the top of the quilt to form designs. | | | | prize-winning quilt, takes time and |
| Quilts designed to be used as bed | | | | personal commitment. Some had done other |
| coverings should exceed standard | | | | kinds of sewing and needlework, and they |
| mattress size by a minimum of 20 inches | | | | found quilt making a natural extension |
| on the width and length. | | | | of their skills. Others learned from |
| American | | | | church groups making quilts for charity. |
| Brightly colored quilts are made in | | | | Quilting in early America was far |
| virtually every American community, and | | | | different than it is now. |
| they are proudly displayed in homes as | | | | History |
| well as in museums throughout the | | | | Through history, cultures around the |
| nation. Why, after many years of near | | | | world have created quilted coverings and |
| invisibility, have African-American | | | | clothing. The study into quilt history |
| quilts become so engrossing to art | | | | is a rapidly growing area of research in |
| historians, folklorists, ethnologists | | | | American history: the important role |
| and quilt historians. African Americans | | | | women played in our history; domestic |
| have made quilts in this land | | | | life in the 18th-20 centuries; |
| continuously from the late 18th century, | | | | development of the textile industry in |
| yet their work is conspicuously absent | | | | the Asia, India, Europe and America; the |
| from the many published accounts of | | | | purpose for making quilts; their pattern |
| American quilt history. Several factors, | | | | and style development over time; current |
| products of the times, form the basis of | | | | reproduction fabrics; and last but not |
| the current explorations of | | | | least, dating a quilt or a single piece |
| African-American quilts. High drama was | | | | of fabric by its dyes and the method |
| associated with early research on | | | | used to print it. Quilts also reflect |
| African-American quilts. Most exciting | | | | social history, such as the westward |
| of all was a linkage between black | | | | expansion, pioneering on the Plains, |
| American quilts and African design | | | | wars, political and religious campaigns |
| traditions believed to indicate an | | | | and symbols, working women, interior |
| unconscious cultural memory in the | | | | design through time and more. It is a |
| quiltmakers of their faraway motherland. | | | | wonderful way to learn about history. |
| African-American quilts became one of | | | | Conclusion |
| America's newest forms of exotica. | | | | It is clear from these responses and the |
| Visual criteria for recognizing | | | | original essays, that the process of |
| African-American quilts (stitch length, | | | | making and sharing a quilt can achieve |
| asymmetrical organization of quilt | | | | many purposes, reflect many and complex |
| patches, size of patches, frequent use | | | | meanings and relationships, and warm and |
| of bright colors) were devised. One | | | | comfort the spirit as well as the body. |
| needed only apply the recently created | | | | But I am only one of countless many to |
| visual criteria to identify with | | | | find inspiration, comfort, warmth, and |
| certainty quilts of African-American | | | | sustenance in the beauty, history, and |
| origin. How could this small sample of | | | | folklore of quilts. |
| late-20th-century African-American | | | | |