Film School Article

Rich History of Quilting

The process of sewing two pieces of fabric together is called as quilting. In between the fabric there will be stuffing of cotton, wool or other substance that is soft, thick and good for insulation.

The history of quilting dates back to centuries. People from East Asia, Middle East and some parts of Africa have used quilted clothing long ago. Researchers assumed that at about the same time quilting originated in China and Egypt.

In Europe, the history of quilting began with the Crusaders bringing in a type of quilting from the Middle East. History records also show that Knights wore quilted clothing under their armor for protection and warmth.

When the Europeans started making quilted bedcovers, first introduced by the Romans, the art of quilting grew further. During the 15th century, to fight against the cold during the freezing winters, people started wearing quilted garments. With the discovery of the quilting frame, more sophisticated stitching started featuring rather than the original rough stitch work. People started regarding quilt works more as an art then and it became very popular from 17th century well into the 19th century.

Quilting was not common in the history of North America until the early 19th century. Sewing, weaving and spinning clothing for their families were some of the main activities for women around this time. Quilting was found to be a rare hobby and considered to be a luxury suited only for wealthy women who have lots of time to spare. Hence the materials used for quilting at this time were decorative and not the scraps of worn cloth.During the mid-1800 the developments in technology brought about textile manufacturing and there was also great change in the history of quilting. This trend significantly altered the lives of women and they no longer did weaving to create fabrics for clothing. Commercial textile became very affordable creating greater interest in quilting. Women had a wide choice of cotton fabrics for their quilting. Using only scraps for quilting by women is in fact a myth.

The invention of the sewing machine in 1850s is another important event in the history of quilting. This allowed women to stitch clothes faster so they have more time for quilting. Also women used the sewing machines to make their quilted items.

The American civil war also contributed to the history of quilting in America. Women made quilts to keep the soldiers warm and comfortable. They also sold quilts to raise funds to support certain movements of that time.The history of quilting is long and rich indeed and quilters today continue doing this wonderful tradition.