The Origins of Quilting

Many flags and banners are quilts even today.

Quilting as a hobby and trade has been practiced for over five thousand years. Quilts are usually made by sowing together a patchwork of existing and recycled fabrics then stuffing with soft materials like cotton or feathers. They are functional for warmth, decoration, and have historically been used by great world leaders in many different countries. The origin of quilting not only reveals more uses for quilts, but shows that they could easily have an important place in the future.

Early Known Quilts

Found on a carved ivory image of an Egyptian pharaoh about 3400 B.C. archaeologists also found a quilt being used as a carpet in Mongolia between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D. The earliest quilt still surviving today is from Sicily and was made in the fourteenth century.

Medieval Europe

Quilts were brought to medieval Europe from the Middle East. It is unknown if quilting techniques were brought over or just the actual quilts. They were worn for comfort by medieval knights under their suits of armor and also on top to protect them from the elements like rain and snow.

Early American Settlers

Early American settlers made quilts from the remnants of old materials and so it's no surprise none survive to this day. They were, however, mentioned in inventory logs starting in the late seventeenth century. American quilts that did survive came from the early eighteenth century and are easy to date because people would often start by quilting newspapers before putting fabric together. When the quilts wore out, the date of the newspapers would be revealed. Quilts were also used as political statements in place of flags and banners during the American Civil War, the World Wars, and when women were campaigning to vote.

African-American Influence

When slaves were brought from Africa, they kept their artistic traditions alive through quilt-making. Every scrap of material left over from chores, dress-making, and worn-out garments were saved for the making of quilts. They were generally very good quality. African quilts were distinguishable because of their bright, warm colors and asymmetrical designs. Since African quilts were very distinct, they were used to signal which houses were "safe houses" when slaves were escaping to freedom.

Women and Quilting

Quilting has always been popular as a way to keep people warm and protected from the elements, but it flourished in popularity when it came to North America. This is because women would get together and quilt in groups, which also gave them an excuse to socialize. This organization of women quilting was called a "Quilting Bee". Also, women were educated to sow at an early age from their mothers or in school, so they were the primary producers of quilts for their families and for markets.

References

• Emporia State University: History of Quilting
• Western Kentucky University: The History of Quilting