The Art of Quiltmaking

Then… A Log Cabin variation called Courthouse Steps; made between ; Maker unknown.

…and now. The Fairfield Master Award for Contemporary Artistry: $5000 Spyrogyra #1 by Caryl Bryer Fallert Made in 2002

What exactly is a quilt? Think of a quilt like a big fabric sandwich. It is made up of three layers: 1. The top layer is fabric 2. The middle layer is a soft, filling of cotton, wool, or polyester 3. The bottom layer is fabric again All three layers are held together by stitching.

Here are the three layers of a quilt:

The first layer of the quilt sandwich is called “the quilt top” and can be: 1. Whole cloth-made of one continuous layer of the same fabric; or 2. Appliqué-one layer of fabric with organic or geometric shapes 3. Patchwork-here the layer is made up of small pieces of fabric stitched side-by-side to make up the entire quilt top. stitched on top of that fabric (many times the shapes form a picture); or

Here are the three layers of a quilt: The second layer of the quilt sandwich is the filling. This is the layer that makes the quilt puffy and gives the quilt it’s warmth. This layer is called the batting and can be made of cotton, wool, or polyester. Because quilts of old were made to serve a mainly utilitarian purpose, quilters used to use worn flannel sheets or blankets as the batting for their quilts. Some quilters still do.

Here are the three layers of a quilt: The third or bottom layer of the quilt sandwich is called the backing. The backing of a quilt is usually made from one continuous length of fabric. Because the back of a quilt is rarely looked at, sometimes quilters use up scraps of fabric by assembling them all together to become the back of a quilt.

Is my Sponge Bob blanket a quilt? Maybe… if it is a “quilt sandwich”, made up of the three layers mentioned before, it is a quilt.

Probably not. The fact is that you will probably love it to shreds and there will be nothing left of it. That has happened to many quilts, and they just no longer exist. Also, your quilt was made by machine along with thousands and thousands exactly like it. It is treasured, but not unique. Will it hang in a museum someday?

Most quilts that hang in a museum are special in some way: 1.The quilt is the very best example of it’s kind. Its craftsmanship, the patterns and design make it one-of-a-kind—unique. 2.The quilt is a very old example. No other quilt of that kind still exists. Most quilts were made to be used everyday. Even though we marvel at the beauty the quiltmaker was able to put into the quilt, they still had to serve the purpose they were created for – to keep people warm - and they just wore out.

Quilts have been around a lot longer than you might think. For a long, long time people covered themselves with animal skins to keep warm They were definitely cool, but hard to come by.

As history progressed, people continued to find different kinds of materials for clothing and bedding. They began to weave cloth from plant and animal fibers. Soon they realized that these woven fabrics provided more warmth when they were layered. An up and down sewing stitch through all the layers was developed to keep the layers from shifting and pulling apart. This stitching is the actual quilting, and where we get the term “quilt”. The oldest surviving example of a quilted covering is from Ancient Egypt. The Cotton Plant Wool fibers from sheep

Absolutely, yes! This quilt was made by contemporary quilt artist, Caryl Bryer Fallert, in It is called Feather Study #20. It has a pieced patchwork quilt top. This quilt was created as an art quilt and was never intended to cover a bed.

This is the kind of quilt we are most familiar with. This is a patchwork Evening Star pattern with an appliqué ribbon and bows border. Even though it is an antique, made over 100 years ago, it has remained beautiful enough to have been made yesterday. Because this quilt was seldom used and well taken care of, we can enjoy the quiltmaker’s art today.

This is an antique appliqué quilt in a laurel leaf design. The organic shapes form an overall pattern. The inset shows the quilt’s details. Look at the different green and red fabrics the quiltmaker had to collect to use for the leaves. Red and green form a complimentary color scheme.

Appreciate quilts, old… Antique Crazy Pieced Quilt; made in 1886

…and new. Reflection #17; Made by Caryl Bryer Fallert in 1991

Consider their history… The Women: Mask Faces Quilt #1; by famous African American quilter Faith Ringgold in 1986.

…and enjoy their beauty. Antique Appliqué Hearts and Trees Quilt; c. 1870

Maybe someday you’ll make one!