The Art ofQuiltmaking

Then…

A Log Cabin variation called Courthouse Steps; made between 1875-1900; Maker unknown.

…and now.

The Fairfield Master Award for Contemporary Artistry: $5000

Spyrogyra #1 by Caryl Bryer FallertMade in 2002

What exactlyis 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 thethree layers of a quilt:

Here are thethree 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 thethree 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 thethree layers of a quilt:

The third or bottom layer of the quilt sandwich is calledthe 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 Bobblanket 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 amuseum

someday?

Most quilts thathang 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 arounda 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 plantand animal fibers. Soon they realizedthat these woven fabrics provided morewarmth when they were layered. An upand down sewing stitch through all thelayers was developed to keep the

layersfrom shifting and pulling apart. Thisstitching is the actual quilting,and where we get the term “quilt”.

The oldest surviving example ofa quilted covering is fromAncient Egypt.

The Cotton Plant

Wool fibers from sheep

Absolutely, yes!

This quilt was made by contemporary quilt artist, Caryl Bryer Fallert, in 2002.

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

Considertheirhistory…

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!