You are here: Home >> Articles & Tutorials >> Patchwork Heritage Quilts Enrich America's Quilting Tradition
By Blanket America on Jan 18, 2010 |Home Improvement
Was this helpful?
0
0
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Since the days of mass immigrationfrom Europe, the American quilting tradition has been a constantly evolvingamalgam of color and texture, pattern and symbolism. Because immigrants fromall over the world brought their quilts with them from their foreign lands,women of old began borrowing each others traditions. Eventually, thesecombinations of styles became known and the American Melting Pot quilts. Intime, these quilts would become known as patchwork quilts. Almost all women quilted, fromfarm wives to society matrons, young girls to young mothers. The onlydifference in their patchwork quilts was the quality, texture and colors of thefabrics used. Fabric society women used in patchwork quilts, such as linen andsilk, where much more expensive and difficult to come by than cotton harvestedfrom old shirts and sheets. Young women aspired to have asmany as 13 quilts in her possession as part of her dowry chest. When she becameengaged a commemorative double wedding ring pattern quilt was usually added. Asthe years passed, important milestones such as marriages, births, currentevents and political affiliations were commemorated through quilts. American history can be trackedthrough the American quilt. For example, it is easy to distinguish thedifference between a Civil War Era quilt and a Spanish American War era quilt.As Americans moved westward, each state eventually had its own quilt. Economictimes are reflected in the colors, fabric quality and fabric availability andpattern. During the Roaring 20's crazy quilts made of satin or silk werepopular. During the Great Depression sack cloth from old flour sacks was allthat was available to women. Today, the Patchwork Heritage quiltby Blanket America is commemorating and reflecting our nation's currentsituation. Comprised of 13 different fabrics in red, white and blue thatreflect current popular decorating hues, the Patchwork Heritage quiltrepresents the 13 original colonies. The reverse of the quilt featuresPresident Barak Obama's inaugural address in entirety. The words "We knowthat our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness" are prominentlydisplayed. To learn about the Patchwork Heritage quilt and how it helps America 's poorthough the a buy one, give one charitable project, please visit Obama . The Patchwork Heritage quilt byBlanket America enriches an old American tradition: commemorative quilting.From state quilts created by pioneers to the union quilts with red white andblue motifs, quilting has long since become a part of the fabric of our nation.Thanks to the Patchwork Heritage quilt, that fabric just got a little moreinteresting.
Was this helpful?
0
0
You're reading Patchwork Heritage Quilts Enrich America's Quilting Tradition.