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History of Quilting

Quilting has been practiced for thousands of years. Over time, it has evolved into a women's art, and while providing warmth for the family, it also gave an acceptable outlet to the creative powers of women.

Immigrants brought the custom of quilting to the United States. Even before the revolution, quilting became an integral part of female society. Quilts were valued for their ability to prevent waste. Women gathered scraps of fabric and old clothes and made a patchwork quilt with all that was collected.

An English girl was expected to complete twelve quilts before she married. Pioneers had quilting parties to bring prairie residents together and named their quilt patterns such things as Rocky Road, Barn Raising, and Straight Furrow.

Although women were barred from the political world, their quilts reflected their times and the political world around them. Quilts were made and donated to the military or sold to raise money for patriotic purposes.

Quilts played an important role in the lives of slaves and allowed them to pass on their traditions, their beliefs and their stories. They also tucked messages into their designs that would provide them with safe passage.

Native Americans saw the quilts of settlers and soldiers and became fascinated with these new bed coverings. Native American quilters soon found creative ways to incorporate their own cultural designs into their very own quilts.

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