Quilting is a distinctive art form with very practical applications. From exquisite bedding and pillow covers to wall art and clothing, inspired quilters use their skills with fabrics, needles, and threads to create masterpieces of significant value. Quilts from generations past still live on to tell the stories of their creators and the families the quilts warmed on cold winter nights. Many of those quilts were made from scraps of clothing worn by those families or colorful cloth bags that held the flour so precious to feed families during the years of the Great Depression. The quilter isn’t merely a gifted artisan – she is imminently practical.
Quilting is a term that both describes the stitching used to hold the three layers of the finished product together as well as describe the act of performing that stitching. The three layers of a quilt include the top decorative layer, the batting in the center, and the backing layer. Lines of running quilting stitches hold the batting in place, preventing it from shifting during use or washing. It also serves to trap air within the batting to provide added warmth and insulation.
The earliest decorative bed quilts were made by affluent women who had enough leisure time to spend with creative endeavors. The quilts were hand stitched with intricate designs on a solid piece of cloth, often white. With the availability of colorful patterned fabrics, shapes were cut and pieced together or appliqued to create quilts of the type that are most familiar to us today. Early patchwork quilts made from old clothes and other cloth sources are among the first examples of creative recycling or repurposing of materials in a new way. Patterns may be simple blocks or complex designs that tell a story with limitless possibilities.
The introduction of the sewing machine made the process much faster to enable quilters to produce many more of their inspired designs. It is now possible for anyone to enjoy the art of quilting, including those who have little time to devote to the craft due to work and family obligations. Today’s quilters can find beautiful quilt patterns online and save time by purchasing quilt fabric kits. For those who don’t wish to make the large investment into a long arm sewing machine for the final quilting steps, there are long arm quilting services that can be the most economic choice to complete the quilter’s work of art.
More Sew For You (http://stores.moresewforyou.com/StoreFront.bok) is known for its expert long arm quilting services.
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