Quilts

A quilt is an item of bedding that can be fabricated using many different techniques. Quilts consist of 3 layer, a fabric top and back encasing an insulating middle layer. The middle layer of a quilt has consisted over everything from leaves, paper or feathers to old blankets to today's manufactured quilt batting. The purpose of a quilt is similar to that of a blanket, used for warmth or decoration. Many quilt styles have emerged over time, Wholecloth Quilts, Amish Quilts, Hawaiian Quilts and Victorian Crazy Quilts.

Quilts are not only used as traditional pieces of bedding, they are used to express art. This is done through the many techniques of quilting, but goes far beyond technique alone. Art quilts are sometimes difficult to decipher since almost all quilts contain some form of art. Determining the artistic merit of a quilt is usually left up to the person(s) that created it.

Many things go into an art quilt. Various colors, contrasting and non-contrasting may be used as a means of expression. These can be included in textile patterns and others. Meaning and emotion are the primary basis for constructing a quilt. This often leads to quilts being named by the creator in order to evoke this emotion or meaning, usually corresponding to a particular event or history.

Vintage quilts in good condition are highly collectible. Quilts with no label documenting their provenance can be dated by a professional quilt curator. Materials and methods used in quilt making have evolved over time. Fabric, thread and the middle layer all contribute to dating a quilt. In addition to the materials, a curator or historian will look at the quilts design and stitch patterns. These may help identify the region and era of the quilts creation. Quilting classes and books today emphasize labeling quilts with date, location and reason for creation to help make today's quilts identifiable family heirlooms of tomorrow.