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The Cutting Edge of Quilting

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Applique quilt with trapunto.

Photo courtesy of Dutchbaby.

When I learned to quilt (back in the olden days), I was taught that to do it properly every single stitch should be made by hand. How intimidating!  I bravely attempted it, and I still have about a dozen quilt squares that I stitched together entirely by hand before I finally ran out of steam. Oh boy, have things ever changed! There are so many more creative options for quilters these days, and happily, there is also so much less snobbery!

Photo courtesy of www.themodernquiltguild.com

Photo courtesy of www.themodernquiltguild.com

Before we go on, let’s define a couple of terms for those of you who aren't quilters (yet). A quilt is a type of bed covering or throw that consists of a layer of padding between layers of cloth, with stitching to hold the layers together. The term “Quilting” can refer generally to the art of creating quilts or quilted items, or it can refer specifically to the stitching together of the layers. Sewing together the fabric pieces to create the visual design on the top layer is called “piecing.”  You'll definitely want to know this if you are going to converse with any experienced quilters.

A quilt made by my great-grandmother.

A quilt made by my great-grandmother.

 Quilting has a long and interesting history that reflects both societal and political developments. In it's earliest form, quilting was used primarily for clothing.  The art of quilting actually predates the formation of the United States!  Quilts often represent different things to different people. And the quilters' use of design and color can be an expression of a cultural group as is found with Amish, Hawaiian, and African American quilts.

If you are interested in quilt history and culture, you will enjoy these books in the library's Arts & Crafts Neighborhood:

There was a resurgence of quilting in the 1970’s resulting in part from the “back to the land” movements that led young people to explore folk traditions during that period. Also, in 1971 the Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC opened an exhibit, “Abstract Design in American Quilts,” which presented quilts as precursors to modernist abstract art.

Since then, interest in quilting has remained consistently strong, and it is not limited to bed covers! Quilting can be used to create all types of items for the home and for personal wear. Art quilts are created in all sizes and shapes and are usually intended to be displayed on the wall.  The library has a terrific selection of quilting books with tons of great ideas and information. Search the catalog for "Quilting" or browse the Arts & Crafts Neighborhood in Call #746.454 - #746.462. Here are a few of my favorites:

Photo courtesy of www.themodernquiltguild.com

Photo courtesy of www.themodernquiltguild.com

There is a recent quilting movement referred to as “Modern Quilting.” Modern Quilting does not have a hard and fast definition, but some of the likely characteristics of Modern Quilts are: use of high contrast and solid color, use of bold colors and prints, minimalism, negative space, and improvisational piecing. These Modern Quilts sometimes start with traditional quilt patterns, altering them to fit the new aesthetic. Learn more on the Modern Quilt Guild’s website.

Most quilters these days create the colorful tops of the quilt themselves by piecing together the fabrics to create the design, and then they hire a machine-quilter who uses a long-arm quilting machine to quilt the layers together.

Kris Barlow, area machine-quilter

Kris Barlow, area machine-quilter

These machines are attached to large frames and rollers, and the quilter moves the machine as it is stitching to create the quilted design. The quilted designs can be very creative and add a good deal of interest to the quilt. I've had the opportunity to do a bit of this, and it is really fun once you get the hang of it!

The library currently has a Quilting display in the Arts & Crafts Neighborhood showing quilt squares and tools – both old and new - as well as a selection of quilting books.  The display will run through the end of March.

 
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