Guest Author - Valerie Smith
When I hear the word quilt, it brings to my mind pictures of century old hand made treasures, in warm vintage prints. I imagine a worn blanket once vibrant, but now yellowed by time. I can see in my mind’s eye the woman who created the quilt, sitting in her rocking chair, needle in hand, sewing together tiny pieces of fabric, creating art out of necessity. It’s a wonderful romantic thought, and it is what inspired me to quilt in the first place. The sense of history behind the craft, and the meaning that goes along with a given quilt.
But what IS a quilt? What makes a quilt different than an ordinary blanket? Well certainly it is the thought behind the quilt, the time taken to make it, and most definitely the artistry it takes to create a truly breathtaking quilt. Upon hearing the word, quilt, in some form or another, most people think of a blanket, generally with pieced designs on the top, and stitching that runs throughout it giving it a unique feel. However, the word “quilt” really refers to the process of quilting, the act of stitching thread through the three layers that make it what it is - the quilt top, the batting, and the quilt back.
The quilt top is generally what first draws your eye to a quilt. Tops are also referred to as patchwork, and patchwork piecing is known to be an art within itself. Quilt tops can be as simple as blocks in different colors or fabric prints sewn together, to many small 1 inch pieces sewn together to make an over all dramatic effect using color or pattern. The standard fabric of choice for quilters these days is 100% cotton, but there are instances where different fabrics can be used. For example a t-shirt quilt. A t-shirt quilt is a type of memory quilt where you cut blocks from sections of t-shirts, and stitch them together into a top, then finish the top into a quilt.
The next important part of a quilt is the batting. There are many different types of batting, but the most popular today is low loft, mostly cotton blends. They are batting’s reminiscent of antique quilts and give a distinct look when quilted. Beneath your batting is your quilt backing. In most cases, the backing is not as intricate as the top, many times just a simple uniform single piece of fabric is used for the back of a quilt. Some quilter’s like to piece together backings using large pieces of fabric from their scraps or stash, or use leftover blocks from the quilt top to accent the four corners of the back of the quilt.
Last, the defining element that really separates a quilt from the rest of the blankets in your home, is the quilting. The actual process of stitching throughout the layers of your quilt. There are endless possibilities in this area, as with tops and backings. You can sew around each shape in your quilt, giving it an outlined effect, or you can stencil detailed designs onto your quilt and sew over them, giving your quilt even more visual depth. You can make each part of your quilt as simple or as complicated as you like. Quilting truly is an art!
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