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I woke up one morning about a week ago with an idea that I couldn't get out of my head. You know what I do when that happens? Yes, I write. I share. I compose my thoughts and get them out there with the desire to connect with like minds and encourage my readers. Please think about this with me for a minute...have you ever thought about the possibility that when you make a quilt, it is so distinctive and unique that it is like no other quilt in the world? Even if you have sewn quilts from patterns that were written by another designer, or if you participate in a quilt-a-long where everyone uses the same design and identical fabric, your work will be unique. Why? I've shared three brief thoughts below on why I believe this to be true.  1. Because there is no one else like you: in the whole wide world...you are an individual with gifts, talents, and abilities like no one else! A quilt has its own personality, similar to the people who make them. Your particular circumstances, level of experience, and depth of enthusiasm, all these transpire into your quilt being a unique work of "heart." 2. Your season in life: We are all traveling various paths in this journey of life. Some of you began quilting on your grandmother's knee; some, like me, learned the art of quilting later in life from someone other than a family member. All our quilts will have different outcomes as we work with our hands and heart. Whether you are happy or sad, angry or in grief...those emotions make their way into every stitch you sew. 3. Life is in constant transition: we've made quilts when our children were small, when they've gone to college, joined the military, or started their own home. We've sewn quilts to celebrate a new baby, a wedding or a retirement. We've also made quilts in times of grief or for those who are grieving. Quilts have been sewn in hard times as well as times of peace and plenty. You, like me, may have quietly sat by the bedside of a critically ill family member or friend with a needle and thread...working to pass the hours and calm our fears.  A quilt never looks like "any old blanket" when you understand what kind of personal struggles the quilter has been through, or until you get a glimpse of what a quilt represents to the one who either does the creating or the receiving. My point is that at the heart of it, no two quilts are alike no matter how similar they appear; whether, by hand or machine, no two quilts are ever the same. Your quilt is like no other! You are making a treasure, a piece of history. A sweet lady in our quilt group recently reminded us that there are no perfect quilts just like there are no perfect people. We all have flaws and imperfections, but that's OK because that helps us understand the flaws and shortcomings of others. In closing, if you have been blessed with quilts passed down through family or friends, you have a gift like nothing else in the world. I encourage you to do some digging and find out who made the quilt and what circumstances or events surrounded its story. My mother has memories as a little girl playing underneath a quilt frame that was hung from the ceiling while my grandmother, along with other women, sat around the frame and hand-quilted every stitch. Oh, how I would love to get my hands on that quilt! Every quilt has a story, and there's a story behind every quilt because there is a heart behind every quilt. If you are interested in a brief summary of my research on the history of quilting, then I invite you to read my new series Scraps of Quilt History. Click here for the link. I would love to hear your quilt story; I'm sure it is lovely...just like you! 
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Whether good or bad, my personality type is one of “sharing". It may seem like a curse to those who know me best, but whenever I have an experience that positively shapes my life, I have this overwhelming desire to share it with the world. Nevertheless, I have found that possessing this “gift” of sharing requires a measure of caution. For example, just because I learn some new automotive skill, like changing the oil in my car, doesn’t suddenly make me an expert mechanic (now there's a scary thought). Becoming an expert takes hours and hours of education and practice. The fact is, that while I’ve logged hundreds of hours sewing and making quilts, I don’t consider myself a qualified quilt historian. However, in my pursuit to share facts about quilt history, I’ve spent time researching and compiling what other authorities in the field of quilt history have had to say on the subject, and I’m happy to share a few fascinating facts with you. Enjoy! Scraps of Quilt History, Part One - Where Did Quilts Come From Anyway? Have you ever wondered about the history of quilts in our country? Perhaps you have wondered how our ancestors utilized quilts in daily life. Were these quilts for practical purposes or merely to please the eyes, or both? If you are like me, you may be absorbed in the beautiful and enchanting world of quilts, but may not necessarily be a quilt historian. Usually, when we become genuinely interested in something, we desire to know more about the story of that particular thing…which is what happened to me when I fell in love with the art of quilting.  Corded silk quilt, maker unknown, southern Europe or India, ca. 1600; Photo Credit www.history.org The first question that begs to be asked is: where did the art of quilting begin? Interestingly, the word quilt originates from the Latin word culcita which means "a stuffed sack"; however, the term developed into the English language from the French word cuilte. While no one knows exactly where the first quilts as we know them originated from, historians are confident that the practice of using quilted items for clothing and functional items were used in various parts of the world dating back to early civilizations. Quilted clothing has been traced back as far as the First Egyptian Dynasty. A quilted floor covering, which possibly dates back to the second century A.D., was unearthed in 1924 by archaeologists in Mongolia.  A stool from India upholstered with quilted and embroidered fabric . Photo credit Wikipedia In the Middle Ages, knights wore quilted garments underneath their armor for protection and comfort. One could easily imagine how uncomfortable a heavy metal suit would feel in battle if there were no padding to soften the blows from enemy weapons. The quilted padding could also have served as an insulator against cold weather or blistering sun. Even though quilted items functioned as clothing in Europe from the fifth century, it wasn't until after the Crusades in the Middle East that quilts as bed covers began to appear around the twelfth century in European countries. Interestingly, the Tristan quilt is the oldest known surviving European bed quilt. It is a "story" quilt that depicts scenes from the legend of Tristan. The quilt measures 122" x 106" and is constructed from linen and padded with wool. This amazing quilt, pictured below, is on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  The Tristan Quilt courtesy of Google Images When European settlers came to the new world, their cultural lifestyle, food, religion, clothing, handcrafts, and artistic abilities came along too. Even though it is not for certain that quilts were brought to the new world with those first settlers, it is safe to assume that the knowledge of the art of quilting came with them as there are many references to quilts dating back to American Colonial times. As they say, "the rest is history"! Sources -Emporia State University, Wikipedia I hope you've enjoyed this fun and informative post about the history of quilting. In my next Scraps of Quilt History post, we'll dive into the history of quilting in the United States. Believe me; it will be just the tip of the iceberg! If you aren't currently receiving my newsletter, then please sign up using the form on this blog page. When you do, you'll receive my free printable Quilt Planning Pages plus regular blog updates, quilt tutorials, and valuable information about quilting products and services!
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