Quilt is a bed or a bed cover of three layers with the middle one being stuffed and if all three are tied at regular intervals by thread or yarn, such quilts are called as tied quilts. The two outer layers differ in fabric and pattern as one is a plain backline the other is the top.
Quilts, Use Them as You Like
Quilts are most comforting beds or bed covers particularly suited for cold weathers. People would prefer quilt woolen blanket or bed sheets. Generally bedding, decorative, armory are the usual domestic uses. But looking at the patterns and further possibilities, you can say there is practically no limit on how and where you want to use them.
You may wonder to know there are quilt artists for whom quilt making is a full time profession. Quilts are also used as educational tools which students use for making images, patterns. Trekkers like to carry quilts with them instead of heavier beds for convenience.
But quilts have a serious side of the story too. There is an American religion which goes by the name Amish whose members follow the Mennonite religion. Amish people don’t believe in being flashy and chauvinistic in their worldly affairs and they have carried forward this philosophy onto quilts too. Their colors are restricted by Churches and the base color is predominantly black which gives other colors a contrasting get-up.
Well, How Do They Make Quilts
There is no particular technique for making quilts nor are there rigid rules barring safety and hygiene. Still, quilts are normally made in two forms; either by using one large sheet of cloth for both top and back lining; or using smaller cut pieces, blocks, of cloth usually of different designs and colors by stitching them together. Now, the blocks are stitched together to make desired patterns by stitching them edge to edge all over. Some times strips of cloth are also used in between the blocks. This way of making quilts is known as sashing. Quilts are then given borders, usually in contrasting colors, which puts paid to making of quilts.
Some Common Quilt Patterns
The blocks, small pieces of cloth and generally geometric in shape, may be again made by sewing together of further smaller cloth pieces. This style is pretty popular and is known as patchwork or piecing. Other popular styles are Appliques, Embroidery and whole cloth where there is little or no embellishment.
Well, did you know that quilt is also the name of a computer query languages developed by IBM?