Stitched with Love

 

The word quilting comes from the Latin culcita, meaning stuffed sack or cushion. By the 14th century, “quilt” referred to stitching fabric layers together. Dating back to 1360-1400, the Tristan Quilt is one of the oldest known surviving quilts. It features scenes from the tale of Tristan and Isolde and is housed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The world’s largest quilt is the AIDS Memorial Quilt, weighing over 54 tons and covering 1.2 million square feet. Early American quilts were essential for warmth. They were used as bedding, but also to cover doors and windows to block drafts. Amish quilts, known for bold colors and intricate stitching, are considered valuable (and collectable) folk art. The civil war-era piece known as the Reconciliation Quilt is one of the most expensive quilts ever sold, bringing $254,000 at auction in 1991. Quilting is still a popular pastime in the U.S., with over 21 million engaging in this useful and enjoyable hobby. Happy National Quilting Month!