Hello, I am The Quilter who lives at SFBlueMoon in Ms. Itchy's Quirky World where she is Ruler. I am a simple subject who is selling collected fabrics from when I had a children's quilt business years ago. One of the things people who want to purchase quilts ask me is, "What makes it a Quilt?" Our beloved American Hand Craft has humble beginnings with scraps. Now with an abundance of materials quilts have evolved into incredible works of art.  One thing I would like to point out to prospective quilt buyers is that fabric and quilts themselves lose much of their beauty when photographed.  They appear flat and all the warmth and charm of a piece is lost. The quality of the fabric, texture, color and stitching is not truly seen.  So, yes, it's better to see the quilts you would like to purchase to get the real feeling of it, but there are many quilts on Ebay and websites that are available for sale that rely on photos.  All I can recommend is that you should go to local quilt shows or shops to see what quilts look like in person. Then, when viewing quilts for sale online you take your knowledge of quilt terms and new found visual experience and apply it with a little imagination.

Although the simple beginnings of quilting used whatever fabric was available including wool, most quilts produced in the last 50 years are made from 100% cotton fabrics. 100% flannel cotton fabric has become very popular in the last 15 years.  The real beauty of quilts made with these fabrics is that they become softer each time they are washed. There are special quilt soaps to wash them with, and if they are treated kindly and are constructed properly with good quality fabrics, they will endure a lifetime of gentle washing and drying. In this article I will not go into the proper care of a quilt.  My aim is to acquaint people with quilt construction terms before they look to buy.

Hand made. Quilters today often sew the quilt top by machine. Machine quilting is also popular.  Hand sewing the quilt top and hand quilting adds to the value of the piece largely due to the extra time involved. The skill of the hand or machine quilting adds to the value of the quilt. You can still consider your quilt hand made even if a machine was involved with the process.

QUILT TERMS

QUILT ~ A bedcover or wallhanging made by stitching together three layers: a top fabric, batting and a backing fabric.

BATTING ~ The middle layer of a quilt which provides loft and warmth.

BACKING ~ Fabric used for the bottom layer of a quilt.

BINDING ~ The strip of fabric used to enclose the three layers of a quilt (outside edge).

COTTON BATTING ~ Cotton fibers form a flat, soft layer which gives a flat traditional appearance when quilted. Absorbs moisture, cool in summer, warm in winter.

DOUBLE BINDING ~ Binding made with two layers of fabric to provide a durable edge.

HAND QUILTED ~ Stitching through a top fabric, a batting layer, and a backing fabric by hand using needle, thread and hoop or frame.

LOFT ~ The thickness and springiness of the batting.

MACHINE QUILTED ~ Stitching through a top fabric, a batting layer, and a backing fabric with a sewing machine in a design that holds the layers together.

PIECED TOP ~  The top layer of the quilt made of multiple pieces of fabric shapes sewn together by machine or hand in a random pattern or specific design.

POLYESTER BATTING ~  Polyester fibers form a springy sheet that gives a puffy look. Gives warmth and loft without weight, non-allergenic, moth and mildew resistant. Various thicknesses are: low loft 1/8"-3/8", medium loft 1/2"-3/4", high loft 1"-2", and extra high loft 2"-3".

QUILTING ~ Stitching through a top fabric, a batting layer, and a backing fabric in a design to add texture and to hold layers together.

TIED QUILT ~ A quilt that is held together with ribbon, yarn, or threads rather than with quilting stitches.  Used most often with high and extra high loft battings.

TOP FABRIC ~ A wholecloth top or a pieced top, the first layer of the three layers stitched together to be a quilt.

WHOLECLOTH TOP ~ The top layer of the quilt made from a solid sheet of fabric.

Quilts are more than wall coverings, bed covers or blankets.  They are the time, attention and passion of an individual creating an heirloom to be used and treasured. Quilters are a unique breed of people who love what they do and you can feel it in their work. Don't make the mistake of  preserving your quilt in a closet or container.  Most quilts are affordable considering the time and skill of a one of a kind hand made piece.  Live with the quilt, use it, look at it, enjoy it.  It's the simple pleasures of life that truly matter.                                                                                                                       The Quilter