Quilts are a truly unique American creation. Quilts were born from ingenuity and creativity. The first quilts were blankets created from scraps of worn out clothing. The quilt grew over time as women worked to add a touch of beauty to their homes.
Once machine made fabric became more common place and less valuable, it was purchased for the sole purpose of making quilts. Generations of American women from around the world brought their creativity, cultures, artistic expressions, and skill with a needle to the quilting bee, turning the original course comforters into works of art.
America’s love affair with modern and new caused the demise of the quilt. In a way, this was the best thing that could happen. For several decades the creation of quilts was limited to true fans and artists. This gave birth to today’s beautiful works of art that rival any modern work of art.
The most sought after and valuable quilt is a white quilt. The most popular are quilts made from a solid white sheet of cotton, and sewn into intricate designs like the Wedding Ring, Goose Track, and Log Cabin.
It is possible to pay as much as $10 000 for a quilt. However, a good quality, artistic quality quilt can be purchased for under $2 000. White quilts retain their value, even when quilts fall out of fashion.
Patchwork quilts are not as popular in today’s home decorating schemes. Skillfully stitched artistic quilts and memorial quilts have replaced their colorful patterns in today’s homes.
One style of quilt that is seeing a major surge in popularity is the Memorial quilt. These quilts are made from scraps of clothing that has been saved by the owner. Scraps of children’s clothing can be saved through life to make a quilt to commemorate a childhood, celebrate years of marriage, or remember special people in the quilt owner’s life.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to head out to the local country tourist area and find people who can quilt. There is a vast difference between the quality of a homemade quilt and an artistic quality quilt.
Homeowners who want to replace a piece of artwork with a quilt should find a group of professional quilters. These people will have accumulated a list of loyal buyers for their quilts, awards from national competitions, and a strong market. These people can expertly turn odds-and-ends into a perfect quilt.
It takes a professional’s eye to turn scraps of fabrics into a work of art. Do not trust your memories to amateurs.
Decorating with quilts is easy. The main concern should be cleanliness. Quilts are difficult to clean. In some cases, newer dyes run. It is important to talk to the quilt makers and ask them about cleaning.
If the quilt contains fabrics with colors that run, then the quilt can never be cleaned. This dramatically reduces the places the quilt can be displayed. Even if the quilt can be dry cleaned – which does use water and can result in running - it should be scotch guarded to reduce the number of times the quilt need to be cleaned.
Cotton can shrink, distorting the fabrics. This will drastically reduce the quilt’s value. The secret is patience. Take your time looking for a quilt. No one should buy a quilt without looking at dozens of quilts made by dozens of quilting groups. The final result of displaying a truly unique piece of American heritage in your home is worth the effort.
By: Patricia Taylor -