A firm foundation is important to any project - be it building a skyscraper or constructing a quilt. The foundation on which a project stands needs to be solid and steady to support the weight of the final outcome and for the outcome to truly be admired and respected for all that it is, and all that it entails.
With that in mind, I would like to begin our Friendship Sampler project by first laying the foundation so to speak...
If asked, many of us would claim to know what a quilt is. We've all seen them. We've all admired their beauty and intricate patterns and most would agree that we are in awe of the artistry that goes in to making such a beautiful work of art. But, did you know that the art and skill of quilting actually may date back as far as ancient Egypt? Or that it was introduced by Crusaders during the 12th Century and began as a garment worn under suits of armour? In fact, the earliest examples of quilting were not "quilts" as we know them at all. They were items worn under garments, carpets found in Mongolian caves in Russia, and various other forms handed down throughout history.
It might surprise you to know that the earliest existing quilt was made in Europe around 1360 and that two sections of this quilt survive and are on display at the V&A Museum in Bargello, Florence. This decorative work is known as the "Tristan quilt" -- part of the Tristan and Isolde story.
Quilting made its way into American heritage in the late 18th century and early 19th century and was often only affordable to the wealthy as their financial means afforded them the time to leisurely quilt. With everything we know about our history and evolution, it comes as no surprise then that as technology progressed so did the art of quilting and the affordability of it to those of lower financial status. Consider how lucky we are to simply go to the fabric store and browse literally hundreds, thousands, of bolts of fabric as opposed to our predecessors who had to construct their fabric through spinning and weaving before even beginning to use it for its intended purpose.
Did you know that quilts played a part in the Civil War and were often made for the purpose of fundraising by abolitionists to end slavery and were also sold by women on both sides of the war to raise money for the war effort and to provide warmth & comfort to soldiers in their beds ?
I must admit that I didn't know the history of quilting prior to the conception of this project. In fact, the information above is only a small fraction of what I learned by visiting Wikipedia and searching the "History of Quilting" in order to set the stage so to speak for our project. I am amazed at what I read and what I had taken for granted on how this beautiful art form originated and how far it has come. I encourage you to read more on the History of Quilting and further gain respect for that which you are about to embark.
Working in Amish Country the past three years has exposed me to various quilt makers and their creations. I am always in awe of their mastery of this art form and the precision of their stitches (all done by hand of course) and since dabbling in the art of quilting, I have gained greater respect for the value and worth of a quilt and the efforts of the artist behind the finished product.
What I would like to stress to each of you is that this blog is intended to be fun. This blog is for YOU the participants to explore the art of quilting. I am not a professional quilter, nor do I know all there is to know about quilting. My desire here is to simply share what I can with you while we all learn new skills and grow to appreciate quilting.
I have often heard people exclaim "Oh, they want way too much for that quilt" when looking at a finished piece. Ladies (and gents) I encourage you as you go about this project to keep a small journal at hand. In your journal I encourage you to document costs of material and supplies, time spent working on your projects, and any feelings or emotions you have while taking this journey. By doing so, I truly believe you will gain a better understanding of the "value" of a quilt to the person who has constructed it. I keep such a journal for all my projects and refer to it often, especially when someone wishes to purchase one of my finished pieces.
Our journey is about to begin and I am delighted to see our current followers! Welcome to A Stitch Among Friends and this project! Please feel free to share this blog and the project with your friends who may be interested in joining us. We have a few more days before the start of our first block and the more participants the merrier!
Keep a watchful eye out for my next post "Building a Firm Foundation - Part 2" as I will talk about the basics of quilting, selecting materials, and our first project". I hope to have that posted either later today or by tomorrow at the latest.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Love & Stitches,
Jan
*Please note, history information included in this blog was taken from the History of Quilting - Wikipedia, and is intended for general learning purposes and not for monetary gain. For additional information, sources, and further reading please visit Wikipedia and the "History of Quilting".
No comments:
Post a Comment