American Patchwork and Quilting
If you are just starting to dabble in the wonderful world of quilting, American patchwork squares might be a good place to begin. American patchwork quilting began as a way for women to get together and socialize over the needles, thread and fabric that went into creating the warm quilts that adorned many beds in the early years. These meetings became known as quilting bees, and they became the opportunity for the senior women in the group to mentor the younger generations by teaching them how to care for their homes and families as well as how to sew. Most of the folks who brought quilting to America were emigrants from places like Ireland, offering the influence of these cultures into the American patchwork and quilting of today.
How to Quilt with American Patchwork
The key to American patchwork and quilting is in the accuracy of the cutting and stitching, first and foremost. This accuracy can be much more easily accomplished with some of the quilting tools that are used today, like the rotary cutter and the measuring tools available in quilting and craft stores. Many of the pieces that are cut for American patchwork and quilting are done with long strips that are cut along the grain of the fabric. The pieces are sewn together into squares, and then the squares are assembled into the finished piece. The completed blocks can be created out of four, five, seven or nine patch blocks, depending on the pattern that is being followed or the preferences of the quilter. One of the fun aspects to American patchwork and quilting is that many women can work together on one piece, by each completing a block and then sewing the various blocks together.
This technique of sharing the efforts of a quilt make American patchwork and quilting not only an important part of this country’s history, but also a special method for constructing a gift for a couple that is getting married or a new baby. It allows a number of crafters to put their own signature on what is sure to be an important family heirloom for the lucky recipient. You can create the blocks to be identical in color and pattern, or you can allow each crafter to develop their own creation that will fit into the finished piece in terms of size and design. Once your blocks are completed, you can get together to layer the final pieces and put the finishing stitches on the quilt.
The Patterns of American Patchwork Quilting
There are many patterns in American patchwork and quilting, and perhaps one of the most familiar is the log cabin pattern. Many think that this quilt square resembles the log cabins that the first settlers in this country had built, making it a true American patchwork and quilting tradition. Since it began, the log cabin pattern has seen a variety of designs and colors, but the overall pattern of the piece is indeed hard to miss.
