A Quilting Book for Success

If you think you would like to take up the hobby of quilting, having a good quilting book will make it much more enjoyable.  A quilting book will give you the guidelines that you need to understand the techniques and patterns in this beautiful art form.

Quilting has been a favorite pastime of American women, and some men, since the late 1700's. Over the years quilting techniques have changed drastically, from hand quilting to using modern quilting and sewing machines.

In the early years of quilting in America, many of the styles were those that were used in the European countries.  These styles are very different from what we think of as the early patchwork quilt styles. A popular quilting  method of this time was called broderie perse.  The quilters would cut out flowers and other designs from imported fabrics and carefully appliqué  them onto a large piece of solid fabric, and then make their quilt.  Another early quilting method is called whole cloth quilting. If you would like to learn more about either of these beautiful, early American quilting techniques, there are many quilting books sold on the subject.

As time went on,  more and more American women came to enjoy the hobby of quilting. Often groups of women would get together and all quilt in the same place.  These quilting sessions came to be known quilting parties or quilting bees. Many times, a group of women would all work together to help one person finish their quilt.

Once textiles began to be produced in factories, American women started to  make sampler blocks of their quilting patterns. Sometimes these blocks were meant to be sewn together as a sampler quilt, but it is also believed that many of the blocks were made as a way to remember, and share,  their patterns. Some of these sample blocks were made in sets of varying numbers  and tied together with ribbon or string.  These sample blocks were actually some of the very early quilting books that were made. Some women made labels for each block, giving credit to the name of the person who made it.

Magazines, such as Godey’s Lady’s Book, began to publish quilt patterns as early as the 1830s.  Throughout the years that followed more and more magazines published quilting patterns and articles.  During the Great Depression, many magazines had articles telling people how they could make warm bedding by quilting together fabric scraps from outgrown clothing. 

Quilting has continued to grow in popularity through the last century and into this one. Libraries and bookstores are full of quilting books and magazines. Many quilters of today like to follow patterns in a quilting book to replicate a quilt from years gone by, while others look for quilting books that offer instructions on new patterns and techniques.

Whether you are interested in learning about the history of quilting, a beginner that needs to learn basic techniques and stitches, or an experienced crafter wanting to learn an intricate pattern, it is easy to find a quilting book to meet your needs.