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How to Quilt>Quilt Block History
Quilt Block History
Learning about the history of quilt blocks is fascinating, but have you given any thought into just how much quilt patterns have changed in the last two hundred years? While researching information for a future article, I stopped to think about it. Only 200 years ago, many women didn’t have time to make beautiful quilts. Instead, they had to spend most of their time weaving fabrics. The mass production of fabrics that began in the 1800s started to change life for future quilters. Instead of spending their time weaving, they could actually buy fabric and have time to be more creative with it. Back in the 1800s, a quilter with a question or looking for inspiration didn’t get online and find what they needed. As a matter of fact, finding patterns back then was not easy at all. If a woman saw a quilt she liked, she generally had to sketch it out for herself. If she was lucky, the quilter had an extra block to share so the pattern could be derived from taking apart or measuring the extra block. By the 1830s, a few magazines were publishing quilt block patterns. They became very popular features in farm magazines, giving the lady of the house a reason to pick up the magazine. Some newspapers printed quilt block patterns as part of the regular paper. By the late 1890s, quilt patterns and fabrics were available from catalog sales. In the 1900s, more magazines were publishing quilt block patterns as part of their regular circulation. Some even featured a column or features about quilting. When times got really tough for Americans during the Great Depression, many newspapers began printing quilt block patterns regularly. One newspaper columnist wove a story involving characters from her writings into the quilt block designs published along with her column. Women loved it and because of the mass production of the newspaper and the ease in passing around the pattern from it, quilters were able to share patterns easier than ever. During the Depression, many quilters resorted to using feed sacks or flour sacks for their quilting fabric. Manufacturers were able to woo customers in their favor by offering a good variety of fabric bags.
It didn't take long for tobacco manufacturers to get into the act with premiums in their packaging. Quilters found that the flannel rectangles decorated with college logos, country flags or Indian designs were perfect for their quilts. Quilts made from these enclosures are called Premium Quilts since the flannel pieces were considered a premium with the purchase of a package of cigarettes or box of cigars. The first patent for a sewing machine was granted in 1834 to Elias Howe. That’s just 175 years ago! Isaac Singer had some sewing machine ideas, too, and within 10 years, became a major competitor for Howe. Just a little over 10 years after Singer same along, the single thread chain stitch machine was invented by James Gibbs. Helen Blanchard got the patent for her zigzag stitch machine in 1873. Still another sewing advancement came along.in 1889. Electricity meant that the old treadle sewing machine were outdated. Electricity also meant quilters could quilt more, with the light giving them a chance to work on their quilting projects even after dark. The way quilters communicate with each other has also evolved over the decades. Once, wives who lived on farms were separated by distance. Soon, quilters began meeting as a community to make a beautiful heirloom for a bride-to-be and to catch up with their friends. In addition to sharing new quilt patterns, these get togethers gave quilters a chance to socialize. Aren’t things different today? Today, if we need help with a quilting technique, it’s easy to hop online and ask a forum. Socializing with fellow quilters is as easy as logging into a website and chatting with other members or following a group on Facebook or Twitter. Today, patterns can be downloaded – many times for free – from the Internet. Some are on CD. You can even create your own like a professional with quilting software. Sometimes it’s fun to be nostalgic about the craft of quilting and it’s impressive to see how far quilting has come in the last 200 or so years.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
©2009, Penny Halgren This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
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