Going back thousands of years ago in the ancient Egyptian,Greek and Roman civilizations, patchwork fabrics have developed into more thanan art today. Patchwork simply means patching or piecing together bits andpieces of cloths to come up with a large material good enough for bedspreads orcurtains. Others also use it as the accent of the room by simply hanging it onthe wall.
Patchwork and quilting have a converging history but arevery distinct from each other. It was used for added protection and comfortunder the metal armor in the earlier days. In the 14th century, records showthat patchwork fabrics have been used for beddings and clothing. In the 18thcentury, quilting has been applied to coats and bonnets. Patchworks, on theother hand, can be said to be products of necessity. They say necessity is themother of invention and patchwork is the product of trying times since itsimply means piecing together of smaller scraps of cloth to make a largermaterial good enough for practical needs. You can make use of smaller scraps offabrics as well as cut up those which are damaged or torn beyond their originaluse.
However, it was not until the twentieth century thatpatchwork and quilting become a hobby and a form of art in America. The techniques have also evolved using more modern methods and a more extensiveselection of prints and colors to choose from.
The main category one chooses is the color and everythingelse follows, like the prints and the shape of the cut outs. Moreover, you arein for some tough time since there are so many colors and prints to choosefrom. Hence, coming up with the final decision will be very hard indeed. Youcan choose from floral, batik, Christmas or a classic theme.
But then again, if you have leftover linen or any otherfabric from the last pattern you made, you can certainly make use of those oddsand bits. You can then make use of your creativity and come up with a designthat is so uniquely you. And you're going to be practical too. By usingleftover materials, you won't need to buy a new kit for your patchwork fabric.
As for the pattern, let your imagination and creativity flowfreely. There are so many patterns you can do, such as chessboard, diamond,triangles, and squares of different sizes, the choice is yours. Anything ispossible, if you can imagine it then all you have to do is put that abstractidea into something more tangible. Make something that you would like to seeand a project you would like to start and, more importantly, complete.
Patchwork and quilting are activities you can do on yourown, or if would like to spend time with others with the same interests. Thereare even clubs and groups solely for people who love quilting. With the powerof the internet, individuals who love making patchwork fabrics can get togetherand enjoy making a quilt as a group or doing each separately.
Patch-working and quilting have gone a long way from what itwas centuries ago. It has become one of the most popular past times because itbrings together practicality and creativity, one combination which works for alot of people.
It has been an exciting time for growth and development inpatchwork which has now captivated the interest and imaginations of many. Theyrange from hobbyist who loves creativity for its own sake to the artists whomake use of all the artistic potentials of patchwork and quilting in creatingmasterpiece of art.
About the Author
Jo is a writer for 'Lara Grace Collections' (
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