For women in America, quilting began at least as early as 1750 as an opportunity for them to channel their creativity. Quilting was considered an important skill for women. Young girls were given quilting projects to help teach them to sew, such as creating small quilts for their dolls. The American Girl's Book from 1831 recommended quilt making for girls, noting that "little girls often find amusement in making patchwork quilts for the beds of their dolls."

Quilting is a unique craft that can allow many people to work on a quilt at the same time, and many women found companionship in quilting with friends and relatives. These social Quilting Bees were opportunities for women to discuss everything from recipes, to child-rearing, to politics.

The quilts themselves became significant symbols. Quilters in the 19th century regularly created quilts as political statements, using them as raffle prizes to support various causes such as abolition, temperance and during the Civil War. Quilts were one way that women of the 19th century were given a voice in their contemporary world.

And, of course, quilts became precious family heirlooms. Quilts were traditionally made and used to mark life's most significant experiences. Baby quilts were given to new mothers and larger quilts were given to couples when they were married, often with symbolic block patterns like a Lover's Knot or Double Wedding Ring.

Even in death, quilts sometimes played a significant role. During a difficult journey moving westward, death was common. But scarce wood or lack of time, often prevented trail travelers from making coffins. On these occasion, the dead were often buried wrapped in a family quilt. Those leaving the dead behind were comforted knowing that their loved one had something symbolizing the family's love in their lonely grave.

When a family relocated to a new home, friends and family members would often make a quilt as a parting gift. These friendship or album quilts, made by a group for a departing friend, were especially popular during the 1840s when there was a great surge of population moving to the western United States. The recipient of these quilts could leave with a symbolic, tangible reminder of the loved ones left behind...loved ones they probably never saw again. Margaret Seebold of Pennsylvania said, "Quilts make you think a little of the person who made it or whose dresses were in there. Maybe you don't think of them any other time except when you see that quilt."

Today, quilts play many of these same rolls in our lives. Many quilts are given at the birth of a child, as a wedding gift, and even as parting gifts. Quilts can even tie us to our dead. In preparation for this article, I asked my fellow Etsians to tell me about the quilts they have made and own. I was rewarded with some wonderful stories about how quilts continue to play a significant role in our personal and family histories.

[Heather of babyannequilts, creating a sock monkey baby quilt for her new nephew. Photo by Karl Harwood.]

Quilts connect us to other people. Jeanettejed tells how a quilt she owns connects her very intimately with family she never met: "I have a quilt that my mother just gave me a few months ago. It was made by my great-grandmother, my mother's grandmother. I feel so comforted knowing a woman who never knew I would exist put so much work into this quilt — and she did not even have the honor of knowing my mother, her granddaughter well. It just feels like love."

Quilts can also become symbolic for our own life. Jmcocoadesigns has a quilt that has carried her through most of her life's experiences: "My great grandmother, Granny, made my very first quilt as a baby gift. It has gone everywhere with me. Girl Scout camps, summer vacations, sleepovers, and even my honeymoon. (I know, I might just be a little over attatched to my baby blanket!) My blanket holds every memory possible! I am sure it holds plenty for my family as well! It has been through my whole life with me and will continue to go through life with me. What story does [my] quilt tell? My life!"

Remember, you don't have to make a quilt to be involved with quilting history...You just have to use a quilt. The memories and personal significance will come with time and use. And soon, your quilt will have its own story!

Please add YOUR quilt stories to the comments below or share it on the the forum thread!

Sources
The American Quilt: A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950
Womenfolk: The Art of Quilting Yesterday & Today

Additional resources
The National Quilting Association
Lost Quilt Come Home: Dedicated to displaying lost and stolen quilts and to providing information on protecting quilts.

Also, check out this quilt contest from Greenjeans, one of the Storque's former Featured Buyers.