Quilts serve several purposes in our life from adding color to our beds and walls to keeping us warm on a cold winter night. A process called quilting creates these beautiful pieces of art. Quilts consist of a bed covering composed of a quilt top, a layer of cotton batting in between and a layer of fabric for backing.

Quilts have been in existence for hundreds of years. They have not only held functional significance as bed coverings but have also been used as decorative pieces. Quilt making as a profession had its roots in the middle classes, where economically minded peasant women used leftover material and scraps of worn out shirts or dresses to make blankets for their families. Slowly, quilts evolved into beautiful handcrafts and as the process of making them was labor-intensive, people began gathering together to make quilts. Over a period of time, quilt making became a social event. Quilting bees became popular events, where family and friends gathered around a large wooden quilting frame and assembled the quilt.

Quilts can be of two types, functional or decorative. Decorative quilts are small in size and are often used as wall hangings. The larger variety is usually folded over an antique quilt rack. The functional variety is used in the same way as a bedspread. They not only make the bed attractive with their bright colors but because they are thick and keep a person warm while they sleep.

Quilts come in a variety of sizes, from tiny ones to fit a babys crib to giant size. However, the most unique aspect of quilts is their design and patterns. Several of the patterns being used today date back to the American Revolution. Some of the most popular designs in quilting include the double wedding ring, which is a series of interlocking circles and the log cabin pattern, which is a series of blocks, with rectangular strips of fabric sewn at right angles to each other.

There are various methods of quilting, ranging from patchwork to embroidery. Whether used as ornamental pieces or functional accessories, quilts are sure to beautify ones life.