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What if you took all of your old t-shirts, cut out the main image on each shirt, and then sewed all the pieces of fabric together? What could someone looking at your creation learn about you and your history?
In the same way that you would be piecing together your personal stories and memories, American quilters have pieced together the stories of the country's history. We can learn a great deal by "reading" quilts from different time periods in American history.
During colonial times, taxes rose, political problems grew, and fabric became scarce. So quilts were made up of smaller pieces of fabric. This was symbolic of the new democracy, since no piece was more or less important than any other. When women moved to help settle the West, they brought their quilting with them. Quilts were used to keep the pioneers warm and to serve as reminders and links to those families they left behind.
The quilters' experiences inspired them to make unique patterns that represented things around them. Patterns were named to represent these experiences. For example, the strong biblical influence is seen in pattern names such as Jacob's Ladder and Job's Trouble. The hardship of the pioneer can be seen from patterns with names such as the Rocky Road to California. The aspects of everyday life led to patterns with names such as Churn Dash and Log Cabin. Outdoor life and nature are illustrated in names such as Autumn Leaf, Spider Web, Rolling Stones, and Flying Geese. Politics influenced pattern names as well, such as Whig Rose and Fifty-Four-Forty or Fight, while occupations were represented by pattern names such as Anvil, Saw-Tooth, The Ship's Wheel, and Monkey Wrench.
By the late 1800s, over 4,000 quilt patterns were being circulated. At the turn of the century, handmade quilts served as banners for social and political causes. During World War I, women made "Liberty Quilts" to raise funds for the war. Throughout the 20th century, popular icons such as Charles Lindbergh, Popeye and Mickey Mouse all found their way onto quilts. The bicentennial of the American Revolution renewed interest in quilting.
As with all art, quilts make statements about those who designed them—choice of pattern, color, size, shape, use, and design all create a unique treasure to be passed down through the ages. What will your quilt look like?
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