Quilting Trivia
Quilters are a special breed that put their heart and soul in their art. Every piece of fabric is held together using thread, needle, and the most important ingredient, labor of love. Some blankets become masterpieces, some heirlooms, and some quilted blankets are still warming the bones of cherished family members. A quilter’s collections of fabrics, patterns, patches, art form, even the color of the thread they use, are transformed into a story that is passed on as
their legacy.
Quilting is certainly not a lost art. Quilts can be just as special as they were when our mothers and grandmothers hand stitched them. New fabrics and design patterns are emerging with this generation of new quilters. Some quilts are still hand stitched, but the use of the sewing machine is finding it’s way to the tables. A vast variety of patterns and designs from wall quilts, lap quilts, theme quilts, strip quilts, baby quilts are available worldwide, through online shopping.
Did you know…..
Needles
Needles used for sewing have been in use since the Primeval time when they were made with bone, ivory or thorns, having a hook instead of and eye. Actually, bone needles are still used today by uncivilized tribes.
As the evolution of the years brought forward, the needle was developed using various metals including iron, bronze, gold and silver. Steel needles were introduced in Europe around 1650. Today, production of needles is made with automated machinery. Besides ordinary needles for hand sewing, many varieties are made for use in sewing machines for homes and commercial use.
Sewing Machine
In the early 1800s, clothing was made by hand. Families sewed their pants, shirts, and dresses using a needle and thread. But in 1846 Elias Howe changed all that, he came up with another way to make clothes, he patented the first practical home sewing machine. The sewing machine industry based on his original invention made possible the mass production of clothing on a much larger scale than had ever been possible with hand-stitching.
Thread
Thread is a tightly twisted strand of two or more plys of yarn that are circular when cut in cross section. It is used for hand sewing and in home sewing machines. Ninety-five percent of all sewing thread that is manufactured is used in commercial and industrial sewing. Sewing thread is distinguished from yarn by the fact that thread is used to sew together garments or other products, but yarn is the collection of fibers used to weave or knit into a textile fabric. The terms are confusing and are often used interchangeably; thread can be made of yarn, but yarn is not made of threads.
Fabric
Natural fibers have been used for apparel and home fashion for thousands of years, with the use of wool going back over 4,000 years. In comparison, the man-made fiber industry began with the first commercial production of rayon in 1910.
For those old enough to remember the 50's and 60's, this was when there was a great deal of technology happening in the man-made fiber industry. The technology continues even today. Microfibers, fibers finer than the finest silk, were developed in 1989 and lyocell, was developed in 1993. Today, many man-made fibers, including polyester have been developed into beautiful fabrics that are being used by major designers.
