Quilted and quilted blankets have long histories, but because of the anonymity of the creators and the absence of written documentation, everything is covered in the darkness of secrecy. The earliest examples found in Egyptian tombs and in China, are about 5000 years old.
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Blankets began to appear on beds in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, as the climate at this time in Europe became colder. Bedding and blankets protected sleeping people from cold drafts and scurrying rodents and insects, common in the homes of that time.
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In the XVIII century luxury items of wealthy aristocrats and middle classes were exhibited in the bedrooms. It will seem strange to us, but the bedrooms were rooms where they had fun, where guests were invited and boasted of having expensive items. Impressive furniture was made of fashionable, imported fabrics. They were made at home or bought from craftsmen in Canterbury and Exeter.
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At the beginning of the 19th century there was a huge assortment of printed cotton fabrics, and tailors and dressmakers received additional income, offering the remains of fabrics for women wanting to make quilts for the house. These were tiny pin pads or baby blankets that were passed on as family relics. Over time, such activities became available to the working classes, and any woman could show her skills in creating a unique environment for her home.
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The fashion for making blankets came to the United States with pilgrims in the 17th century. They made blankets of scrap material. And since the fabric was in short supply, the blankets were more than attractive. Especially popular such blankets were purchased from early immigrants. Patchwork again became popular in the United States during the Great Depression, when people became economical.
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Sewing skills were useful to soldiers in the Napoleonic wars. The making of quilt was supposed to distract their attention from bad habits such as gambling, which often caused resentment, controversy and fights. This could ultimately undermine discipline. Contemporary prisoners are also invited to take care of the quilt as a soothing and pacifying exercise during their imprisonment.
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Many of us had in the childhood patchwork quilts made more often by grandmother's hands. I remember mine. It was special, cozy, hiding under it, all children's fears were gone. There is no grandmother, and memories of beautiful quilts and patchwork rugs remained the most expensive memories.
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In the 20th century, the spread of mass production led to the reduction of many traditional domestic crafts in all regions, except for the most economically weak ones. But many women continued to improve their skills at home. Today, these skills are increasingly used for recreation, as people in the modern world find pleasure and relaxation in sewing.
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Most of the blankets are made of geometric shapes that have been used since the Middle Ages. You can use any form. The choice of fabrics and colors is what makes the patchwork project unique. Using appliqués can make the quilt meaningful in the sense that, thanks to the added symbols, it tells the story of the family and brings back pleasant memories.
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Today, the patchwork is a trendy thing. Throughout history, the quilt has played a predominantly functional role, but increasingly attracted artists to use it as a way of expressing mood and emotion or even acted as a channel to inform the audience about social problems. Modern blankets can depict scenes, store memories or be truly unusual works of contemporary art.
