further fuel for the fires of controversy

Jun 15, 2007 5 Replies

I was looking at some of the older postings and one came up that concerned what is a "Real" quilt. Is it one made with hand stitched top or can a machine stitched be considered as valid. One of the features of my new computer is a Dictionary and so I ran the word Quilt thru the query window of this Dictionary which is the Oxford American Dictionary.



quilt [kwilt] noun a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design. a knitted or fabric bedspread with decorative stitching. a layer of padding used for insulation.



verb [trans.] join together (layers of fabric or padding) with lines of stitching to form a bed covering or warm garment, of for decorative effect.



quilt-er [noun]



ORIGIN Middle English: from old French cuilte, from Latin culcita 'mattress, cushion'



Thesaurus


quilt noun DUVET, cover(s), coverlet, comforter, bedspread; dated counterpane


That is the end of the definitions. I note that there is no mention of the hand or machine method of construction. Of course, there may be another dictionary definition but that is good enough for me, and enough of a reference to anyone who is questioning the authenticity of whatever type of quilting one does to achieve the finished quilt. Nuff Said.



John



Yup. They're real quilts all right. Except I don't care what the dictionary says, those $29 bedcoverings that say "handquilted" aren't real quilts. The ones that feel like someone took 5 cotton balls and stretched them out far enough to suffice for batting. They *are* hand quilted. Probably by some poor child earning six cents a day in some third-world country. $29 quilts bother me on a whole lot of levels.

Sherry

I agree. They bother me on a socio-economic level but non the less by definition they are quilts. Probably better defined as slave labor quilts rather than hand stitched.

John

Most "Art Quilts" are not washed and so I am not sure the analogy is correct. Maybe, Slave Labor Art Quilts?

John

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