For three generations, the women in my family have been quilters. My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother spent months under a lamp creating quilts one fine stitch at a time. Growing up, I didn't understand why they spent all that time making a quilt just to put it in a safe place where dust bunnies, little hands, and the sun couldn't reach it.
Now that I'm older and my grandmother and great-grandmother are gone, I do appreciate that time and I'm grateful for those memories and the quilts they've left behind. I understand now that the sun, dust, and my dirty hands would have ruined something they wanted my children and grandchildren to have.
Mass production is now possible with advances in technology. The arts and crafts world, including quilting, has been significantly changed by mass production. Although this has increased the value of handmade quilts, it poses the question "why exactly are quilts from the days of yore better?"
There are still quilters that hand build quilts from beginning to end. That means the squares or other shapes of fabric are chosen with a purpose, or artistic statement in mind. The design and fabric that holds those shapes of fabric together are not held together for efficiency, but rather with that design in mind and with the long life of that quilt in mind too.
The mass produced quilts that are available from retailers or online vendors are cheap, and production is fast. It may be possible to order a custom-made quilt in which you are allowed to choose the colors of the fabric, the design, and even where the pieces of fabric will be placed on the quilt. However, these types of quilts are produced quickly, and most of the time, they end up looking like most other quilts. Custom, handmade quilts are artistic, individually created just for you, and will last lifetimes.
A custom quilter can help you decide what colors and design will be best for your theme or idea. Since fiber artists put their names on such quilts, they obviously care that your quilt turns out beautifully. This will not be the case for a quilt that is mass-produced.
Additionally, if the quilt you have in mind will be a keepsake, then for that reason alone a custom, hand made quilt is your best option. They take a little while to make, and they're more expensive than the mass-produced quilt, but with this option the end result will be a quilt that your children's children will hide from the sun, dust bunnies, and dirty hands too.
Now that I'm older and my grandmother and great-grandmother are gone, I do appreciate that time and I'm grateful for those memories and the quilts they've left behind. I understand now that the sun, dust, and my dirty hands would have ruined something they wanted my children and grandchildren to have.
Mass production is now possible with advances in technology. The arts and crafts world, including quilting, has been significantly changed by mass production. Although this has increased the value of handmade quilts, it poses the question "why exactly are quilts from the days of yore better?"
There are still quilters that hand build quilts from beginning to end. That means the squares or other shapes of fabric are chosen with a purpose, or artistic statement in mind. The design and fabric that holds those shapes of fabric together are not held together for efficiency, but rather with that design in mind and with the long life of that quilt in mind too.
The mass produced quilts that are available from retailers or online vendors are cheap, and production is fast. It may be possible to order a custom-made quilt in which you are allowed to choose the colors of the fabric, the design, and even where the pieces of fabric will be placed on the quilt. However, these types of quilts are produced quickly, and most of the time, they end up looking like most other quilts. Custom, handmade quilts are artistic, individually created just for you, and will last lifetimes.
A custom quilter can help you decide what colors and design will be best for your theme or idea. Since fiber artists put their names on such quilts, they obviously care that your quilt turns out beautifully. This will not be the case for a quilt that is mass-produced.
Additionally, if the quilt you have in mind will be a keepsake, then for that reason alone a custom, hand made quilt is your best option. They take a little while to make, and they're more expensive than the mass-produced quilt, but with this option the end result will be a quilt that your children's children will hide from the sun, dust bunnies, and dirty hands too.
About the Author:
Author Sara Musfeldt has been a fan of quilting art for many years. Sara has especially fond of t-shirt quilts, which make a great gift. Remember, a quality quilt lasts for generations.
