Quilting and Knitting in

Pioneer Times

Purposes for creating quilts:

• Quilts were created mainly for warmth.• The designs on the quilts were made to tell a

story. The patterns used were often handed down from generation to generation.

• Some quilts were made of simple patterns, while some were made very elaborate. The material used in the design of the quilt was often a distinction of social status or wealth.

Timeline for designs of quilts:

• From the time period of 1726-1920, there were many designs on quilts, most of which are still used today by quilters. For instance:

• Mariner’s Compass• Nine Patch• Irish Chain• Grandmother’s Flower Garden• Feathered Star• Lone Star

Patterns continued:

• Pieced Houses• Ocean Shores• Basket Quilts• Log Cabin• Ocean waves• Pieced Tree

Children’s quilts:

• Children’s quilts were actually small replicas of the adult sized ones. Mother’s considered making these quilts for their children not only a necessity, but something they did with great love and passion for their children.

Examples of Child/Adult quilts:

Materials used in quilt making:

• In pioneer times, women would use feed sacks, unbleached cotton, and such to make the quilt backing. Colors for the backing and threads were not made available until around the time of 1925, this is when color started being added to the cotton.

• Today, women use materials known as batting and dyed cloth to enhance the color of the back of the quilts. Colored threads are also readily available for the pattern stitching.

Materials continued:

• Once the pieces had been had stitched together, the women would place the quilts together and sit in a large circle and stitch them together. This also served as social time for the women as well!

• Today, women take their finely crafted pieces to someone who has a loom, where the entire quilt can be placed on this item and delicately stitched together.

• Knitting in pioneer times began with, “finger knitting.” Plant and animal fibers were woven around the fingers to create a special chain stitch , much like the one’s we use today. As time progressed, spinning wheels were developed along with looms made of wood.

• The looms were used to make the yarn.

KNITTING

Tools for knitting:

• During pioneer times, knitting started out with the finger knit, then developed into knitting with carefully crafted sticks.

• Today, there are special needles made of plastic and aluminum of all different sizes or gages.

• Yarn is readily available in any color or fabric.

Purposes for Knitting:

• In pioneer times, knitting was used for necessity, such as covering the head, hands, and feet, such as hats, mittens, and booties for babies and children.

• Women often made shawls to wear for warmth and special occasions.

• Many knitting items were created for children

• Knitting and quilting were a way of pioneer life. Traditions of the past play a significant role in our cultural society of today. Though some of the tools used have changed, many of the patterns remain the same.

Topic Review:

Websites:

• www.patternspatch.com• www.nytimes.com• www.pioneertimes.com

Books:

• Soft Covers for Hard Times by: Merikay Waldvogel

• Feed Sacks by: Kris Driessen