Amish quilt at Lolly’s Fabrics

Quilting, An Amish Craft

For the month of May we’re going to focus on Amish crafts. This will be a lot of fun, as I know that many of you are “crafty” too. If you’re not, this might be a good chance to start – OR, you could just enjoy the pretty pictures.

The Amish are well-known for their quilting. Here’s a few things I’ve learned from my research–

• Amish girls begin quilting at a very young age
• Amish usually prefer traditional colors and patterns for their own quilts.
• When making quilts to sell to “Englischers” Amish will use calico prints, etc and they will sometimes quilt with newer patterns.
• It’s a myth that Amish purposely leave a mistake in each quilt. What’s more likely is that when they see an error in a quilt, they leave it because it would be prideful to try and make something “perfect.”
• Amish sew either by hand or be treadle machine, since they don’t have electricity.
• For many Amish families, the money made from quilting helps to supplement their farming income.

Wall Hanging made by VC

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing quilts in quilt shops and in Amish homes. If you ask, Amish women will usually show you what they’re working on, but they rarely say “Come and see what I’m quilting.” Many homes have a quilt frame set up in the corner of the sitting room so that the quilt can be worked on at odd moments. And Amish do still have “sew-ins” where they get together to finish a quilt for a benefit auction.

Do you quilt? I’m a beginning quilter myself, but I very much enjoy doing it.

Blessings,

V

p.s. – JUANITA W. won the Mother’s Day give-away. Thanks everyone for entering. I have more give-aways planned, so stay tuned.