February is National Quilting Month. This year, the celebration really fits the weather, at least where we are. Snow has kept many of us close to home and the chill winds often bring to mind the warmth and love of quilts.
Quilting is an ancient practice. Almost every “civilized” northern culture has developed some form of quilting. I remember being struck, long ago now, not only by the quilting but by the geometric piecing in ancient Chinese and Japanese ceremonial robes. One child’s robe was done entirely in, believe it or not, “baby block” (tumbling block) pattern. Like many Americans, I had rather assumed that geometric, pieced quilting of clothing or bed coverings originated during our trek across the vast plains to the west.
Stitching through padding between two layers of cloth – pieced or not – probably was known to the ancient Egyptians. This early carving (c 3400 BC) in the British museum is thought to show a quilted robe worn by a pharaoh. Silk ornamental quilts have been excavated from Chinese tombs dating from 770-221 BC. Quilted garments, some with metal slid into the channels, have even been used as a form of armor (or for comfort under armor), for example, by the ancient Japanese and in Europe in the Middle Ages.
Although the geometric patterns we associate with quilts have been added to by quilters over the years, the mathematics and the patterns themselves are ancient. Probably not coincidentally, for example, the Chinese were developing mathematical theories of geometry at about the same time as geometric pieced, quilted ceremonial robes appeared. Perhaps the rulers used these garments as a way of publicizing the greatness of the mathematicians they were supporting.
Happy Quilt Loving!
