Quilt

A quilt is a bed covering composed of two layers of fabric and a layer of wadding in between, made by the technique of quilting. Many quilts are made with decorative designs; indeed, some quilts are not used as bed covering at all, but are rather made to be hung on a wall or otherwise displayed.

Some uses of quilts

• Bedding
• Decorative
• Armoury (see Gambeson)
• Commemorative (e.g. the "Twentieth Century Women of Faith" quilt on the Patchwork page)
• Educational (e.g. the "Science" quilt below)
• Campaigning
• Documenting events / social history etc.
• Artistic Expression

Amongst famous quilts in history is the AIDS Memorial Quilt, begun in San Francisco in 1987 and cared for by the NAMES Project Foundation.

Many historic quilts can be seen at the American Museum in Bath.

Amish quilts are not simply utilitarian, but documenting a religious / spiritual conviction.

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