Quiltmaking is a traditional American art form which continues to be a vital part of contemporary life. Quilts are to be found in every state of the union. Even Hawaiians have been making them since the 1820s. Whether for decoration or warmth, quilts have provided a vehicle for creative expression for centuries.

Quilting consists of joining two or more layers of fabric together by sewing through them. The first quilts, brought to this country by settlers from Western Europe, quickly wore out from constant use. Without imported goods or a native cloth industry, quilts were continually being repaired in a random fashion with scraps of old ...