I believe that most of us are influenced in our definition by those near and dear to us in past generations. For someone whose introduction to quilts and quilting has no connection with older family and friends who quilted, the term "quilt" probably does assume just about anything layered and sewn together is called a quilt. And that's fine. Their life experiences have colored their definitions, which is the way it should be.

I, and so many others like me, learned to quilt by watching the older family members and friends, who let us sit at the big quilting frame when it was lowered from the ceiling. We learned by watching and then doing, many times over and over until it was close to right. But we were definitely influenced by those experiences. And those quilts were utilitarian, whether for company only or for everyday use, those were called "quilts."

Personally, I'm trying to open my horizons and sometimes find myself drifting toward what I call an "art quilt" or "quilted wallhanging. And that's fun, too.

Call it what you want--just don't pass up the experience of trying it because of a definition.

My 2 cents worth, ladies and gentlemen, and have a great day!
Frances

Sandy, I think you verbalized my thoughts exactly. There are quilts, and then there are quilted items! Our craft has definitely evolved over the years. Years ago, I thought quilts were all patchwork!

I think the definition of a quilt has changed a lot over the last 20 - 30 years. Based on how I grew up a quilt was a bed cover. My grandmothers and my mother never made a quilt to be used as anything other than a bedcover. And it was not used as a bedspread. Out quilts were only a few inches larger than the mattress and they were there for warmth. A bedspread always covered the quilts and if you didn't need it for warmth was folded to the foot of the bed at night to keep it nice and clean. A crib quilt was still a quilt because it was used to cover the baby.

I haven't really thought about it but if I quilt something that is used for a purpose other than a bed covering I am pretty sure I don't just refer to it as a quilt but I call it a quilted wallhanging, quilted purse, quilted tablecloth, etc. Old habits are hard to break but I love anything quilted, well almost anything.

I have always thought of a quilt as a layered textile, sometimes peiced, other times a whole cloth. I don't always say 3 layers because I have seen several antique "summer quilts" which are just a top and a backing with no batting that are simply anchered together to prevent shifting, and I also have seen quilts encased inside of quilts, so there are upwards of 6 layers in those. I do not put a size on a quilt, although the word quilt brings to mind for me more of a bed quilt image. I remember once a friend offered to have her mother make a quilt for our group to raffle off, and I was shocked when she brought the quilt to rehearsal - it was only about 12" square and I remember thinking "thats not a quilt, its a coaster." Of course that was also before I got into quilting myself too

Three layers with love sewed into each seem. Some are tied some are very ornately stitched. Each are created as something special for someone. No matter how big or how small. Rachel

To me, if it's made of fabric and has 3 layers it's a quilt. It can be as small as a coaster, but it's still a quilt.
eileenkny

Three layers stitched together is a "quilt"? An item such as a purse or a bag made from three layers stitched together is "quilted"? May just two layers stitched together? It's a very interesting question. I bet you get some interesting answers.
Sherry

This is just for my curosity......I spend my insomnia times trying to get back to sleep ... but often these silly little questions float through my tired brain.....

Define what do you mean by QUILT when you use the word....

To me a quilt is on a bed or is a bed cover... Full or queen size is always on my mind. I frequently discribe my quilt by the size... ie MY QUEEN QUILT or the laprobe.. the baby's new crib quilts... etc.

.... Yes there are art quilts... but I use the word art in front of quilt... A wallhanging is a wall hanging and table topper is a table topper .... etc. I find a lot of other quilters who frequently just discribe a project by the word quilt....


MY QUESTION to you all is........ HOW DO YOU DEFINE A QUILT?? Is your defination different for quilters ? non- quilters? [/size]