Unique Serving Platter

African American quilts have been around for many generations and this art form has been given new life in recent years. Even though the quilting designs have been in existence for many years they have really become popular as works of art. Many collectors look for quality African American quilts to add to their collections.

The designs for these ethnic quilting patterns were often memorized rather than copied face-to-face. The quilters would work from patterns dedicated to memory. They also used tried and true stitching techniques shared among black women in the United States. These traditional techniques have stood the test of time for many generations.

At first, the African coverlets were considered to be crude in design. The quilting patterns were not appreciated for their vibrant colors and magnificent form by the untrained eyes of past generations. Many of the first African American quilts were strictly utilitarian. The blankets were to be used to keep the owner warm, not to adorn the home.

Now these beautifully crafted African American quilts are really noticed for their beauty and quality. These superior blankets are striking and they are valuable as well. The ethnic artistry tells a story of our heritage in the United States and the traditional quilting techniques brings a long-lasting ceremony of remembrance for our ancestors.

The progression from utilitarian blankets to recognized art forms has been a very slow journey for the African American quilts. Ironically, quilting among the Anglo-American population has been recognized as an art form for a relatively long time. Most contemporary quilters tend to lean towards Amish and New England style patterns rather than embracing African American quilts.

However, many artists are beginning to recognize the African American quilts as a valuable part of our history. These items were typically created by poor black women in the rural South. The blankets were used for the quilter’s relatives and friends. These women did not have the time or the money to invest in elaborate designs and intricate stitching.

The lack of resources and time did not affect the actual quality of the product. In fact, many of the African American quilts are made as well as if not better than their expensive counterparts. These items had to be sturdy and durable in order to sufficiently stand the test of time.

Now that African American quilts are being recognized for their timeless beauty and durable design many collectors are clamoring to find authentic pieces. Fortunately, many women have inherited the tradition of creating their own for future generations to enjoy.

I first learned to quilt two years ago when I was laid up in bed with a badly broken leg. Up to that point, I’d always been an active, athletic person and had never really had any “quiet” hobbies before. But when I was in the hospital, I picked out a book of quilting designs on the reading cart that one of the nurses brought to my room and was immediately intrigued by what I saw. I couldn’t fathom just sitting around in bed watching TV for the next six weeks. I had to do something, which is why I decided to learn to quilt.

When I was just starting out, I stuck with very basic quilting designs that consisted of simple shapes and color patterns that anyone could manage. Even so, I still had a bit of trouble with those quilting designs. Learning to quilt was harder than I anticipated and I didn’t have anyone there to help me. I was trying to do everything just by looking at a book, so I made plenty of mistakes along the way. Nevertheless, I kept plugging away at it and discovered that I actually enjoyed my new hobby. I intended to stick with it even after I was up on my feet again, which is precisely what I did.

Eventually, my skills progressed to the point where I was using quilting designs of intermediate difficulty and then I was finally good enough to try advanced quilting designs. At that time, I had a house full of beautiful quilts and had given many more away as gifts to my friends and family. I now loved to quilt and couldn’t think of a more relaxing way to spend an evening or weekend. The only problem was that I had trouble finding new quilting designs when I needed them. I had already gone through the public library’s rather small collection of books and magazines featuring quilting designs, and I wasn’t exactly keen on purchasing my own books since their usefulness was limited.

So I decided to check for quilting designs online in the hopes of finding something better. I was delighted to discover that there are numerous websites that offer free quilting designs and many more websites that offer access to hundreds of quilt patterns for a nominal membership fee. The best thing about these websites is that they get updated regularly, which means that I will always have new quilting designs at my disposal.

If someone had told me just a few years ago that I was destined to become an avid quilter, I would have laughed at the very notion. But now I like nothing better than to sit down with new quilting designs and get started on a new project. This is a wonderful hobby that I wholeheartedly recommend to people of all ages!