Are there any old quilts in your family? Quilts, which are often passed down from generation to generation, can be an art form as much as something that keeps you warm. A quilt could just as easily be in a museum as it would be in someone's home.Throughout American history, women who took care of their families also have felt the urge to create art. They used materials they had at hand -- mainly old clothes and rags from the household -- to create quilts. Quilting has been a part of Utah history and culture since pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The art of quilting has been passed down from mother to daughter and friend to neighbor since that time. Quilts can take hundreds of hours and thousands of stitches to make.
Quilts made in the 1800s are very valuable today, and some people collect quilts just like paintings or sculpture. The Springville Museum in Springville, Utah, has an exhibit every year in June to show off the quilting talents of local quilters. Many quilts tell a story of daily life in Utah through colors and symbols.
To learn more about quilting, go to the "Join America at Play" section of this Web site.
page 1 of 1
