Travel back to the birth of our nation and discover the origins of one of America’s most treasured traditions.
As the sun rises over a quiet colonial homestead, life begins long before dawn. Every day is filled with hard work, and every necessity must be made by hand.
Inside a modest cabin, a mother sits beside the glow of a candle, carefully stitching together pieces of homespun fabric. Her quilt is not simply a blanket—it is a labor of love, created to keep her family warm through the changing seasons. Nearby, a spinning wheel and handwoven cloth remind us that every thread and every piece of fabric required countless hours of skilled craftsmanship.
Women of the late 18th century, “the colonial era,” shared the work of quiltmaking out of necessity and pleasure. Research in women’s diaries and household inventories has shown that women shared textile work. Work parties of the period included barn raisings, harvestings, and huskings in addition to quilt parties.
As communities grow, women gather to sew, share knowledge, and support one another. These early gatherings laid the foundation for the quilting bees that became an important part of American life in the years following the Revolutionary War. Around the quilting frame, friendships are strengthened, traditions are passed from one generation to the next, and every stitch reflects the resilience and spirit of a young nation.
The origin of “bee” comes from dialectal ‘been’ or ‘bean’ (meaning “help given by neighbors”) and a Quilting Bee started out as an important means of socializing for colonial and pioneer women (and men). Through the winter months, the women would piece their quilt tops. Since there was no central heating in these homes, there was usually only one main heated room that was too crowded during the winter months for a quilt frame to be assembled. When the weather became warmer, an invitation was sent to the surrounding neighbors for the quilting bee.
On the day of the quilting bee, the quilters would arrive early and begin marking the quilt top which had been put into the quilt frame by the hostess. Very often, plates, thimbles and tea cups were used to mark the quilting patterns.
The quilters would then begin to quilt the top while exchanging conversation. The quilt had to be finished before the husbands and beaus showed up in the late afternoon when dinner was served to all, the hostess being given a chance to show off her cooking skills. After dinner, there was very often a square dance or country dance with fiddles accompanying the dancers.
The quilting bee was an important part of the social life of these people surpassed only by religious gatherings.
Historic artwork, including Quilting Bee in the Olden Time and John Lewis Krimmel’s celebrated Quilting Frolic, offers a glimpse into these remarkable community traditions. Close-up views of surviving colonial quilts reveal extraordinary craftsmanship that has endured for more than two centuries, preserving stories of faith, perseverance, family, and love.
It is widely thought that the American tradition of patchwork began with the early settlers utilizing every scrap of imported fabric to make warm quilts for the homestead. However, research suggests that expensive, imported English whole cloth quilts were found in early colonial homes. The making of American whole-cloth quilts did not become established until the 1750’s and it was not until after the The Revolutionary War, when America was freed from trade restrictions imposed by the English, that quilting evolved with a unique American style – bolder colors and innovative designs.
Colonial Era Quilts
This opening chapter of 250 Years of Quilting America celebrates the women whose hands stitched comfort into every quilt and whose legacy continues to inspire quilters today. While our lives have changed dramatically over the past 250 years, the love, care, and devotion found in every handmade quilt remain timeless.