Different Types of Amish Quilts
When you think of an Amish quilt you think of bold colors, geometric designs, intricate embroidery, and high quality handmade style. These designs are known throughout the world for their unique and traditional styles, but did you know that they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and uses to fit just about any style home or personal taste? While Amish quilts are prized for their beautiful designs and considered treasured pieces of art around the globe, they are first and foremost made to serve a specific purpose. The Amish pride themselves on practicality, usefulness, and self-sufficiency, so while you may not ever dream of actually using your handmade Amish quilt as part of your bedding, you’ll find a large variety of different types of Amish quilts to choose from.
Amish quilts make wonderful, treasured gifts, so you might want to consider buying one for a close family member or friend as a special gift marking a special occasion, such as the birth of a new baby. An Amish quilt made especially for a newborn by a loving Amish grandmother is something that will be treasured for a lifetime. Amish quilts that are made to go in a baby’s crib are usually around 36 to 48 inches and come in a variety of colors and styles. From the traditional dark colored, geometric designs to pastel colored, appliqued designs, Amish baby quilts make a beautiful addition to any nursery.
A wedding is another great reason to give a handmade Amish quilt as a gift. Double Wedding Ring quilts symbolize the union two individuals make when they marry and become one. This style of Amish quilt is one of the hardest to make because of the skill it takes to make the circles of the rings equal throughout the entire quilt. This is the type of wedding gift that will be remembered forever and most likely will be passed on for generations to come. Of course, there are other types of Amish quilt designs that would make great wedding gifts as well, however, the Double Wedding Ring style of Amish quilt is one of the most popular and prized for any quilt owner.
If you’re looking for an Amish quilt to use in your own home as traditional bedding, your choices are nearly endless. Today, Amish quilts come in a wide variety of sizes to fit just about any bed. You should consider how you want the quilt to hang down the sides of the bed when searching for an Amish quilt. Full length quilts are meant to drop to ½” from the floor. Blanket sized quilts are meant to drop to 1” below the bottom of the box spring. Coverlet sized quilts are meant to drop to 3” below the bottom of the mattress. So, when considering what size quilt you need to purchase, you need to measure both the size of your mattress, as well as how far down you want your Amish quilt to hang.
If you don’t want to invest in a full-sized Amish quilt, since they can be quite pricey, then you might want to purchase an Amish style lap quilt. Lap quilts are, as the name suggests, meant to be used on the lap to keep warm while sitting in a chair or rocker. They’re much smaller than the Amish quilts that are made for bedding, but just as beautiful in design and workmanship. Buying these smaller lap quilts is a great way to get into the hobby of collecting Amish quilts without breaking the bank.
You might also want to purchase an Amish quilt for the sole purpose of hanging it on the wall as an art piece. This is a great and affordable way to enjoy the beauty of a handmade Amish quilt without the risks that come with using it for actual bedding. People with small children or pets may be wary of buying an authentic Amish quilt out of fear of it being damaged while on the bed. So, buying an Amish quilt that is meant to hang on the wall is a great option for those who still love the style of the Amish quilt, but don’t want to risk displaying it on a bed. Amish quilt wall hangings are usually square or rectangular in shape and are much smaller than those made to fit a bed. Wall hanging quilts often come with hanging tabs or a channel at the top of the quilt that can be hung on a curtain rod and placed on the wall like a piece of fine art. Of course, you can also hang any size Amish quilt on the wall by attaching tabs to the top on it or using a specially made quilt hanger. This is a good option for people who want to display their larger Amish quilts rather than storing them away in a closet.
As you can see, Amish quilts come in so many sizes, shapes, and styles that you just might end up buying more than just one. Owning an Amish quilt is a wonderful way to start a family tradition and can make a wonderful gift for so many different occasions. These are truly unique crafts that will be treasured by you and your family for many, many years to come.
