Unique Distinctions of Amish Quilts
Amish quilts have very distinctive characteristics that make them instantly recognizable to quilters and non-quilters alike. Whether you understand what the differences are from one quilt style to the next is not important. There’s just something about an Amish quilt that stands out from the rest. There are some very important differences, however, that make Amish quilts so unique and distinctive from the rest. If you’re searching for a traditional Amish quilt to own, there are a few interesting characteristics that you can look for in determining what makes an Amish quilt so distinctive.
The colors used in a traditional Amish quilt are probably the most obvious distinctions that set Amish quilts apart from other quilting styles. The Amish people as a whole have always had a set standard of colors that they can use in making their clothing or decorating their homes with. These colors are determined by Amish leaders and have been handed down for hundreds of years. Using dark, simple colors is important to the Amish way of life because they believe in focusing on the group rather than the individual to keep their community strong. Keeping everyone dressed in similar styles of dress using the same basic colors is just one way the Amish stay connected with each other.
These same colors were then used in the early Amish quilts because most of the fabrics they used came from scraps that were leftover from clothing and household projects. These colors included dark blues, purples, greens, and reds. As time has passed brighter, more vibrant versions of these colors have been allowed by the Amish leaders to be used in Amish dress, just as long as the dominant color remains black. Pastels are also often seen in Amish dress, particularly in children’s clothing, and all of these colors have been incorporated into Amish quilt designs over time. Yellows and oranges are generally considered too flashy for the Amish and were rarely used in traditional Amish quilt designs.
The fabrics used in traditional Amish quilts were always plain in color with no patterns in them. Because the earlier quilts were made from scraps that came from other sewing projects, the fabrics were generally made of natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. As time progressed and fabrics became more affordable and readily available to the Amish quilter, fabrics were then purchased for the sole purpose of being used for quilting. Of course, as Amish quilts became more popular and demand for them became high, many of the traditional color and fabric rules relaxed a bit, in order to appeal to a wider variety of buyers. More colors were incorporated into the quilts and patterned fabrics were used as more and more options became available.
The different styles and patterns of the traditional Amish quilt are probably what make them so distinctive from other styles of quilts. Because a limited number of colors were used in the earlier Amish quilts, more interesting and intricate designs were used to create a unique and striking looking quilt. Large, geometrical designs were created, rather than patchwork patterns, that used rectangular strips, squares, and triangle shaped pieces of fabric. Black was only used in the border areas of these quilts, making the geometrical designs inside the border stand out more prominently. A single central design was generally used in the pattern rather than multiple blocks of repeated patterns which also made the Amish quilt unique. Some of the Amish quilt designs that were originally created by Amish quilters and remain popular today include the Diamond in the Square, Long Bar, Lone Star, Sunshine and Shadow, and Nine Patch patterns.
Another thing that makes the Amish quilt so distinctive from other quilting styles is the attention to detail and workmanship that goes into the quilting stitches. Once the Amish quilt pattern is stitched together, this top sheet is then quilted together with the center batting layer, and the bottom layer of the quilt. A stencil is used to create a stitch design that will be used over the entire quilt. These stitching designs can come in the form of floral designs, feathers, fern leaves, baskets, or geometric shapes. While many of the fabric pieces are stitched together using a treadle sewing machine, the quilting pattern is always done by hand. Amish quilts are known for their fine details and nowhere is this better seen than in the stitching skills of the Amish quilter. Small, fine, evenly spaced stitches are the hallmark of any Amish quilt. The most experienced Amish quilter can stitch eight to ten stitches per inch in her quilting. Nowhere in the world is this kind of quality seen in quilt making and this is perhaps what makes the Amish quilt so distinctive and unique the world over.
