Although women have used all kinds of fabrics to make quilts, cotton calico and chintz have always been the most popular. Cotton is washable, easy to care for and, because it is fairly easy to dye, displays (and retains) lots of color. Velvets, satins, silks and wools were popular during the Victorian era when crazy quilts were all the rage, but were not extensively used for everyday quilts.

Whether a counterpane, pieced or appliquéd quilt, the quilting process is basically the same. All three layers are assembled and pinned or basted together and then the quilt is stretched across a quilting frame. Some quilting frames are large enough for a dozen women to sit around them and work on the same quilt. Most homes didn't have enough space to leave a large frame set up all the time, so women would organize "quilting bees" where they could set and stitch an entire quilt over the course of a (very long) day! Sometimes quilting bees were organized through community centers and churches, but often it was just neighborly spirit and the frame might be moved from house to house as each woman finished her piecing and was ready for quilting. At a time when communication between neighbors didn't include telephones and emails, quilting bees were a popular social event for women and provided them the opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors. Women who quilt alone usually use a hoop or smaller frame that allows them to roll up the quilt and work on small sections at a time.

Although some quilters work without a frame, most agree that it is easier to produce fine stitching when the fabric is smooth and evenly tensioned in a frame. Short sewing needles are used to stitch vertically, up and down, through the quilt, so the stitching is closer than traditional diagonal stitching would be. Many quilts are quilted with simple, parallel rows of stitching, while others use swirling, elaborate patterns. It is fairly common to find simple quilting in the body of a pieced quilt and an elaborate pattern worked on the plain border. Counterpanes, of course, rely on elaborate stitching patterns because there is no patchwork or appliqué detail to provide interest.

In the old days quilts were filled with cotton or wool batting; flannel sheet were sometimes used for silk quilts. Because the battings could separate if large areas were left unquilted, most vintage quilts were very closely stitched. Modern battings, including polyesters, are much better quality, hold their loft and do not separate so the quilting does not need to be as closely worked, which frees the quilter in terms of both labor and design.

A quilter's sewing baskets always includes short, sharp needles, size 50-70 thread, pins, chalk to mark the lines for quilting, beeswax to keep the thread from knotting, thimbles to protect the fingers and scissors. Quilting does not require a lot of fancy equipment, nor did it make use of sewing machines for many years! Today's sewing machines are better able to produce fine seams and quilting stitches that satisfy even the most traditional quilters. Contemporary quilts are sometimes pieced by machine and quilted by hand, sometimes entirely by one method or the other. Some "art quilts" are triumphs in silk screen design, embroidery, hand painting or photo transfers; often, the quilting stitches are incidental to the final product. While some of us are motivated by color and design, others are thrilled by perfect hand stitching. In short, there is no one "right way" to make a quilt.

Quilting has become one of the most popular crafts in the U.S. If you are interested in learning how to make a quilt, you should have no problem finding classes at a local craft center, sewing shop or adult education program. You don't need fine tailoring skills to make a quilt; basic sewing skills tempered by attention to detail and careful pressing will take you a long way! You can learn a lot about quilts just by looking at them: Department and bedding stores, folk art shows and shops, museums, antique stores and state fairs are good places to start.

You might also want to contact one of the organizations concerned with making, collecting and preserving quilts. The National Quilting Association is headquartered in Maryland and has chapters throughout the country. You can write to them at PO Box 393, Ellicot, Maryland 21041-0393 or call (410) 461- 5733. You can also contact The American Quilters Society and Museum, PO Box 3290, Paducah, Kentucky 42002-3290, (270) 898-7903. Both of these groups can also provide information about festivals, shows, workshops and related events in your area.

Until fairly recently, there was no such thing as dry cleaning. Everything was washable and quilts were no exception. As long as the fabric is in good condition with no holes or broken stitching you can hand wash your quilt with a mild soap. Make sure it is well supported when you hang it on the line to dry; don't just clip the corners to the line. A wet quilt is heavy so you might want to consider spinning it in the washing machine (just spinning!) to get some of the water out first. New, commercially made quilts might specify machine or hand washing, but generally, quilts will last longer with gentle handling.

Old quilts in particular may not tolerate the heat of a dryer, but always try to avoid very hot settings for any quilt. Heat can dry out and weaken fabrics so that they tear more easily. Ironing should not be necessary and will flatten a quilt; you might want to just press the binding with a cool iron. Remember, the older the fabric, the more dramatically it will be affected by extremes of temperature or handling. Always opt for minimal treatment first and increase your effort as needed.

If you have a vintage quilt that is damaged, the amount of repair you do will be directly related to whether the quilt is a display piece or one you intend to use. Collector's pieces should be changed as little as possible. Always check quilts you use for damage before washing them and make repairs as needed. Make sure your quilt is clean before you store it or display it. If you put it away in a storage chest, purchase some acid free paper to wrap it in, rather than plastic bags.

If you intend to display your quilts - old or new - do so in a way that does not stress the seams or the quilting stitches. There are special wall racks that hang quilts with equalized tension throughout and will not damage the stitching. These are the best system for hanging quilts on a wall. Ladder racks (free standing or wall mounted) and four legged, free standing racks are the easiest to use for quilts in daily use or if you have several quilts you want to display. In a pinch, you can fold your quilt over the end rail of your bed!

All quilts have certain things in common. The patterns, construction methods and quilting stitches have not changed through the years. Fabrics, threads and battings have improved, but they are still basically the same. There are subtle differences between hand and machine made quilts, but those differences are probably only important to the true connoisseur or collector. The rest of us are more easily impressed with color and pattern! While it is obvious that very old quilts need to be handled gently, remember that the same care could also extend the life of a new quilt.