Quilting bee
A quilting bee was used to not only help women finish a quilt, but to also have a social gathering. They could include only family members, friends, or the community. Matters of considerable importance and debate were often discussed during quilting bees, such as women's rights. There were multiple events based around quilting. Quilting bees continue to exist in the modern times.
Social gatherings
[edit]The production of textiles created some of the approved social gatherings for women during the 19th century, with quilting bees being occasions for both collaborative work and camaraderie, merging the social aspect with practicality. The quilting bee is a distinctively American tradition. While the primary purpose of the bee was to help each woman finish a quilt, its true significance was the chance it provided for women to swap news, share recipes, offer home remedies, exchange fabric scraps, discuss personal issues, learn new techniques, and teach their daughters, all in a spirit of mutual support. Quilting bees varied widely, ranging from spontaneous meetings of family members or friends to larger events that engaged a significant portion of the community, complete with food and entertainment. Even those who were not skilled in sewing were welcomed, as their culinary skills could be useful for preparing a feast at the conclusion of the day. Matters of considerable importance and debate were often discussed during quilting bees.[1] Susan B. Anthony, as a teenager, delivered her initial speeches advocating for women's rights.[2] Men frequently participated in the festivities that followed the end of a quilting bee, and these events often resulted in romantic interactions. The quilting bee's status as a favored social event in the 19th century is supported by numerous references in diaries, paintings, poetry, and songs.[1]
Events
[edit]Quilting bees grew increasingly competitive, as all the young girls aimed to showcase their finest stitching. When it came time for the final row of quilting, the married women would step back, allowing the girls to compete for the honor of placing the last stitch, as it was thought that the one who won would be the next to get married. Quilts for brides were typically created during quilting bees. These quilts showcased symbolic designs that represented love, loyalty, and fertility. They were frequently cherished in chests as a treasured heirloom to be passed down from mother to daughter.[1]
Custom was that every young girl aimed to possess 13 quilts – a "baker’s dozen" – for her marriage dowry, kept in her dower check by the time she wed. In certain areas, she crafted and stitched the quilts herself. A quilting bee would be organized to complete either all of the quilts or just the special, more intricate 13th quilt. Friendship quilts, often featuring stitched or written names, were a favored creation at quilting bees. These quilts were crafted by women from a community or church parish as a farewell gift for a friend relocating to a new home. Individual patches of designated sizes were created independently and then assembled by a group. Album quilts also recorded the significant events in a family's life.[1]
In the late 18th century, diarist Martha Ballard documented how her neighbors instructed her daughters on how to set up the family loom, while also noting quilting gatherings that were meant to prepare her daughters for domestic life. However, these quilting gatherings represented just a minor fraction of the time dedicated to collaborative quilt making.[3]
Modern quilting bees
[edit]In the women's movement and the quilting revival at the end of the 20th century, quilting gatherings started the establishment of quilt guilds and various small quilting groups. Many groups refer to themselves as "bees", quilt shops incorporate the term in their names, and there are also "virtual bees" that exist to foster online communities.[3]
Several quilting groups active today have been gathering regularly since the early 1900s. Following the revival of crafting in the 1970s, craftspeople continued to participate in quilting. Quilting bees typically gather once or twice monthly to sew quilts, providing an opportunity for members to exchange ideas and techniques while reconnecting with one another. Quilting groups also plan various events, such as showcasing their creations, hosting holiday fairs, inviting quilt historians to speak, and arranging demonstrations led by instructors. Occasionally, the endeavors of a quilting group reach a global level, like the Olympic Games Quilt Project led by the Georgia Quilt Council, which consists of quilters from across the country.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "The social history of quilt making in America" (PDF). University of Lynchburg. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Women's History Month: Celebrating American Quilters". BTW. McGraw-Hill. March 30, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "The Quilting Bee?". International Quilt Museum. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ "Quilting bees keep American heritage humming along". South Coast Today. July 20, 1997. Retrieved January 26, 2025.