You can make patchwork by joining the same or identically shaped pieces of fabric into a larger piece of fabric. You can create patchwork by sewing fabrics into smaller sections and then joining the sections. In quilting, the smaller sections made by quilters are usually individual quilt blocks.
Other Names and Uses for Patchwork
While patchwork is the most common name for this style of material assembly, it’s also sometimes referred to as piecework. The act of making patchwork is called piecing. Patchwork is best known for its use in quilting patterns but can be found in garments, handbags, and many other projects.
Sewing Patchwork
Patchwork was sewn by hand before sewing machines were invented. Today, most quilters and other craftspeople use sewing machines to create patchwork although many crafters still enjoy the process of hand piecing.
Types of Patchwork
Patchwork quilt blocks are often sorted into categories with names that give you details about their overall structure and (sometimes) the number of pieces in a block. Common examples include:
One patch quilts, which repeat the same shape over and over. Four patch quilt blocks, which are made up of four pieces of fabric—two across and two down. Some shapes in a four patch are often divided into multiple segments. Five patch quilt blocks are a bit different. They are structured with 25 patches—five across and five down. Individual patches can also be divided. Seven patch quilt blocks contain seven patches across and down. Each patch can change shape, but unless you’re making a very large block, it’s uncommon to see seven patch blocks divided into more than one shape each, such as half-square triangle units. Nine patch quilt blocks initially contain nine square patches, but the majority of nine patch sections are subdivided into a variety of shapes. Foundation pieced and string pieced quilts are made differently than other types of projects, but both techniques are considered patchwork quilts. You’ll likely discover other types of patchwork as you explore quilting techniques.
Patchwork History
Sewers have used patchwork for centuries, sometimes to create works of art but overall in a more utilitarian way to keep families warm on cold nights. The economic status of families no doubt dictated how quilts were made. Look at vintage quilts and you’ll find huge differences in their appearance. Cloth feed sacks became an important source of fabric during the Great Depression in the United States. Many manufacturers already packaged their goods in cloth bags, including animal feed, flour, sugar, and other items. Fabric on the bolt was scarce (and expensive) during the Depression, so seamstresses used the empty bags to make clothing, quilts, and other items that required cloth. Manufacturers began printing the bags in a huge variety of colorful prints, making the empty sacks even more useful for home needs. Many feed sack quilts are still in excellent condition today, and quilters can usually find feed sack material on eBay, other online auctions, and at estate sales. Most of the sacks are made from a material that’s a bit more coarse than the 100-percent cotton fabrics used today.
Quilting Ups and Downs
Like all other forms of crafting, patchwork quilting has its ups and downs in popularity. The current surge of quilting began in the 1970s. It was about that time that new quilting magazines began to be published and tools were being introduced to make quilting easier. While it’s uncertain if quilting will continue to be popular, many quilters continue to pass the craft on to their daughters and sons.
