Patchwork Quilting: The Traditional Way Of Making A Quilt
All quilts, if you ask me, are supposed to be the result of patchwork quilting. What charm would there be to the quilt if it is not done with patchwork? Today, though quilting is at the height of its popularity, you will find that patchwork quilting is a dying art. This is because this method is very meticulous, requires monstrous patience and consumes a lot of time.
Today, people are used to get things at the press of a button and a click of the mouse. They are in no mood to wait for 2-3 months for anyone to finish a quilt. Can you imagine anyone ordering a quilt in August because they needed in November-December? This is why the introduction of computerized machines for quilt making has met with such a tremendous success. This has become a leading cottage industry in many places in the world.
Why Patchwork Quilting Should Not be Allowed to Die
There is something extremely touching is a handmade quit. The patchwork quilting somehow becomes warmer, cozier, and more attractive – almost like a companion, not just a cover. Maybe I belong to the sentimental class of people (this is a dieing breed, too) but I would any day pay double to get myself a handmade quilt, than accept a product of a patchwork quilting machine.
It is true that the patchwork quilting machine produces excellent quilts, faster and sometimes even better than the hand-made ones. However, there is no way that you will ever be able to compare a hand-made quilt with a machine made one and not see the difference. One is warm, soft and inviting; the other is cold, beautiful and aloof. It is like Snow White and her step mother. Both were exceptionally beautiful, but everybody loved Snow White because her beauty was warm as was her character.
There are very few quilt masters who still prefer to work by hand. They will not last long however, because they cannot compete with the machines, in terms of high turnover, better designs and what matters the most today – faster. Though handicrafts are still highly valued the world over, the turnover is not sufficient to make sufficient profit for the artisan.
Hence, only those who are indulging in this art as a hobby will, in the end, stick to it. Those who make a living out of this art will be forced to shift lanes, and adopt the present technology, if they want to survive in the market.