Heirloom Quilt

Heirloom

In popular usage, an heirloom is something that has been passed down for generations through family members. Examples are a family Bible, antiques, weapons or jewellery.

Quilt

A quilt is a multi-layered textile, traditionally composed of two or more layers of fabric or fiber. Commonly three layers are used with a filler material. These layers traditionally include a woven cloth top, a layer of batting or wadding, and a woven back combined using the techniques of quilting. This is the process of sewing on the face of the fabric, and not just the edges, to combine the three layers together to reinforce the material. Stitching patterns can be a decorative element. A single piece of fabric can be used for the top of a quilt, but in many cases the top is created from smaller fabric pieces joined, or patchwork. The pattern and color of these pieces creates the design. Quilts may contain valuable historical information about their creators, "visualizing particular segments of history in tangible, textured ways".

heirloom

Noun

1. A valued possession that has been passed down through the generations.
2. An old crop variety that has been passed down through generations of farmers by seed saving and cultivation, in contrast to modern cultivars used in large-scale agriculture.

quilt

Noun

1. A bed covering consisting of two layers of fabric stitched together, with insulation between, often having a decorative design.
2. A roll of material with sound-absorbing properties, used in soundproofing.

Verb

1. To construct a quilt.
2. To construct something, such as clothing, using the same technique.