Learning about colonial and pioneer quilts and their history gives a unique glimpse into the past.
Quilting is a handicraft that has been around for years. There is evidence that they were used in ancient times. Quilted garments were under armor to protect impact.
Quilts were not just used for warmth as we do today. Normally, a quilt is made of three layers.
There is a top layer, middle layer and a backing. Actually, the word quilt comes from a Latin word meaning “stuffed sack. ”The layers are stitched together in patterns.
And when settlers came to America, fabric was expensive. So nothing went to waste. Flour sacks, worn out clothes and scraps could be use to make a quilt.
But quilts are more than just blankets. They’re a glimpse into history through fabric.
BOOKS ABOUT QUILTS FOR KIDS
Next, look at some of these fun books about quilts.
I prefer living books when I can find them.
8 Quilts And The History of Quilts Books
Grab some of these books and resources. You can use a book as a unit study spine to learn about quilts and the history of quilts.
Quilting Now & Then explains how quilts are made and compares today's methods with those used in olden days. Nineteen exquisite quilts sewn exclusively for this book brighten the 36 pages of full-color illustrations.
Collecting pieces of cloth along her family's long journey on the Oregon Trail, Rebecca looks forward to the day when they are finally in their new home out west and can make her special quilt that will forever remind her of this amazing experience.
Tanya finds her grandmother sitting by the window one day surrounded by pieces of material. Grandma has decided to make herself a patchwork quilt to replace the old one her mother made her. This story covers the progress of the quilt.
The vanished ways of colonial America's skilled craftsmen are vividly reconstructed in this superb book by Edwin Tunis. With incomparable wit and learning, and in over 450 meticulous drawings, the author describes the working methods and products, houses and shops, town and country trades, and individual and group enterprises by which the early Americans forged the economy of the New World.
In the tiny coastal settlements, which usually sprang up around a mill or near a tanyard, the first craftsmen set up their trades. The blacksmith, cooper, joiner, weaver, cordwainer, and housewright, working alone or with several assistants, invented their own tools and devised their own methods. Soon they were making products that far surpassed their early models: the American ax was so popular that English ironmongers often labeled their own axes "American" to sell them more readily. In the town squares a colonist could have his bread baked to order, bring in his wig to be curled, have his eyeglasses ground, his medicine prescription filled, or buy snuff for his many pocket boxes. With the thriving trade in "bespoke" or made-to-order work, fine American styles evolved; many of these are priceless heirlooms now―the silverware of Paul Revere and John Coney, redware and Queensware pottery, Poyntell hand-blocked wallpaper, the Kentucky rifle, Conestoga wagon, and the iron grillework still seen in some parts of the South. The author discusses in detail many of the trades which have since developed into important industries, like papermaking, glassmaking, shipbuilding, printing, and metalworking, often reconstructing from his own careful research the complex equipment used in these enterprises.
The incredibly intricate and vivid illustrations in this book are details of a modern quilt inspired by Sibylle von Olfers' classic storybook Mother Earth and Her Children. This vibrant new translation, in turn inspired by the quilt, explores the changing of the seasons and delicately touches upon the circle of life. When Mother Earth calls her children to prepare for spring, the earthly children yawn and stretch before they busy themselves with
beautification. They dust off the bumblebees, scrub the beetles, paint bright new coats on the ladybugs, and rouse the caterpillars from their cocoons. Bedecked with new blossoms, the children emerge from the earth
and become spring flowers that frolic through the summer and autumn, until the leaves begin to fall and they return to Mother Earth, bringing the weary bugs and beetles back to their winter refuge.
Describes the life of early settlers, including the construction of a home, the clearing of land, folk medicine, candle making, quilting bees, weaving, and wedding parties
Whirr, buzz, hum. Before busy machines in factories turned out most of what we need and use, people crafted these items by hand. From a globe to a pie crimper, a butter churn to a rocking horse, this unique collection highlights fourteen one-of-a-kind objects — each one drafted, stitched, painted, or engraved by hand. Author Carole Lexa Schaefer draws inspiration from real historical artifacts to create thirteen short works of fiction, imagining the hands that might have made and used each item. Several artifacts can be traced to their origin, while others remain complete mysteries, making for a fascinating patchwork of fact, guesswork, and imagination. Illustrator Becca Stadtlander breathes color and charm into this handmade history, bringing to life the different objects, people, and times. The result is a singular glimpse of everyday objects and
treasures alike — back when such things were made by hand.
In this enchantingly told original folktale, a wise quiltmaker makes the most beautiful quilts in the world – but she will give them only to those who have nothing. When a rich, dissatisfied king insists that she give him one of her quilts, she gives him what seems an impossible task: to give away all he owns. One by one, the king gives away his many possessions, and finds that the more he gives away, the happier he is. Finally, when the king has nothing, the quiltmaker gives him the promised quilt. But he knows that the true reward for his generosity has been the smiles of those he has helped.The Quiltmaker's Gift has touched the hearts of readers young and old, bringing it to the PW bestseller list and earning it numerous awards and commendations. The heartwarming, strongly moral tale supports important values, and the detailed illustrations, featuring dozens of lovingly rendered quilt patterns, offer hours of delight.
Clara, a slave and seamstress on Home Plantation, dreams of freedom—not just for herself, but for her family and friends. When she overhears a conversation about the Underground Railroad, she has a flash of inspiration. Using scraps of cloth from her work in the Big House and scraps of information gathered from other slaves, she fashions a map that the master would never even recognize. . . .From the award-winning author-illustrator team of Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome, this fictional tale of the Underground Railroad continues to inspire young readers 25 years after its original publication.
Also, look at some of the other activities about colonial and pioneer quilts.
MORE COLONIAL AND PIONEER QUILT CRAFTS
- Post It Note Paper Quilt Art
- Paper Quilts
- Colonial Quilt
- A Brief History of Quilting in America
- Make a Pioneer Quilt Craft
- Kirsten Pioneer Craft – Crazy Quilt
Finally, look how to make this easy paper quilt.
QUILTING SQUARE COLLAGE
This paper collage activity introduces kids to the look and layout of traditional colonial quilts using simple shapes and patterns.
By arranging colorful paper squares into repeating designs, kids explore symmetry, patterning, and early American history in a hands-on way.
Supply List
- Construction paper in a variety of colors
- Scissors
- Optional: Glue
First, cut construction paper into small, evenly sized squares.
Invite kids to arrange the paper squares into a quilt-style pattern.
Encourage rows, repeating colors, or mirrored designs inspired by traditional quilts.
Optional: Once the design is complete, glue each square down one at a time on a piece of paper.
Benefits
- Supports creativity while working within simple design rules
- Builds pattern recognition and early math skills
- Strengthens fine motor skills through cutting and gluing
- Encourages planning, sequencing, and visual organization
- Introduces children to colonial history and traditional textile art
