Quilting

A minimum of three layers of fabric are joined together in the process known as quilting. This may be done by hand with a needle and thread, or it can be done mechanically using a sewing machine or a specialised longarm quilting system. Either way, quilting is the word given to the finished product. To create a three-dimensional cushioned surface, an assortment of stitches are worked through each layer of the cloth. The top fabric, also known as the quilt top, the batting, sometimes known as an insulating substance, and the backing are the three layers that are generally used.

Quilting may range from being a simple method of joining pieces of cloth together to being a very intricate and ornamental kind of three-dimensional surface treatment. Quilting has historically been connected with a broad range of textile goods, including bed coverings, soft home furnishings, clothes and costumes, wall hangings, artistic objects, and cultural artefacts. Among these products is a vast variety of quilts.

The quilter is able to implement a broad variety of effects, all of which add to the overall surface quality and functionality of the quilted material, and each of these effects has a specific purpose. The quilter exercises control over these effects by manipulating components such as the kind of material and its thickness, the length of the thread and the style of the stitch, the pattern design, piecing, and cutting. Aesthetic decisions involving colour, texture, and print may be used to create optical illusions and other two-dimensional effects. Additional embellishment, such as appliqué, embroidery techniques such as shisha mirror work, and the inclusion of other objects or elements such as pearls, beads, buttons, and sequins, can be used to manipulate and enhance the three-dimensional and sculptural components of quilted material. These components can be made to look even better. There are quilters who manufacture their own textiles or colour their own. Plastics, paper, plants, and other naturally occurring fibres and materials, as well as a wide variety of other materials, have been used in modern creative quilting, which is known for its use of novel and experimental materials.

Quilting is sometimes cited as one of the first instances of upcycling since, traditionally, it has made great use of scraps and offcuts in the production of new goods.