Amish quilts, Furniture, and Country
Welcome to Amish-quilts.com. Our site is dedicated to gathering and disseminating information about Amish quilts, maintenance, and storage. Amish-quilts.com is purely informational and does not promote or endorse any particular product or method.
Our site is designed to educate about Amish quilts and where you can purchase Amish quilts.
Amish quilts are made on Amish communities in the United States. Large Amish communities can be found in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. Mainstream America first gained a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle when Peter Weir's Hollywood blockbuster Witness, a movie about the Pennsylvania Amish starring Harrison Ford, became a national success. This movie showed the Amish way of life which is reflected in the aesthetic of their quilts. The Amish people do not believe in having anything flashy in their dress and lifestyle. Therefore, the quilts use only solid colors. In fact, some churches limit the use of certain colors that are too bright or are considered to worldly. The most common color is black.
Amish quilt makers take tremendous pride in their work, and view Amish quilts as both art and a functional piece to be used for generations. Because Amish beliefs do not allow the use of electricity, all Amish quilts are guaranteed to be made by hand. Because the Amish have such tight-knit communities with a great appreciation for history, the techniques are passed down from generation to generation with great care. The Amish are also known dedication to the family, so Amish quilts are made with love and attention to detail.
The craftsmanship of Amish quilts is often of the highest quality. Recently American art experts have even begun including Amish quilts in their museum exhibitions because of the artistry involved. The vigorous patterns formed in the stitching contrast beautifully with the plain backgrounds and appeals more and more to the modern aesthetic. Antique Amish quilts are now highly sought-after by collectors. However, if you just want a quilt for your home, it is easy to shop and purchase one of these lovely items. You can find Amish quilts in yard sales, estate sales, and in Amish communities. Although the Amish are not allowed to use computers for religious reasons, brand-new Amish quilts can now be purchased on the Internet because the Amish have partnered with other communities to sell their quilts.
One specialty item is the Amish baby quilt. These are handmade by an Amish mother-usually a grandmother. Sometimes the quilter will even stitch their name into the quilt. A typical baby quilt is about 45 inches wide by 58 inches long. The retail price ranges from $200-$400. If you plan on hanging your quilt on a quilt rack make sure the quilt includes a sleeve for a hanging rod. You can also purchase Amish-made clamps or shelves for display.
As for cleaning, new quilts are usually 100% cotton or a cotton polyester blend which makes them machine washable. You should wash your quilt using the gentle cycle with mild detergent in cold water to prevent shrinkage. If your quilt has dark colors, make sure to use a dry cleaner to prevent the colors from bleeding. A gentle cleaning using a vacuum can remove any lint hair or dust that accumulates. Simply place a nylon stocking over the vacuum nozzle and move it in two directions. Of course, if your quilt is an antique, you should only have it professionally cleaned.
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