A quilt is a warm bedcover made by sewing together three layers: a decorative top made of fabric pieces, a soft middle layer for warmth, and a backing. The top layer is where quilts get interesting. Instead of one solid piece of fabric, quilters cut cloth into shapes like squares, triangles, or diamonds, then stitch them together into patterns with names like “Log Cabin,” “Flying Geese,” or “Wedding Ring.”

The process of making a quilt is called quilting. After arranging the three layers, the quilter sews through all of them with small, careful stitches that hold everything together and create texture. Before sewing machines existed, people quilted entirely by hand, often gathering in groups called quilting bees, where friends would work together, talk, and help finish a quilt faster.

Quilts can be practical or precious. Some families pass down quilts through generations, with each patch holding memories. Others make quilts as gifts for weddings or new babies. During America's westward expansion, pioneer women often quilted using scraps from worn-out clothes, turning necessity into art. Today, some quilts hang in museums as folk art, while others keep children warm on cold nights.