Hobbies And Interests
Background
Photo quilts are similar to traditional quilts in that they consist of three layers: a top layer of fabric, a middle layer of "batting" (usually cotton, wool or polyester) and a backing layer of fabric. American quilting dates back to colonial times, when women made much of their own clothing and bedding by hand, and were highly praised for their needlework skills. Back then, quilters used single sections of cloth for the fronts and backs, but today patchwork quilts are very popular. Also, quilters now have the option of working by hand or by sewing machine.
Method
If making a photo quilt at home, a person needs to first upload the desired images to a computer. These can be photos taken on a digital camera or photos that have been scanned into the computer. After photo editing, the images are printed onto special photo fabric, which are later cut into squares. After sewing these fabric squares to one another to form the top layer, the crafty person will align all three layers of the quilt--the top, the batting and the backing, and then sew them all together.
Significance
People make photo quilts for a number of reasons, especially to present as gifts to loved ones, or to serve as keepsakes representing important moments. They are excellent ways of commemorating special occasions, such as graduations, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations and reunions. Also, some photo quilts honor loved ones who have passed away.
Types
The three most popular variations of photo quilts are lap quilts, wall hanging quilts and bed quilts, which traditionally differ both in size and in function. Lap quilts (sometimes also called "crib quilts") are usually roughly 3 feet by 4 feet or 5 feet by 6 feet. Wall hanging quilts are typically smaller, approximately 2 feet by 3 feet. And bed quilts are usually the largest, made to fit conventional bed sizes--twin, full, queen and king. Photo quilts can, however, be made any size, using any number of photographs.
Expert Insight
Before beginning a project like this, it is worth one's time to invest in good photo editing software, as it will be necessary to spend time correcting colors and cropping photographs. Also, if scanning in hard copies of photographs, be sure to use a high-quality scanner, otherwise the final picture might be grainy or distorted. If possible, a better method is to upload photos from a digital camera, as the picture quality will be much clearer and sharper.