A quilt is a bed covering composed of two layers of fabric and a layer of wadding in between, made by the technique of quilting. Many quilts are made with decorative designs; indeed, some quilts are not used as bed covering at all, but are rather made to be hung on a wall or otherwise displayed.
Some uses of quilts
- Bedding
- Decorative
- Armoury (see Gambeson)
- Commemorative (e.g. the "Twentieth Century Women of Faith" quilt on the Patchwork page)
- Educational (e.g. the "Science" quilt below)
- Campaigning
- Documenting events / social history etc.
- Artistic Expression
Many historic quilts can be seen at the American Museum in Bath.
Amish quilts are not simply utilitarian, but documenting a religious / spiritual conviction.