Patchwork

The larger design is usually based on repeating patterns built up with different fabric shapes (which can be different colors).

Patchwork was used by ancient Egyptians for their clothes, wall decorations, draperies and furniture,[1] with oldest depictions from 5,500 years ago (3,400 BCE).

[3] Earliest preserved pieces have been dated from the early Middle Ages,[2] where among other uses layers of quilted fabric were used in the construction of armor—this kept the soldiers warm and protected.

[5] As the European climate became colder around this time, the incidence of the use of bed quilts rose, and so developed the practice of embellishing a simple cloth through the creation of pattern and design, alongside the development of decorative quilting.

[6] Patchwork enjoyed a widespread revival during the Great Depression as a way to recycle worn clothing into warm quilts.

Even very small and worn pieces of material are suitable for use in patchwork, although crafters today more often use new 100% cotton fabrics as the basis for their designs.

Nakshi kantha consisting of a running (embroidery) stitch, similar to the Japanese Sashiko is used for decorating and reinforcing the cloth and sewing patterns.

[citation needed] An Egyptian queen, Esi-Mem-Kev, who lived around 980 BCE possessed a patchwork funeral canopy which was found in her tomb.

Patchwork blocks are pieced squares[11] made up of colored shapes that repeat specific shapes to create patterns within the square or block of, say, light and dark or contrasting colors (motif).

Some common patchwork block names are Log Cabin, Drunkard's Path, Bear's Paw, Tulip, and Nine Patch.

Names such as Hit or Miss, Clamshell, back-stitch, needle weave, criss-cross, and Starburst identify some overall patchwork structures.

Round pieces formed by cutting a circle of fabric, gathering the edges with a running stitch and pulling them tightly shut are known as Suffolk puffs in the United Kingdom due to the Suffolk wool used to pad them.

[12][13] These round pieces can be joined with several stitches on the sides to connect other puffs together and form a coverlet or other items.