“The misconceptions of quilts and quilting can’t be further from the truth, but they are what people tend to believe,” says Susan Knapp, a graphic designer, artist, quilter and mother from Mooresville. “The misconceptions don’t represent where quilting is today or how detailed and complex it has become.”
Knapp, who has been interested in quilting for nearly 30 years, is regarded as one of Lake Norman’s finest and most original quilters. Many of her current quilts decorate the walls, couches, beds, tables and chairs of her home. They have won numerous awards in local and regional shows, and she has set her sights on entering national contests, too. “By entering national shows,” she says, “you have your work judged by top professionals whose feedback helps you learn and become better.”
Her passion for quilting is as deep as her talent.
Her mother introduced her to quilting in 1976, when the two teamed up to make a quit to commemorate American’s Bicentennial. Making the quilt allowed them to learn about America’s past together and to preserve it in a special way. More importantly, according to Knapp, working with her mother allowed her to form a unique and lasting bond and to develop a common interest. It is now her turn to pass the interest along to her daughters, Lea and Julia, ages 9 and 5-1/2. Both girls completed an introductory class in quilting at Mooresville’s Quilter’s Loft Company this past summer.
History of quilts
The Bicentennial is commonly viewed as the beginning of America’s current quilt-making revival. However, the roots of quilt making have a long and rich history dating back centuries. Quilting itself has been traced to ancient Egypt, China and India, where clothing was made for royalty using exotic materials, textiles and quilting techniques. Throughout Europe, as far back as the 11th century, quilting was added to the armor of soldiers for extra padding, protection and warmth.
American quilting traces its origins to British colonists who transported their quilts along with their household goods to this country. In North Carolina and in the area of what is now Lake Norman, the craft is believed to have arrived from the towns and villages of the Appalachian Mountains, where quilts helped keep families warm during the winter. Charlotte, with its textile industry history, became a popular area for quilt making to flourish.
According to Knapp, many Americans now believe that the quilt might be the single most important artifact in the study of American folk art and history.
Starting point
It wasn’t until almost 15 years after Susan Knapp and her mother made their first quilt together that she made one on her own. “It was a traditional baby quilt that I made for a friend,” Knapp says. “But it made me appreciate what my mother and I had done together, and it sparked my interest again.”
In addition to traditional bed covers, she has made pillows, throw blankets, wall hangings and table runners. “The uses of quilts are limited only by your imagination,” she says. “Some quilters even turn their designs into what’s known as wearable art, and you see jackets, sweaters, skirts and whole ensembles done in quilt.”
Some of her most recent work looks very much like a stained glass window with bright colors and eye-catching images.
An art form
Quilting has grown into a craft that is now as much about art as it is about tradition. Individual quilters such as Knapp have taken the traditional styles in new and exciting directions. Their quilts, which incorporate their own designs and patterns, have been labeled edgy and artistic. Artistic quilters combine colors, stitching, patterns and designs to create works that are as elaborate as they are beautiful.
Traditional quilting, which is still popular, was done mainly by hand, using a quilting frame that can be up to six feet long. Quilters such as Knapp have developed their own styles. She believes her technique is fairly unusual but adds that by not using a frame, she has greater freedom to be innovative and blend materials in a free-flowing manner. She completes her quilts both by hand and with a sewing machine, depending on the piece. She reserves hand quilting for her traditional quilts that are heirloom quality and uses a machine to make more durable and modern-looking pieces.
The threads used in her artistic quilts appear to flow like the strokes of a paintbrush and the materials blend together like the colors of a water-color painting. Both her traditional and artistic quilt styles capture your eye and invite you to study their detail and complexity. They represent thousands of hours of planning, preparation and craftsmanship.
Getting started
If you are interested in learning more about quilts and quilting, her are a few ideas from Susan Knapp on how to get going: