Are quilts more a Northern thing? I grew up in the tropics and I can not remember every seeing a quilt in person. The only time I saw them was when we went on vaction to the Carolinas or on TV.

I was just doing some reading on another site when someone asked about summer quilts. Which made me think that most quilts were made to keep warm in the winter. Since our winters were rather warm I can see why we never used them. Now I can see wheres up North it would be cold enough long enough to be a important item to have. Also concidering how much colder it was back in those days.

So am I correct to assume that quilts were just a Northern thing? Lets use the Carolinas as the deviding line anything North of them I consider Northern.

Funny, I never thought of that. I have always lived in Iowa where we need blankets and quilts in the winter. You may be right.

I thnk they were used in any cold climate. They started out as clothing, to keep warm, skirts, vests, etc. were quilted. Can you imagine how heavy they were to wear? I have made a few summer quilts, lined with one layer of flannel, or just even muslin as a lining.

Hmmm, interesting question.

We are from Texas, and Southern Oklahoma before that, and Southern Alabama before that, and there have been quilts in my family for years, a very long tradition.

In the tropics and warmer climates they are called coverlets...
Just a very thin blanket...
no batting between..
Kirsten

Well, there are Hawaiian quilts and it's pretty warm there....

I've always lived in the south and we have always had quilts.

Sybil

Being from the South we also always had quilts also.

The slaves used them to transfer information on the Underground RR.

Not sure where they really originated.

My great grandmother always quilted while she was still alive, actually I think there's one quilt she started but was never finished. Don't know if my aunt ever got around to it or not. But anyway. She was from Texas for most of her life.

I was born and raised in Iowa and my great aunt on the other side of my family is from Iowa and we both quilt. But you're right, here it does get cold and they're needed in the winter.

the south is huge for quilting i certainly think more so then the north and especially more than the north east.

paducah is like quilting mecca, Gee's Bend quilts are famous around the world, and the railroad quilts.

i think quilting is more related to finances than location in the country.

quilting was initially done due to lack of funds and the ability to purchase already made blankets.

now quilting is done by people who have the money to support what is an extremely expensive hobby.