Quilt is defined in the Oxford English dictionary as a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design. In the short story, “Everyday Use”, the argument between Dee and her family over the family’s quilt arises as the stories climax becomes more effective in the story. Quilting has decreased on the level of difficulty in the past years. When this story took place quilting was still being done by hand. When making a quilt you usually have a quilt pattern, to follow this quilt pattern correctly you must have a quarter inch seam. Having sewing machines today, we take it for granted on how easy it is to make a perfect quilt. Growing up in a southern home, I have seen quilts made and past down in the family. Being someone that sews and knows how much it takes to make a quilt. The story connects a great deal to my life, there is a quilt in my family that has been pasted down many generations and for my generation it has been pasted to me. This quilt has so much history, my great-great-grandmother made this quilt by hand. I can easily put myself in Maggie’s shoes being someone that really knows how much meaning something such as a quilt is really worth. The Johnson family’s quilt showed so much passion for their heritage and the worth of their family. These quilts most like made from scratch meaning that the maker made their own pattern and we know from the story that the fabric was from t-shirt material. Dee’s lack of knowledge or careless attitude makes her blind to the worth of each quilt. I remember a quote my sewing teacher once said, “A quilt is a treasure which follows its owner everywhere.” In the Johnson Family’s case, the quilts are a treasure that have followed their family and have made it through the hard times they have had to face. Quilting and quilts are a great source of our countries history and heritage. Something I find very interesting about the patterns of quilts is if you ever have been through the mountains of North Carolina, you will find that almost every barn has a quilting pattern on it to represent their family and its heritage. Quilting is such a greater artifact of history then most realize. As we discussed in class there is meaning to every type of pattern. Next time, you see a quilt, take a closer look at it and you will see the work or history of that quilt.
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