Is Quiltmaking an Art or a Craft?
March 6, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Home & Living
A discussion evolved at the Arts and Craft channel concerning the difference between art and craft. Is there a difference? Does one term signify following someone else’s patterns or designs and the other concern original work?
Tammy Powley, of b5media’s Jewelry and Beading, has a poll and discussion on this topic, Jewelry Artist or Jewelry Crafter at her blog. You may find this interesting.
What’s your idea about quilts and quiltmaking? Do you consider it an art or craft? I’ve also heard quiltmaking referred to as a folk art? How is this different from an art?
Then as quiltmaking has evolved into wall hangings, fabric postcards, and mixed media, I’ve heard the terms fabric art, fabric artist, fiber art, and fiber artist.
What do you consider yourself? Why?
I’d enjoy hearing what you think of the terms art and craft as they apply to quiltmaking.
I usually see quilters calling themselves fiber artists.
Yes, Tammy, this is a term frequently used among quilters now. In fact, my daughter and her local quilt group call themselves fiber artists, rather than quilters, because they use many types of materials in their work and create more than bed quilts.