Truth & Fiction About the Quilting Bee

If you read Myth #1 you know that quilting bees would have been unlikely in colonial days as very little quilting was done. We know that women who had the money and leisure to do quilting at times did sit with friends or family to do their needlework. But they did not have quilting bees like we envision a quilting bee today.

Such quilting parties did occur but were less common then we would be led to believe. In truth many women quilted alone at home. Women also quilted with family members or as a part of a church or other organized group.

Although quilting bees did occur over the years in the early days they were not called a 'quilting bee' but more often were referred to as a 'quilting'. The reason I have included the quilting bee myth here is that the frequency of quilting bees has been greatly exaggerated and most quilting was not done as part of a bee.

The painting of a quilting bee by Grandma Moses is a perfect example of an idealized quilting bee. It's a delightful representation of a gathering of women quilting around the frame while others prepare a dinner. Children and the men folk will enjoy the meal with the women. Such events did occur but more often just a few women gathered to quilt.

Quilting Bee - Gathering Around the Frame
learn what quilting bees were really like.