The European and American quilting tradition was started as a way to add warmth and weight to the undergarments for armor. From that beginning the tradition diverged slightly.

Quilters of the Victorian age used leftover scraps of cloth from previous projects to piece together what was known as a crazy quilt. These quilts usually ended up as a show-piece to decorate their parlours.

Quilters in the American colonies out of need created more practical quilts. Material came from what was available; feed sacks for example, to make the fabric blocks that would be used in their quilts. By doing this they were able to save what little money they had. The primary purpose for their endeavors was to keep their families warm on winter nights, but, at times, selling quilts to those who needed them could also make a living.

There is no one design that dominates the quilting tradition. Often it is religion, region, or the eventual purpose for the finished product that influenced the design a woman would chose for her quilt. For example quilts were often used to record family, local and even national history when paper and ink were not available.

Quilts could also be used as an expression of friendship and devotion to a family member or close friend. One type of quilt was even given the name friendship quilt as an acknowledgment of that fact. Pieces of the quilt would be made and contributed by individuals that would eventually come together into a quilting circle or 'bee' to finish it. The quilt would then be presented to the special person it was intended for.

Another version of a friendship quilt is called an autograph or signature quilt. The community, family, or friends would asked to sign their names on quilt blocks, or pieces in recognition of an individual. Then the quilt is put together by an individual, or a group, as a remembrance of an event of some importance in the life of the recipient.

Not every signature quilt is, or was, created for showing friendship. The raising of funds was the goal. Autographs of notable people are collected on quilt blocks. The blocks would then be sewn together to make a quilt that would be auctioned off, or raffled. Another way the signature quilt would be used in raising money was to charge a fee to those in the community who wished to sign a quilt block themselves.

The crazy quilt design was another way that quilters could raise money for a good cause. They would write to famous people asking for clothing scraps to sew into their quilt. When they finished their quilt it would be auctioned off.

Thus those that practiced the art of quilting have found many more uses for their skills than just providing warmth or weight to clothing. Fund raising and remembrance also are an important part of the quilting tradition.