Textile technique
Quilting
Quilting joins fabric layers with lines of stitching that can also form a surface design.
Also searched as: Quilted fabric
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
Stitches pass through the layers, often including padding between a face and backing. Their layout controls how the layers are held and where raised areas remain.
How to recognize it
Follow the stitched channels separating the fuller areas between them.
Common uses
- Bed covers
- Padded jackets
- Cushions
What to distinguish
Patchwork joins pieces into a surface; quilting joins layers, and a quilt need not contain patchwork.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.