Q for Quilts

Who doesn't like to be tucked in a warm blanket in chilly weather with a hot cup of tea?Q is for quilts or razai, as it is known in several parts of North India.Razai is a bed comforter that can provide a great deal of comfort in cold weather, due to the insulating effects of the large amount of air trapped in the cotton wool.In the olden days, royal quilts were made of silk fabric, and the commoners' quilts were made of Khadi fabric. Hand quilting of fluffed cotton in India is unique to Jaipur and Jaipur's outskirts in the North Western state of Rajasthan.When in the Pink City, your shopping list has to have these fluffy hand-block printed comforters - Razai. First, the shell of the Razai is prepared by using the fabric on the sewing machine.This fabric is generally hand-block printed and nowadays even screen printed..Then the cotton is carded in a carding machine; it is spread evenly on the fabric shell using bamboo sticks. The shell is then turned inside out and to spread out the cotton evenly again, it is beaten using a wooden stick with bare hands.The mouth of the fabric is then stitched and the razai is taken forward for tagai or the art of threading.Tagai is done only by women. Tagai is a running stitch, done all over the body of the quilt to keep the cotton in place.The price of the quilt depends on the quality of the fabric and the finesse of the tagai.Sanganer and Bagru are the key cities in Rajasthan that take up the printing of the Jaipuri Razai. The designs on quilts have motifs like flowers, elephants, design elements from the Mughal era and ancient Rajasthani elements too..Here are some fun facts about the Jaipuri quilt / Razai:These are reversible and can be used from both sides.Their utter softness and ultra-light feature exists because of the cotton filling. Despite being lightweight, they are super warm and keep the cold at bay.They are not high on maintenance and can be simply washed in the washing machine. Traditionally, these quilting techniques were used for textiles too, for e.g. in the making of angrakhas (long coats) and vests.Indian quilters are part of a living tradition that dates back 4,000 years to the Indus Valley Civilisation. Evidence of hand quilting dates back to the Gupta Age and is also seen on Ajanta Murals. The craft of hand quilting can be seen throughout history all over the world. It is said that Indian quilting was brought to Europe by the Portuguese, which then grew to be known as French quilting.Quilting in ancient India served both practical and artistic purposes. The quilts were not only used for warmth and comfort but also held cultural and religious significance. They were often passed down through generations, becoming cherished heirlooms that carried stories and memories of the families who owned them.Over time, quilting techniques were refined and developed further, with different regions in India specializing in their unique styles and patterns. Each region has its distinct motifs and embroidery techniques that reflect the local traditions and cultural influences.Today the market is dumped by faux fur or polyester alternative quilts. Let's bring back a touch of tradition and hand it back to our homes this winter. Let's choose handmade, let's choose India!