Final answer:
The speaker's mother used fabrics such as cotton, silk, wool, and linen to piece quilts, each bringing unique properties and historical significance to the crafting process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fabrics used by the speaker's mother to piece quilts include a variety of textiles with rich histories and diverse applications. Cotton has been a fundamental material dating back to 4500 BCE, praised for its durability and used extensively in weaving and clothing.
As a cellulose thread derived from the cotton plant, it is known to be sturdy and non-stretchy. In contrast, silk presents a luxuriously smooth fabric, its threads spun by silkworms, a practice originating from China that would later give rise to the bustling trade route known as the Silk Road.
Wool, sheared from animals such as sheep, llamas, and yaks, is utilized for its insulating qualities, retaining warmth even in damp conditions—perfect for cooler climates and the inner padding of quilts. Linen, made from flax plant fibers, is celebrated for its absorbency and coolness in hot weather, a trait that makes it a valued fabric for both apparel and household textiles.
Other synthetic fabrics mentioned include polyester and rayon, which have their own unique advantages. Polyester fabric is highly stain-resistant and utilized in a myriad of products from apparel to home furnishings and industrial applications, known for its durability and stain resistance.
Rayon, though not mentioned in detail, is a versatile fabric made from regenerated cellulose, offering a silk-like feel and often used in a blend with other fibers to create a variety of textiles. Each fabric brings a different texture and history to the quilts, symbolizing a mosaic of human experiences.