By the late 19th century, hand-crank and treadle machines were found in many Canadian homes, enabling quilters to experiment with new styles and techniques. The ability to sew precise stitches quickly meant that crazy quilts, popular during the Victorian era, could be adorned with intricate embroidery and luxurious fabrics, repurposing scraps of silk, velvet, and brocade into stunning works of art.

Despite advances in technology—including today’s computerized sewing machines—the core traditions of quilting remain unchanged. Quilters continue to create signature, memory, and friendship quilts for many of the same reasons as they did 150 years ago—to celebrate milestones, preserve history, and strengthen community bonds.

While early quilt patterns often carried meanings tied to nature, politics, religion, friendship, and hardship, many of these symbols have faded from common knowledge. Yet, the same classic designs are still used today, repurposed in modern quilting to reflect personal stories and the world around us.