The statement bed quilts are significant might seem random and out of place. That is, however, a substantial undermining of the situation. The explanation becomes easier to believe where there are statistics involved because numbers never lie, or as the saying goes. In large parts of the world, the temperature range can be quite extensive throughout the year, from hot summers to cold winters.
Australia’s tally of extreme temperatures dips to about -10.6 Celsius in Queensland. A low temperature is tough to withstand. That is precisely why one needs to prepare for the winter as well. Summer is generally viewed as something better. While one might plan about beach trips and lemonade when thinking about summer, one must also prepare for the worst temperatures that Australia reaches during its cold winters.
To prepare, one must know about the various ways of shielding from the cold; bedding. Understanding all different types of bedding will add to why quilts are indeed meaningful, perhaps better as that statement says.
What Makes a Quilt Better?
What differentiates a bedsheet from a quilt is that a bedsheet is one sheer layer of cotton usually. It is used quite prevalently in tropical and Mediterranean regions as their temperatures mostly placate on the upper end. Their hot temperatures also need a breathable, simple, and thin fabric.
But in Australia, that is not the case. While there are lovely summers, bedsheets cannot be used at any other time of the year. Bed quilts, however, seem to work better. A quilt is thicker than a bedsheet as it is encompassed by more than one fabric layer. Quilts can have fabrics between 2 to 3 layers typically, but they can have more on-demand. The patchwork of quilts can be customised too. Having these many layers reinforces the material to make it thick but not stiff. A quilt, regardless of the number of layers, is still very mouldable to tuck in comfortably.
Coming to colder temperature regions, there are more options than just quilts. One expected contender is comforters. Comforters are also thick and voluminous, but the main difference with quilts is that quilts are layers of fabric stacked together. Still, comforters are two individual pieces of fabric sewn together with a generous stuffing of cotton. Some disadvantages of a comforter are that it can sometimes not be breathable. It can also be very pillow-like rather than thick thoroughly like the quilts.
Types of Quilts
- Cotton:
If one has picked a quilt as their final choice of bedding, they will be surprised to find more options within the quilts themselves. These range from materials such as synthetic quilts, velvet quilts and cotton quilts. The essential difference of all the bed quilts is only the top and bottom layer of the quilt, as that is the only layer exposed. Cotton, as described earlier, is very breathable and can even be used around spring and early summer.
- Synthetic:
On the other hand, synthetic quilts aren’t so breathable as they do not have many openings for air to pass through in their material. However, as synthetic is quite smooth, it would feel cooler in comparison to velvet. This is because velvet is a rich, almost fuzzy, material. Like synthetic quilts, they are not so breathable, but unlike synthetic quilts, velvet creates more heat and warmth, making it the perfect bed quilt for the winters of Australia.
To speak of quilts on a generic level does no good to the variety it holds within itself. They are not only very soft and comfortable bedding; they can be done by oneself too!. ‘Tuck in’ is a phrase that is heard so frequently, but it is never followed by a ‘how’ to tuck in. Quilts can be the beginning of figuring out ‘how to tuck in.
