Many traditional country quilt makers offer soft and natural tea dye colors in their designs. The most common shades range from deep red to black to sage green and buttercup yellow. Coordinating sets will provide a look that ties well together, with the addition of ruffles, shams, Euro pillows, throws and valances. A country quilt is a special type of bedding, generally made of a quilt top over a layer of cotton or blended batting and a layer of fabric for the backing. The layers are attached together with a special sewing technique, traditionally done by hand, called quilting. An alternative to quilting is a technique called tying. Using this process, thread, ribbon or yarn is used to bind all three layers at various spots across the quilt surface.

The tying method ensures that all of the layers stay together if the quilt is to be used frequently and it also adds strength to the layers when the quilt is put in a washing machine. Tied quilts vary in name from area to area, and can also be called lap quilts, duvets, comforters, or duners. Quilts were originally made to be used as a bed covering; however, their beautiful decorative patterns have led people to display them on a wall, much like artwork. The tradition of making country quilts has been around for hundreds of years and the art is passed down from generation to generation. It's impossible to pinpoint exactly when and where quilting originated, quilting, or using small appliqués to decorate clothing and bedding and other home furnishings in ancient cultures, including China and Egypt. The oldest known form of quilting was found on an Egyptian ivory figure of a Pharaoh that is dated as being from 3400 B.C. In the 1400's, the frigid winters in Europe led people to develop their quilt making skills as a way to keep warm in drafty homes. The early country quilts were made with several layers of different cloth that were attached with running stitches.

As sewing through the thick layers of fabric was a difficult task, the quilting frame was soon invented. This advancement allowed quilters to create much finer and more intricate designs. In France, the appliqué method became popular and in Italy, the Trapunto style emerged. European settlers brought with them their years of quilting skills as they faced their first American winters. In the United States, the 1800's were the peak of the age of quilting. At this time, it was common to see all of the women in a town gathering for quilting bees. Working together with their deft hands, the bees would allow them to make an entire quilt or even two quilts in just one afternoon! These country quilting bees brought people together, and gave women an opportunity to socialize while still accomplishing a useful and much need task.