Long before there was an international recycling moving, the tradition of quilting had taken on one of its key tenets. Women and men who made quilts were able to repurpose old clothing or remnant fabric in order to make bright, unmatched large squares for bedding. This was an especially useful technique during times of war when food, clothing and other essentials had to be rationed. Savvy seamstresses knew nothing, no matter how far it seemed beyond repair, was wasted. Every worn and torn garment could have a new purpose. The patchwork quilts at Linens-n-More honors this tradition with their wide array of bright patterns.

[Herringbone Square Quilt]

Priced from just above $100 up to about $390, this bedding is hand quilted and made of 100 percent cotton. One pattern that breaks with the usual color scheme is the Herringbone Square quilt made by Donna Sharp. The squares are gradients of a grayscale, and the quilt comes in king, queen and twin size varieties. Sharp’s quilt is staged in a room that continues the chromatic design. It pops against a white rug and is accessorized with black and white photography, black small furniture and large black and white art pieces strategically leaned against a distant wall. It is easy for any viewer to imagine the quilt draped cozily across his bed.

[Kettle Grove Quilt]

The eye-catching Kettle Grove Quilt provides a slightly different approach to patchwork design. The squares are small and uniform, and the alternating light and dark patterns help the lines look sharp. This variation on the design is a reminder that age-old traditions can always have some merit in modern times.