Editing Quilt (section)

====India: Kantha, Ralli, and Balaposh — the unquilted scented quilt====
[[File:Sindhi appliqued quilt.jpg|thumb|Sindhi appliqued quilt]]
Women in the Indus Region of the Indian subcontinent make beautiful quilts with bright colors and bold patterns. The quilts are called "[[Ralli quilt|Ralli]]" (or rilli, rilly, rallee, or rehli) derived from the local word "ralanna" meaning to mix or connect. Rallis are made in the southern provinces of [[Pakistan]] including [[Sindh]], [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Baluchistan]], and in the [[Cholistan Desert]] on the southern border of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], as well as in the adjoining states of [[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]] in India. In India [[Kantha]] originated from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''kontha'', which means rags, as the blankets are made out of rags<ref>{{cite book |last=Zaman |first=Niaz |date=1993 |title=The Art of Kantha Embroidery |edition=Second Revised |location=Dhaka |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-984-05-1228-7 |page=36}}</ref> using different scrap pieces of cloth. [[Nakshi kantha]] consisting of a running (embroidery) stitch, similar to the Japanese [[Sashiko]] is used for decorating and reinforcing the cloth and sewing patterns. Katab work called in [[Kutch district|Kutch]]. It is popularly known as Koudhi in Karnataka. Such blankets are given as gifts to newborn babies in many parts of India. [[Lambani]] tribes wear skirts with such art. Muslim and Hindu women from a variety of tribes and castes in towns, villages, and also nomadic settings make rallis. Quiltmaking is an old tradition in the region perhaps dating back to the fourth millennium BC, judging by similar patterns found on ancient pottery. Jaipuri [[razai]] (quilt) is one of the most famous things in Jaipur because of the traditional art and process of making it. Jaipuri razai is printed by the process of Screen printing or block printing which are both handmade processes carried out by the local artisans of Jaipur, Sanganer, and Bagru. Jaipuri quilts are designed to keep you warm during winters without irritating your skin. By including elements of traditional art in your modern living spaces, you can preserve the essence of Indian culture wherever you live.

Rallis are commonly used as a covering for wooden sleeping cots, as a floor covering, storage bag, or padding for workers or animals. In the villages, ralli quilts are an important part of a girl's dowry. Owning many ralli quilts is a measure of wealth. Parents present rallis to their daughters on their wedding day as a dowry.

Rallis are made from scraps of cotton fabric dyed to the desired color. The most common colors are white, black, red, and yellow or orange with green, dark blue, or purple. For the bottoms of the rallis, the women use old pieces of [[tie-dye]], [[ajrak]], or other shawl fabric. Ralli quilts have a few layers of worn fabric or cotton fibers between the top and bottom layers. The layers are held together by thick colored thread stitched in straight lines. The women sit on the ground and do not use a quilting frame. Another kind of ralli quilt is the ''sami ralli'', used by the [[samis]] and [[Jogi (caste)|jogis]]. This type of ralli quilt is popular due to the many colors and the extensive hand-stitching employed in its construction.

The number of patterns used on ralli quilts seems to be almost endless, as there is much individual expression and spontaneity in color within the traditional patterns. The three basic styles of rallis are: 1) [[patchwork quilt]]s made from pieces of cloth torn into squares and triangles and then stitched together,
2) [[appliqué]] quilts made from intricate cut-out patterns in a variety of shapes, and
3) [[Embroidery|embroidered]] quilts where the embroidery stitches form patterns on solid colored fabric.

A distinguishing feature of ralli patterning in patchwork and appliqué quilts is the diagonal placement of similar blocks as well as a variety of embellishments including mirrors, tassels, shells, and embroidery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ishraqi.com/betav1/ralli-quilt-history/|title=History of Ralli Quilt|access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref>

Rural women in the Uttara Kannada region of India carry out traditional quilting practices that are interwoven with rituals around food availability and access. Primarily made in Yadgir, Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Angadibail and Haliyal, ''Kavudi''s are handmade patchwork quilts with around multiple layers including the batting or insulation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=An entry into the quilt universe |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/an-entry-into-the-quilt-universe-1139134.html |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>