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Quilts and comforters were also very common and valued possessions on the Trail. Quilting was a social activity that brought women together. It was a time for socializing and a time for work. Quilting in groups allowed women to accomplish a large task quickly, then to reciprocate the help. This type of work was a distinction of rural life and was a valued activity. It was also a task distinctly for women, and was an important skill for young girls to learn.

Quilting also brought out a sense of competition in women, and although they were not violent, many verbal arguments developed amongst the participants. At the end of it all, they drank tea and completed their day with a meal, and all usually departed in good spirits.

Young, unmarried girls often quilted and ate together, then ended their days with the arrival of young men and dancing or games. Finished quilts were often artistic masterpieces that adorned a bed, as well as illustrated the skill and craft of the women who took part in the quilt's creation. Utility quilts were the exception, because they were pieced together for warmth instead of artistic decoration. Friendship quilts were common among some circles of New England women. Many women stitched quilts together along the Trail, or before they left home. Quilts were reflections of a woman's skills, experiences, memories and creativity.