"maker of quilts," late 13c. (late 12c. as a surname); agent noun from quilt (v.).
Entries linking to quilter
quilt v.
1550s, "to stuff or interline in the manner of a quilt; to stitch together in the manner of a quilt," from quilt (n.). Related: Quilted; quilting. Quilting bee, "a social gathering of women for the purpose of assisting one of their number in quilting a counterpane," usually followed by a supper or other entertainment, is attested from 1824, originally a New England custom (see bee).