USA Quilt History

An American Tail

Talking about USA quilt history is Jean Burks the Senior Curator at Shelburne Museum in Vermont. The museum was founded by collector and connoisseur Electra Havemeyer Webb and is home to one of America's world renowned quilt collections. It houses 450 quilts spanning three centuries representing both functional and creative quilts.

Historically the art of the needle in making quilts involves piecing together 3 layers of fabric. A top layer, a bottom layer and a filling inbetween that is literally sewn together or quilted.

The quilts on display are either pieced, appliqued or embroidered. These are also the most common techniques still used by quilters today.

These quilts have been an important part of interior decoration from the 17th century on. Today when decorating our homes we are inspired by color, design, texture and history. Quilts appeal to our sense of timelessness, nostalgia and in the way they link us to our history.

Dorinda Evans talks about the history of traditional and contemporary quilting in America. She shares a range of quilts and how they were made over this time. Her story is in 2 parts below.

If you are looking to make a replica of an American quilt then go to Case Study of Sergeant Fords Quilt and read how Beth mcCrystal created a replica of an 1850's quilt. This article shows the reseach, fabric selection, quilting technique and collegues feedback that was required to accomplish this task. Her finished quilt is now on display in the Howick Historical Village in Auckland, New Zealand.

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