Spending time with our country friends, I first learned about the making and use of classic quilts.
Older Czech ladies, including our hostess, Grandma Masar, would gather on the back porch for an afternoon of quilting. It was as much a social event as a working endeavor.
I always watched with curiosity as they deftly applied their needle crafting skills while making a few jokes in their native language and then cackling with delight.
When I went to bed on cold winter nights in that drafty old house, those heavy quilts made it difficult to move, but they certainly did a good job of keeping little toes toasty.
I never really minded any of the inconveniences much. The whole experience was an adventure.
Leafing through a book I received recently, my mind wandered back to those good times and the beautifully hand stitched quilts that went along with them. I realize now that many of the quilts I saw and used in that house were already very old and collectible, even though that was about 30 years ago.
Whether you're an avid quilter yourself, a collector of antique textiles or someone just wanting to identify a few family heirlooms, American Quilt Classics by Patricia Cox for Martingale & Company should be high on your wish list for the upcoming holiday season.
This hardcover book features a multitude of full-color antique quilt photos from the author's collection. All the favorites are present along with a few clever quilt patterns you've probably never even seen before.
Dating as far back to the mid-1800s, the vintage quilts in this welcoming guide are a true treat to view. The colorful fabrics, including feed sack examples, leap right off the page. The craftsmanship and care that went into creating them shines through as well.
Along with the patchwork textiles in the familiar log cabin tradition, which are formed with scraps of fabric, you'll get a taste of some artfully designed appliquéd quilts. From roses to butterflies and even “Sunbonnet Sue,” a multitude of motifs come to life through this manuscript.
You'll also learn about kit quilts, which were popular very popular during the 1920s and 1930s and continued to be sold through the 1960s. Since they were peddled by mail order, quilts fashioned from these kits can be found all around the country.
Kit quilts were convenient. They came with the appliqué designs preprinted on the background fabric. They didn't lack style and color though. These fabric treasures were fashioned with as much skill as their freehand counterparts.
Of course, a book of this nature wouldn't be complete without a spot for crazy quilts.
This type of quilt was produced during the Victorian era from fine fabrics such as silks and velvets. They often have a very haphazard pattern to them, making them look somewhat “crazy.” But close inspection usually reveals wonderful embroidered handwork and elements of organization not readily noticed at first glance.
Some of the finest crazy quilts made featured Victorian motifs such as good luck charms and they usually have the date included somewhere in the pattern. These have been widely collected for years and rarely come on the market for sale now.
Never fear though. If you're the crafty type, or know someone who is, there's a side benefit to owning this book. If you can't find the quilt of your dreams offered for sale, just make your own.
Since the author is not only an avid collector, but also a quilter, she includes patterns and instructions for making modified versions of some of the most popular quilts in the book.
Who knows, if you get busy now perhaps you can have your own handcrafted quilt ready for snuggling by the time the first blast of frigid winter air blows in your direction.
Book cover photo by Pamela Wiggins
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