Identify & Date Quilts

A brief essay on dating antique quilts by Kris Driessen

A Short Introduction to Quilting in Europe by Lady Sarah Davies. Quilting is older than you think. Discover how it traveled from ancient Asia through medieval Europe long before American patchwork came along.

Arch Quilts: What they are and how to spot them
Arch quilts were imported from China in the 1980s and 90s — and now show up mislabeled as antiques. Learn how to identify them.

Early Use of Natural Dyes in Textiles

The History of the Cotton Gin and it’s Impact on Textiles

Old and newer textiles defined in the Oxford English dictionary. Compiled by Patrick Leech

The Smithsonian Quilt Controversy
In 1992, Smithsonian-licensed quilt reproductions made in China sparked a nationwide protest. Learn what happened and why it still matters to quilters today.

Top Ten Titles for Antique Quilt Study – A compilation of the favorite books from noted quilt historians

I am still working on retrieving information from the old site. These articles are coming soon:
Dating quilts by fabric (prints, dyes, fiber content)
Dating by construction techniques (hand vs machine quilting)
Pattern identification (Brackman numbers, pattern lineage)
Regional naming differences in blocks
Common dating myths (and why they won’t die)