“A Brief History of the ‘Feedsack'” by the late Jane Clark Stapel. The founder of the Feedsack Club provides some historical background on this American phenomenon. Feedsacks fed a nation and clothed it, too. Learn how feedbags went from practical necessity to beloved quilting fabric in American history.
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.
“The Civil War Quilt,” Diane and Jim Lockwood embark on an adventure when they purchase an old Georgia quilt. A thrift shop crazy quilt made from Civil War uniforms leads one couple on a journey through history, battlefields, and a Georgia family’s secrets.
Cleaning your Antique Quilt including a Stain Removal Guide. This guide walks you through safe, proven methods for cleaning antique quilts. Learn how to test for bleeding dyes, choose the right mild soap, handle stubborn stains with sodium perborate, and avoid common mistakes that can permanently damage fragile fabrics. These practical tips help you protect an original piece of American history.
Conservation Resources Find suppliers for antique quilt conservation materials, archival storage, and a professional conservator referral service. Includes a link to the PDFPreserving Historic Quilts
Dear Jane – the 225 patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle quilt.
The Library of Congress. Enter “quilt” in the search engine and a great many images and articles will be returned, including WPA interviews with quilters during the Depression.
Quilt Care – Practical Tips for the Use and Enjoyment of Antique Quilts. Learn how to safely display, clean, store, and document antique quilts to preserve their beauty and history for years.
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.
Southern Quilting — One hundred fifty years of a shared tradition. This historical study of quilting in the south was put on the web by Jamie Leigh, an undergraduate in the American Studies Program at the University of Virginia.
The Influence of 19th century women’s lives on textiles – Discover how the daily lives of 19th century American women shaped the textiles and quilts they made. From the heavy, restrictive clothing women wore at the start of the century to the explosion of decorative needlework that followed the invention of the sewing machine, this article traces the connections between women’s work, women’s rights, and the fabrics they created. Learn how economic hardship, the Civil War, and changing social expectations influenced quilt styles, color choices, and construction methods. Part of an ongoing series on the history of American quilting.
Threading your Research Needle; Research Methods for Quilt & Textile Researchers; 9 Steps for Getting Started to Finishing; and Online & Print Resources for Researching
http://www.womenfolk.com/historyofquilts/ and Patches From the Past Explore the history of quilts and the women who created them through links to pictures and brief articles. Very good for beginning quilt history enthusiasts, as well as classroom study. Enjoyable for everyone. Written by Anne Johnson