Re: ISO Quilt Block History Book

Pauline wrote:
Hi all,

I am volunteering (along with other Guild members) one day a week at a local gallery to help prepare antique quilts & buttons for an exhibit that opens on Sept. 14th in Walnut Creek, CA. http://www.bedfordgallery.org/upcoming.htm NAYY! The curator of the gallery has asked if there are any books that we would recommend that chronicle the history of blocks, etc. Here is her request:

I am writing with hopes that you can help me. I would be grateful for your recommendations of books that provide descriptions of various quilt patterns. I'm interested in historical information, or course, but also the "back-story" -- antidotal, popular cultural myths, etc.

The only book I have is the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns - compiled by Barbara Brackman, but it doesn't give any history at all. I did go to amazon.com & found several books, but I thought I'd go to the experts & see if there are any "standout" books that any of the RCTQ members would recommend.


_The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders_ by Jinny Beyer gives the
year that a particular block appeared in print and which magazine or
newspaper it appeared in. It's not as complete as Brackman's
Encyclopedia, but it's nicely illustrated and gives a little more
information.


Still, it's not what you're looking for. I asked a similar question
several years ago and never found the book I wanted. I wanted something that would give me the quilt block, mention an antique quilt or two that used the block, tell me when it first appeared in print, illustrate it, and tell an anecdote about it. (I love the idea of an antidote to quilt patterns. Abstract tension, anyone?)


The best I can figure is that the only way to go is to work backwards. Start with the antique quilt. There should be information on them at museum sites. Or start with the mention of the quilt in old letters and diaries. Then gather the information about the blocks, patterns, and stories from there.


One of the things I discovered is that there's no single history to any of the familiar patterns. A block can go by many different names. It may have been invented or designed by many quilters in different places. An illustrative story may be told, then refuted.


--Lia

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