Jun

11

Great article on Baltimore Album history

Filed Under Articles, Baltimore Album, Designers, Hand appliqué, History, Needleturn | Leave a Comment

The International Quilt Association puts out a quarterly journal for its members. In the latest issue there’s a fabulous article by Rhianna White called Quilting 101: Baltimore Album Quilts.

It’s a great lesson in the origin and history of the popular appliqué art form, and if you’re interested in the history of appliqué you’ll love this article. Renowned experts Elly Sienkiewicz and Mimi Dietrich contribute to the information.

Very generously, the IQA puts this journal up on its website in pdf form for all to download and enjoy. Go to quilts.org, click to enter, then look in the left sidebar for “IQA Journal.”

Until next time,
Kay

Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs

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Nov

7

History of appliqué

Filed Under Books, History | Leave a Comment

I’ve noticed that quilters have been finding this site by searching for information about the history of appliqué. In 1993, esteemed author and quilt historian Barbara Brackman wrote an invaluable resource guide called Encyclopedia of Appliqué: An Illustrated, Numerical Index to Traditional and Modern Patterns.

The first chapter, “The Rise of the Conventional Appliqué Technique,” gives an overview of the history of American appliqué from its beginnings in the broderie perse method to what we know as appliqué today. Then, Barbara shares her years of extensive research into appliqué patterns with hundreds of hand-drawn thumbnails and information on the origins of the patterns.

You won’t find patterns ready to use in this book. It’s just what it says, an index. The compendium of patterns is indexed by class of design rather than by name, so that you can find a pattern without knowing its name. It’s all very organized and well thought out, and in my estimation an astounding achievement and contribution to the world of quilting.

Sadly, this book is now out of print, but you can still find copies here and there. So keep an eye out for it, or do some internet searching.

Until next time,
Kay

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Oct

5

A nod to history

Filed Under Freezer paper on the back, Hand appliqué, History, Prepared edge | 2 Comments

My appliqué friend Pam Crooks is a member of the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG), a national organization devoted to quilt-related studies, especially the history of quilts, the women and men who made them, and the fabrics they used.

A couple of nights ago, Pam spread her AQSG study quilt out on the floor for show and tell. Oooh!


AQSG does a "quilt sudy" every other year based on a particular focus. The current study is of red and green quilts of the mid 19th century. Members wishing to participate look into the historic styles of the designated era and create a new quilt paying homage to that time, sometimes to a particular quilt.

For this study, Pam found inspiration from a quilt in the book "Minnesota Quilts: Creating Connections with Our Past" from the Minnesota Quilt Project. She used a prepared-edge technique with the fabric basted over freezer-paper templates on the back (see my photo tutorial), and hand-appliquéd them in place.


The completed study quilts tour for two years to various quilt shows and museums. For more information on the AQSG, please visit their site.


Pam is an appliqué artiste extraordinaire, oui?

Until next time,
Kay

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