HOMEHeirloom Quilts
Heirloom quilts are another item that you see passed from generation to generation. What once was made out of necessity and used until they fell apart are now becoming cherished keepsakes and collectibles for some. With modern technology playing a role in the household women don't have to sew out of necessity any more. Their homes are heated well so the days of layers of quilts adorning beds are long gone. The quilts that are handed down now from generation to generation are beautifully handcrafted and have more than likely been made for beauty rather than need. Here some examples of heirlooms that you can find today..
Crazy Quilts
Crazyquilts are of Victorian times that are not made like other quilts. There are no quilting stitches or batting used in these quilts. All sorts of materials were incorporated into these quilts with embroidered embellishments. Randomly placed pieces of material were sewn together into crazy designs to make unique coverlets. There was no planned design like most quilts so you would never find two quilts alike. There wasn't designs to hand down from generation to generation as in most quilts. Instead women would use small pieces of material that they saved from worn clothing to incorporate into their quilts. Linen, wool, chintes and calicoes were the most commonly used. These quilts typically wouldn't survive long enough to be used as heirlooms. As times got better, however, women were able to purchase materials for the sole purpose of making wonderful works of art. These have been handed down as treasured heirlooms from generation to generation. Women would practice their fancy needlework skills on these types of quilts until they mastered their craft. At this time they would produce a "masterpiece". This would have been made from silks, velvets and other fine materials.Redwork Quilting
Redwork quilting consists of both needlework and quilting. Red stitches used of thread that was dyed by a natural dye called "turkey red" was used to outline designs on a white or off white background. "Penny Squares" which were white cotton squares with a stamp on it could be purchased for a penny along with a skein of floss that cost a penny. This was most popular in the late 19th century in America. Today hundreds of vintage designs are being reproduced. It is said to have started in England at the Royal School of Art Needlework in Kensington. Typical stitches used were the backstitch, colonial knots and the stem stitch. As more colors of thread became available the name would change. If a woman used the color purple she would call it purplework.Baltimore Album and Signature Quilts
These quilts originated in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1840s. Each block is appliqued with a different design usually of florals, but might also include eagles or landmarks. They were made with new fabrics to reflect the prosperous community. Poetry, sayings or the signature of the block maker could be found on each block. These were made for certain occasions by many women who made a block to incorporate into one quilt. Today these quilts are also known as friendship quilts. If a friend or family member was moving a quilt would be made to give to them as a remembrance of the loved ones at home. They were also given for marriage as a wedding gift. "Freedom" quilts as they were called, were given to men upon their 21st birthday. This was to help signify their reaching of majority and that he was ready to leave his family and become and independent man.Pieced Quilts
Quilt blocks can be considered heirlooms in that the same designs are being made today. Some of the most popular blocks are the Log cabin, Flying geese, Bear's paw, Mariner's compass, Irish chain, monkey wrench and the Wedding ring to name a few. You might find the same block has a different name but the design is still the same. Before quilt blocks were put out in print women would name a block anything that she wanted to. So if one woman in one part of the country made a quilt block and at the same time another woman from another part of the country made a block they might name their blocks the same name. You can find quilt blocks at estate sales in which you might believe that they were being made to be put into the same quilt. When in all actuality some women would sew a block to keep as a template for the future.
by Harriet Hargrave
Amazon Price: $19.77
Customer Review: If you seriously wish to learn machine quilting - on your own sewing machine! - read this book. Harriet Hargrave is THE expert in this field. She machiue quilted long before machine quilting was an acceptable art. She explains how to machine quilt with your current sewing machine, which is how she has always done it - on her regular sewing machine. No need for the expensive machines on the market today. It is not a magic bullet. You MUST practice.
by Joanie Zeier Poole
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Customer Review: Easy to follow directions and good illustrations help make this book a good tool for those who already have some experience with machine quilting. It is not a "primer" for those who are at the novice stages of machine quilting. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will certainly have a place for it in my quilting books library, but it will take a bit more time for it to have any practical use for me.
It was exciting to see all of the heirloom quality projects that are possible with m...
by Pauline Ineson
Amazon Price: $20.51
by Cathy Marie Hake, Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Gina Fields
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Customer Review: This is a series of stories about an antique wedding dress and chest. It also is about family and love. The book begins with Charity Davis, a recently orphaned lady on the Oregon Trail. Circumnstances have her joining wagons with Ethan Cole and his two kids who are motherless. ( Not to mention Ethan is wifeless due to her tragic death)Faith in God leads her to getting the thouandth button on her button string, given to her by her soon to be husband. Faith Cole thinks she has no hope of wearing h...
by Harriet Hargrave
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Customer Review: I am so, so happy that I purchased this book. I learned about it from a quilting board forum and I went searching for it on ebay and amazon. I found a used copy that was in real good condition on Amazon for 80 cents + 3.75 shipping. When I received the book I do believe I got a brand new copy because some of the pages were still somewhat stuck together at the spiral binding and it smelled new. Anyway, this book is chuck full of excellent information about machine quilting. If anyone is thinking ...
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Customer Review: My mom purchased this as a gift. After some of the negative reviews, we decided to assemble it immediately so we could see if there were any problems. The grooves on one end of one post were a little shallower than the other ends, but not too bad; and the directions are in very tiny print. But overall, it was easy to assemble, and very solid once we assembled it. Mom liked it so well, we're ordering one for her.
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Customer Review: Thermore batts are excellent, thin and easy to use, hand or machine quilting show well. Though I use cotton and wool batts, Thermore is my choice for clothing as it maintains a very good drape and replaces interfacing in quilted collars and cuffs, and for baby quilts that get more frequent laundering because polyester batts take a less time in the dryer.
Hancocks of Paducah had great prices and they were very efficient in delivery...
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American Heirloom