While looking at vintage quilts last weekend in Kansas, I noticed that they some had little cloth tags sewn on them. One tag read, "Kansas Quilt Project, Friendship, 1916". It was indeed a friendship quilt, as it had many signatures embroidered on it.
I did a little research and found that in 1986, a group in Kansas set out to document all the vintage quilts they could find. They found 13,000 quilts in Kansas.
They published a book which tells about the history of quilting in that state, and they hope to make this info available on the internet, as other states have done.
This intrigued me. I am so thankful someone cares enough to document these works of art. I am proud to come from a strong stock of women who made quilts and did other wonderful handiwork like tatting. It is a rich part of my history and our country's history.
3 comments:
Hi friend! We found a friendship quilt at our house in Lowell when we first moved there and I think it was from 1916. My mom still has it and was thinking about donating it to the historical society. I would like to get some pictures of it and I'll share them with you if I do.
Happy Mothers Day!
Kate - I also loooove looking at old quilts. I have one that I think my great, great grandma (and there might be one other great in there - I need to find out) made. It is my favorite blanket in the house. I didn't use it for years until I realized that the woman who made it would probably think it was going to waste sitting in a closet. It is now the blanket that I cover up with when I sleep in E's bed and he covers up with it every night. So soft and cozy. Next time you're here we will show you!
I would love to see it, Julie!!
Post a Comment