A People and Their Quilts

by John Rice Irwin

Quilts are a reflection of the people who make, use, and cherish them through the years. John Rice Irwin has personally conducted interviews with hundreds of old-time quiltmakers, some of whom were over one hundred years old. Detailed photographs taken by Pulitzer Prize winner Robin Hood depict an opulent conglomeration of quilts, from the community quilt which became known as the Murder Quilt.

More importantly, Irwin looks under the quilts, at the lives of the people who created and used them. He explores their ambitions and aspirations, their struggles and disappointments. From the young ladies of Salem Valley who pieced a quilt for the town's most eligible bachelor in the hope that one of them would sleep under it, to the retired physician who began quilting in his late sixties to fill his spare time, Irwin presents their stories with compassion and candor.

This lavishly illustrated volume is a treasure trove of creative needlework, colorful anecdotes, and intriguing personal histories which will entertain readers of all ages.

Genres: Quilting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Sewing

214 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[Liz Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own this book and have read it 3 times. I love the stories that have been gathered by the writer and the quilts are lovely. Learning the history of not only the quilts, but of the quilters is beautiful.

[Nann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quilt history book written published in 1984 is historical itself. John Rice Irwin's interviews of the women (and some men) of eastern Tennessee and Kentucky are wonderful. That was his home, those were his roots, and he had family ties to many. Many of the interviewees were born in the 19th century, a few more in the early 20th -- not until the final chapter does he talk to the younger generation, who were born in the 1930's and 40's. Though the quilt revival was well underway at the time he documents traditional techniques -- frames suspended from the ceiling, templates made from cardboard, cutting with scissors. No one mentioned machine-piecing but most likely it was rare among these quiltmakers, and certainly all the quilting was by hand. A treasure!

[Natasha Friegang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, some nice photos of antique quilts.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful history of quilts!

[Candy]

I am setting this aside for a little while and will come back to it. June 17, 2016
Back to this again 7-8-16.