The Quilt That Walked to Golden: Women and Quilts in the Mountain West - From the Overland Trail to Contemporary Colorado

by Sandra Dallas, Nanette Simonds, Povy Kendal Atchison (Photographer)

Drawing its inspiration from letters, journals, and—most importantly—quilts, this engaging account chronicles the history of the women who settled the town of Golden, Colorado, over the course of two centuries. Laced with true stories drawn from American quilting history, the narrative follows the transformation of the shanty mining village into a thriving community, moving through the Depression and up to the present day. Throughout the decades, the art of quilting provides a window into the lives of these women, their successes, and their sorrows. With more than 70 photographs and four vintage quilt patterns, this unique saga is a treasure for historians and quilters alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Quilting, History, Reference, Crafts, Historical

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Award-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.

A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff member for twenty-five years (and the magazine’s first female bureau chief,) she covered the Rocky Mountain region, writing about everything from penny-stock scandals to hard-rock mining, western energy development to contemporary polygamy. Many of her experiences have been incorporated into her novels.

While a reporter, she began writing the first of ten nonfiction books. They include Sacred Paint, which won the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Wrangler Award, and The Quilt That Walked to Golden, recipient of the Independent Publishers Assn. Benjamin Franklin Award.

Turning to fiction in 1990, Sandra has published eight novels, including Prayers For Sale. Sandra is the recipient of the Women Writing the West Willa Award for New Mercies, and two-time winner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award, for The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. In addition, she was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, the Mountain and Plains Booksellers Assn. Award, and a four-time finalist for the Women Writing the West Willa Award.

The mother of two daughters—Dana is an attorney in New Orleans and Povy is a photographer in Golden, Colorado—Sandra lives in Denver with her husband, Bob.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/sandra...

Reviews

[Jean Carlton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard for me to give less than 3 stars to any book about quilts and quilt history. I love it all but this one is a bit of a lightweight when one compared to others in the genre. The title led me to believe there was going to be more of a story about a specific quilt. Instead, that reference is barely mentioned. The book covers a variety of interesting but pretty common stories, nice photos, but nothing in depth. The concept of homemade dye made by soaking crepe paper in hot water was new to me. It focuses on stories of those migrating west to that general area of the country. It includes the stories of notables in the field such as Bonnie Leman (Quilters Newsletter Magazine) and Eugenia Mitchell, brief mention of the Colorado quilt documentation project (mid-1980's 9,500 quilts documented by 2004) and a three page section on The Rocky Mountain Wa Shonaiji Quilt Guild, an African America group which is open to all.
These statements puzzle me:
1. "Quilters who emerged after Colorado's mid-century quilt hiatus, for the most part, were consistently better quilters than their mothers and grandmothers."
2. (referring to women in the last quarter of the 20th century) " ... introduced a standard of creativity and workmanship never before seen in American quilting."
Wow. Really? I will share these statements with my fellow quilt scholars for analysis and discussion!
Four patterns are included at the end.
["Colorado Quilting; From Mountains to Plains" is the title of the state quilt documentation book.]

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing story about pioneer women and the quilts they made. What a rich history! And the quilt pictures are beautiful

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Dallas writes top-notch fiction. I had no idea she also had a nonfiction book about quilting in Colorado. Starting with the discovery of gold some seventy miles south of Pikes Peak up to 2003 or so
this book contains histories of quilts and quilting. The book contains stories of prairie women’s accomplishments, the resurgence of quilting in the U.S., and simply amazing topics. I learned about how cowboys and other working men slept with rough, short quilts. I read about quilts discovered in a brothel, about several quilt patterns, about men who quilt, about quilting organizations and some personalities who were notable in their time.

The lives of some of the quilters were touching. Others were just plain fun to read. I kept interrupting my husband’s reading to read passages that made me laugh or think.

The photographs in the book are fascinating. I read every inscription. There are four quilt patterns included in the book. However what seemed most valuable to me was the repeated knowledge that women who were blessed to have other women to gather with found happiness from time they were able to sew together. Those who couldn’t get together with others found solace from the art of making something that would comfort someone, even themselves.

This book is a treasure. Too bad I found it in the library and can’t keep it. It’s about 20 years old but I will be looking for a copy.

[Rita Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved "The Quilt That Walked to Golden" by Sandra Dallas. If you love old pictures & old quilts, you will love this book. It had sad stories and funny stories. If you like history you will also love this book.
I loved the four quilt patterns in the back as well! My friend and I go to Golden often to buy fabric for quilts at the quilt store there so it had special meaning to me. Thanks Kathy for the good read. Charming book all around.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4

Quilting on the Plains ... or something like that would have been a more accurate title. The Quilt That Walked ... is mentioned only in the introduction.

The pictures brought the book to life -- there are pictures of quilts, and pictures of people, and pictures with both quilts and people.

I appreciated the many book titles that are mentioned or referenced, ... especially since I've read so many of them, but hadn't paid much attention to quilts. From now on, as I read, I'll note books that reference quilts and quilters. There's another author that should have been included -- Ralph Moody. He credits his mother with keeping the family together after the death of his father. And her needle played an important role. Their ranch was in the vicinity of Littleton, Colorado, which meshes well with this book.

While reading, I had to acknowledge how much I don't know how to do -- I can't make thread, spin, weave, dye, make lace, tat, ... why, I can barely crochet!

The last third of the book was of less interest since it focuses on 'modern' quilts and quilters.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Dallas covers the stories of pioneer and Gold Rush days women who homesteaded and took care of cooking, laundry, cleaning and children and still managed to find time to quilt. She tells of hardships, death, walking across the prairie for the promise of a better life and then the arrivals to Colorado and then the progress of women as modernization took place and women began quilting for friendship and expression of their artistic views of life.

[Nancy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about the history of quilts in Colorado and stories of pioneer women and their sewing groups. Crocheting curtains using the strings saves from groceries emphasized the creative frugality I gained a deeper appreciation for the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum and await the opening of its expansion. I hope many of the historical quilts described in the book will be on display.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the history of quilting, quilters and women who lived in Colorado. The book covers the period from mid 1800's until 2003. It would have been nice if the book provided additional quilt patterns or block patterns.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It is a slow read, but I enjoyed taking my time with it and really absorbing all the information. What a labor of love to dig into all the research involved.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting overview about quilts & Colorado, but also about the traditions of quilting & how the craft evolved. Filled with lots of historical photographs, it was fun for the eye.

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book to begin my quilting history study along with women's history journey.
I pick it up again and again, read about the woman who began the quilt museum in Golden CO
I have a hard copy, gently used,...full of beautiful photographs.
Now I must go to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Sandra Dallas did a great job blending
folk tales with real history of the American West."westering" What a fabulous surprise to find
even Mary Hallock Foote included in the prose! She is immortalized in my favorite novel
"Angle of Repose" Wallace Stegner, whom I learned much about after finding the house she built with her husband in Grass Valley.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part history, part memoir, this book is authored by Sandra Dallas who also wrote [The Persian Pickle Club] and others.

Having absolutely no spirit of adventure, I always marvel at our early American pioneers. The message of these womens' undaunting courage is conveyed in the text of this book and we share in their ability to enjoy some parts of their lives and add to the beauty of their surroundings as we view photos of their quilts.

[JayeL]

In the first bit of this book, one thing the author says is how little we know about women who walked across the country towards the west. I think that will be rue when historians look back at our time since people no longer keep diaries. Yes, they keep blogs, which will help those historians, but I wonder if it is the same.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It really made me think about the hardships that our pioneer ancestors endured. There are so many things about my life that I take for granted--store bought fabric, needles, thread, running water, a comfortable home.
The stories about women and their quilt making were enlightening.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have kinda gone on a Sandra Dallas kick this month. I really like her writing. It is thoughtful and the characters are easy to relate to. I also like that most of her books take place in "the olden times".

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a heck of a lot more interesting if I was a quilter. As I am NOT, it was just okay. I thought it was sort of randomly put together - very choppy. An interesting little look at history - I ended up just skimming through much of it.

[Ratforce]

Since you enjoy both history and quilting, be sure to check out Sandra Dallas’ The Quilt That Walked to Golden . This book offers a fascinating glimpse into pioneer life, especially women’s lives, and the many ways that quilting was important in the new West.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A walk through pioneer to modern history of women making quilts. SD notes many well-known quilt patterns and gives a historical review of quilting methods, styles and quilters. She explains how quilting moved from utilitarian bedcovers to works of art & history.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories about the quilts were fascinating, especially how they changed over time. It would have been nice if pictures of the patterns discussed were included for those of us who are largely unfamiliar with the subject. Even just small patterns at the back would have been helpful.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this from the library to see if it would be an interesting book for my quilting mother. I'm going to get it for her. Great pictures, and Colorado History.

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you are not into quilts this is an great book about amazing women and families and sacrifice. If you are into quilts, this book will blow your mind!

[Barb Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excerpts on my blog: http://woofnanny.blogspot.com/2006/06...

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Women and quilts in the developing west.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reall enjoyed this book. For anyone who enjoys quilting and then enjoys history. This tells the history of western women and the quilts that they made, specifically women who settled in Colorado.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful reference book. Very inspiring.

[Margo Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really nice book. Having recently moved to Colorado, I enjoyed the insights into the history of Colorado and quilting in the state. The photographs were fantastic and it was easy to read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and the tales of strong women.

[Dawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting nonfiction. Always enjoy quilts!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and great pictures of quilts.

[Angela Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about the history of quilts in the Colorado area and the women who made them!