history of quilts
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At the age of 75, Trudy Schwader can only estimate her lifetime total of quilts. Somewhere around number 50 she began counting and taking pictures before giving them away. By now, her best guess - counting the baby quilts and the wedding quilts and the ones that were an experiment with color or style or pattern - her best guess is that she's made more than 130 quilts.
With that many to her credit, Trudy's quilting experience holds something useful to share with everyone from beginning quilters to lifetime veterans. So I decided to talk with Trudy and make a record of her quilting career. The result is a series of articles representing our conversations. The interviews piece together a little of the rich history that quilting holds, through one woman's story and memories - sharing some tips, insights, and favorite patterns...
[Question: What got you started with quilting?] Answer: My mother was a sewer, of course, and ever since I can remember, I liked sewing, too. I'd guess I was sewing at a young age, but I definitely remember sewing when I was 10. Mother had 13 children, and I was one of the youngest. I really noticed and liked her quilts because it was once the older kids were all grown up and gone that she made most of them.
[Question: You liked quilts and you liked sewing - the perfect match.] Answer: Oh yes. And I enjoy putting puzzles together. To me, putting quilts together is also like doing a puzzle.
[Question: So you always sewed and never were really a 'beginner.' But obviously, when you were a 10 year old, you didn't put together a big queen-sized patchwork quilt. What was your first big project once you started quilting on your own?] Answer: Well let's see. Some 50 years ago when I first was married and I didn't have any kids yet, I started making a quilt. I like roses, so I put roses in the quilt top that I made. Then I started to hand-quilt it, but by that time I had three children underfoot, and I was just too busy!
[Question: You started your first quilt when you were newly married, and then you had three children before you finished quilting it?] Answer: Yes, before I finished hand- quilting. I ended up just tying the rest of it, and because I had eight kids all together, I kept using that quilt. I noticed that the part that I had hand-quilted didn't wear out as quickly as the rest, so I realized I would never tie any future quilts. The problem with that was that I just never did enjoy doing the handwork. These days I don't usually hand-quilt. What I do is get my quilt-top ready and then let somebody else do the quilting by machine. What I enjoy about quilting is not the hand-work. I like working with the colors, putting a design together, and creating interesting patterns. To me, that's what's fun about quilting.
[Question: Do you still have your first quilt with the roses on it?] Answer: No, no, no, no. (laughs) That was so long ago and I needed it for the kids, and with children you have to wash things all the time. I used that quilt up till it was... gone. By then, I had made another and then another one. I'm still doing that.
Theresa Modine's articles on topics related to quilting and crafts are published in Quilt Box Newsletter, the quilter's favorite on-line letter. Be sure to refer to Theresa's complete archive of articles at: http://www.quiltbox.com
...Author: Theresa Modine
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Timely help for history of quilts
About Quilting You'll have fun with the wonky log cabin quilt block pattern. Make the blocks from structured fabrics if you like, or grab strings from your stash and go entirely scrappy. This quilt block is one of the easiest you'll ever make -- its patches do not have to be cut to exact sizes and its seams can vary -- angle the strips this way and that to increase the design's wonky appearance. Blocks in the photo were stitched to resemble a wonky version of one traditional log cabin layout -- the pattern includes tips to help you change the look. Follow About.com Quilting on Facebook Photo © Janet Wickell Wonky Log Cabin Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 07:45:55. Permalink | Comment | Email this Oriental Attic Windows Quilt Block Pattern I really like Asian themed fabrics, but sometimes I have a hard time visualizing blocks that fit the look. But I love this Oriental Attic Windows design. Each quilt block is made from three pieces of fabric -- and sewn together with only two seams. Yes, the block has a mitered corner, but the easy sewing method will erase any fears beginners might have about tackling miters. I promise, it's simple, and a really important skill to learn. Give it a try! Oriental Attic Windows Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 06:00:47. Permalink | Comment | Email this Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern The Domino quilt block finishes at 9" square, with small units that are a nice size for baby and toddler quilts, but perfectly fine for a bed-sized quilts, too. The Domino quilt block pattern includes instructions for making a single quilt block, for those of you who like to go scrappy, plus directions for 20-strip pieced Domino blocks. The 20 blocks can be used in the Domino baby quilt shown on page 4 of the pattern, or in another quilt of your own design. Before beginning, new quilters should make sure they're okay with sewing a quarter inch seam and with rotary cutting long strips of fabric. Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 06:00:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern Lost Ship is the ninth quilt block pattern for the Scrap Happy Sampler Quilt, but you can use it for any project. Two versions of the block are shown, one more scrappy than the other, but each variation helps you practice making half-square triangle units -- a good thing since those units are probably the most commonly used patchwork configuration. You might notice that the design is similar to the Rocky Glen quilt block -- the overall layout is basically the same, but Rocky Glen contains more half-square triangle units. Like other blocks in the sampler series, the Lost Ship quilt block finishes at 12-inches square. Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 07:50:44. Permalink | Comment | Email this Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts The 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilt gallery is up and running now, and illustrates the wide variety of layouts that quilters developed when designing their projects. The quilts in the gallery are a wonderful representation of the work that went into these projects, but there are many, many more quilts and quilt tops out there, and I'd love to feature them all in the gallery. Please email your photos to me at quilting.guide@about.com. Quilt by Neralie Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 06:00:59. Permalink | Comment | Email this Quilt Photo Gallery Updates I updated quite a few of our quilt galleries this weekend, and am now pretty much caught up (temporarily, as usual) with the photos you have submitted. Once again I do have forms without photos and photos without forms -- all of those go into a 'check these' folder until I can find time to write (mostly about missing photos). When you submit the form, please remember that it is a 2-step process -- photos must come to me by separate email. Galleries Updated Photo is Shattered, a quilt by Sewtherequilts in memory of her sister. Quilt Photo Gallery Updates originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 18:01:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern Flock of Geese is a traditional quilt block, but its name is a bit misleading. Take a look at the block and you'll see it does not include those popular flying geese units that we often use. Instead, the 'flocks' are made up of half-square triangle units, kind of like geese flying in formation. You can adjust the color value of your patches to make the block appear very different from mine, and you can choose a structured look or go very scrappy with the layout. The Flock of Geese block is fun to play with -- try varying the look from block-to-block in a larger quilt, because I think you'll like that, too. Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 12:16:15. Permalink | Comment | Email this Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns Quilting Forum members designed this 6" patchwork heart quilt block for a 2008 swap, and are using it again this month. The design is a natural for a Valentine's Day wallhanging and makes a lovely baby quilt. The heart block is assembled with quick piecing techniques, so it's super easy to make. For the swap, a different focal fabric was used in each half of the block (two pinks or two reds), but choose another combination if you prefer. You'll find instructions and yardage for a small heart wallhanging on the last page of the pattern. Photo © Sophie Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 06:00:22. Permalink | Comment | Email this Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern This vibrant Snowball quilt block is assembled with a white on white interior and purple tips. A red heart is appliqued to the center of the 6" (finished size) block. If you're already into applique, the gentle heart will be a breeze, and beginners will find that it's a perfect first applique project (read my Needleturn Applique Basics for technique how-tos). The block is from a 2009 Quilting Forum event, where it was sewn by numerous members. Heart Blocks by Sandy Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 06:00:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern The reverse version of the Capital T quilt block isn't seen as commonly as its counterpart -- where dark fabrics create the diagonal T-shape at each corner. Both blocks are assembled the same way, it's just the color values that are flip-flopped, but the two versions are unique enough that I felt a separate pattern would be a good option for the quilt block shown here. I've included instructions to make the block's flying geese units in a couple of ways -- both are quick-pieced but one technique results in no fabric waste. Choose the method that works best for the fabrics you have on hand. I saw some examples online recently of quilts made using this value layout, but can't locate them now -- the blocks looked wonderful placed on point. More T Blocks Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 19:22:19. 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