The Quilt: A History and Celebration of an American Art Form - Hardcover

The largest, most comprehensive history of American quilts ever published, The Quilt explores the evolution of quilting in America. It shows, in vivid colors and patterns, how African American, Amish, Hawaiian, Hmong, and Native American quilts celebrate cultural identity, and how quilts connect us to one another through quilting bees and other community groups. Moving from the historical nature of quilts to current efforts at quilt preservation, the book features an encyclopedia of favorite quilt styles, detailing the stories behind appliqué quilts, crazy quilts, art quilts, scrap quilts, sampler quilts, and whole-cloth quilts, as well as traditional patchwork patterns.

The largest, most comprehensive history of American quilts ever published, The Quilt investigates the evolution of quilting in America.

            For hundreds of years, people have created quilts to keep warm, but somewhere along the way, quilts became more than just bed coverings—the quilt became a work of art, a cherished heirloom to be passed down from one generation to the next. Tracing the path of the quilt’s history in America, author Elise Schebler Roberts relates the stories behind these treasured quilts and the quilters who stitched them.

The Quilt is gloriously illustrated with more than 200 full-color photographs of classic collectible quilts, including appliqué quilts, Crazy quilts, art quilts, scrap quilts, sampler quilts, and whole cloth quilts, as well as traditional patchwork patterns like the Nine Patch, Log Cabin, and Double Wedding Ring. Current and historical photos of quilters and vintage quilting memorabilia such as pattern booklets, advertisements, posters, and postcards provide a context for the era in which the quilts were made. Contributors include accomplished quilters and authors Alex Anderson, Patricia Cox, Sandra Dallas, Helen Kelley, Jean Ray Laury, and Ami Simms.