By the 1840s, thanks to the expansion of the textile industry, quilting in the USA had become something more than just a functional task. Quilting bees were a socially acceptable way for women to gather together without the men in attendance; it was a space where they could talk about anything and everything as needles flew through fabric. To many women living on farms or homesteads far from town, the quilting bee was the one socially acceptable opportunity to gather with other women outside of church.
Quilting has evolved into an art form, albeit one that is not as celebrated as painting or sculpture, primarily because it is mostly female artists and perhaps also because of its humble origins in the home. This post, and two more in the making, celebrate those women as the amazingly talented artists they are.
Tucked into a low-slung building in the town of Paducah, Kentucky is the National Quilt Museum, an amazing repository of fabric art made by generations of people who have breath-taking creativity, skill, and patience. If you can, please read this post on a screen larger than your phone because that’s the only way you can really appreciate the details of these quilts. Just look at the butterfly and flower details in that closeup above! There were so many beautiful quilts on display that I really couldn’t pick a favorite.
That detail image above comes from one of my favorite quilts displayed at the museum. I was so impressed by the design and execution of this quilt that I kept coming back to it as I wandered around the museum. The colors, the depth of the leaves, the intricacies of the blue quilted areas, it was all just beautiful.
If I had to choose an absolute favorite, it might have been this one. For oh, so many reasons. The overall quilt is just beautiful with its colors and designs. But… get closer and you really begin to appreciate the skill and patience, as well as the creativity of the artist.
The entire quilt is made of tiny hexagons, each one about the size of a quarter. I’ve made two bed quilts of 2.5-inch hexagons and almost lost my mind by the end of each. The thought of making one out of quarter-sized hexagons fills me with awe at this woman’s skill and patience, as well as her artistry! And every single stitch, from hexagons to quilting patterns was done by hand. I mean, really, just LOOK at the evenness of the quilting stitches. So much skill to do that, and also, so much patience.
This quilt, also in the special exhibit of star-themed quilts, was another of my favorites. The dark background with that complicated quilting design, the rainbow colors, it was such a treat to look at. I can’t imagine sewing this one either! It was one of the few quilts on display with two creators, one who did the piecing and the other did the quilting.
Here’s a closeup of one of those circular pieces and the quilting between and around it. Such tiny triangles of fabric encircling that center piece!
Last quilt for this post, another from the star exhibit. I’m not crazy about the background colors, but that circle in on the upper left, wow! It looks like it’s three-dimensional.
I had to get a close-up because I was just amazed by the complexity. It’s insanely complicated, trianges inside triangles, each with colors that make it look 3D. Of all the pieces in the museum, this is the one that blew my mind. The design, the execution, the hand-sewing, it’s all just beatifully done. If anyone dares to tell me quilting isn’t art, I’m going to show them this one photo and then < mic drop >
Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3, coming soon.
Want to Know More?
- The Surprisingly Radical History of Quilting (2020, Smithsonian Magazine)
- The Subversive Power of the Quilt (2022, Art Review)
Anyone who works on a quilt, who devotes her time, energy, creativity, and passion to that art, learns to value the work of her hands.
Jennifer Chiaverini
Gorgeous. I am itching to get back to quilting too.
It made me realize how much I use quilting to calm myself, to make something with my own hands is a good thing for my brain. So now I’m doing a wall quilt (very small) and a bed quilt.
Hi Annie,
I have always loved textile art in any form. The most moving quilting exhibit I’ve ever seen is the “Quilt of belonging”. If you ever find yourself in its vicinity, I highly recommend a visit.
https://youtu.be/L4a0ibrSg4o
Gorgeous!! I need to go there. If I can ever get out from under the piles of fabric here…. Ha!
These quilts remind me so much of my mom. Her quilts were gorgeous. If you are still near Kentucky, you have a chance to see the world’s biggest garage sale. https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/62ab99807075a5000874f7b1?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1540648743#62ab971b7075a5000874d52a
I’m not a person that likes to sew, but I know a few people who love it, and one friend who does art quilts. She’d love to see this! I’ll pass the blog post on to her. The quilts are just beautiful. My husband used to have family living in Paducha KY, his uncle is buried there. We’ve been once, but I didn’t know about this museum!
OK, I generally wouldn’t say I’m much of a quilting aficionado, but these are incredible. They’re creative and colorful like paintings, but such a precise artform…and yeah…. so much patience required. Wow!
What stunning works of art! OMG – Midnight Frolic. Thank you for sharing.
Yay for quilting. Paducah is the Mecca, the holy grail, the centre of the quilting universe! I can’t wait to get there, some day. Your excellent photos (as always) highlight the artistry.
It is so worth the trip! And Hancock’s fabric has an amazing selection of everything from jelly rolls to fat quarters and layer cakes to yardage. Oh, I spent some serious bucks there!
Unbelievable patience!!