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| The first quilt I ever rescued is an 1870's Rocky Mountain Road |
A few years ago, I bought a badly damaged Rocky Mountain Road / Crown of Thorns quilt through eBay. The quilt came from a seller in Indiana, and I bought it primarily because it's a pattern I collect. At the time, I didn't have a clear idea about what to do with the quilt. I just knew I needed to save it.
Several years later, during an open discussion with members of the American Quilt Study Group's Yahoo group list, I asked about the origins of the term "cutter", and it triggered much passionate response. Some admitted to having cut damaged quilts for crafting projects in the past, but had since changed their stance. Others expressed a strong desire to see these quilts rescued, and as a group we coined the term "Rescue Quilts" as an alternative to "cutter" quilts.
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| I purchased this quilt just yesterday through eBay |
There are probably a lot of people who would look at these quilts and think, "What a tragedy!" I like to think of them more as an opportunity. But what possible opportunity could severely damaged quilts provide? The Benton County Museum, where I will display several of the "New York Beauty" quilts this summer, has a very unique collection of quilts called the Cockrell Collection. The unique thing about the collection is it was assembled for educational purposes, and contains several examples with condition issues.
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| A wonderful crib quilt from Tennessee, also found on eBay. |
The Cockrell Collection of quilts inspired me to assemble my own collection of quilts for educational purposes. I call them Rescue Quilts, and all of them have significant condition issues. However, all are quilts I believe should be preserved and studied because they are either very unique or display characteristics of a masterpiece quilt. In the future, I hope to exhibit these quilts as a group and send a strong message to the world about the importance of preserving our quilt history. I'm also tossing around the idea of asking quiltmakers to reproduce certain examples to see what they might look like in pristine condition.
Any takers?
I think there was a group that use to exist that came out of Nancy Kirk's quilt restoration workshops in the 1990's that called themselves the "Dead Quilt Society" The idea was similar to what you are talking about-recreating damage quilt treasures. I was not a part of that group or the workshops but maybe someone who was will give you more info.
ReplyDeleteA friend and I do little lectures in Central IA and we often incorporate damaged quilts because it gives us the opportunity to talk about quilt care.
I remember the horror I felt when I saw your 1870's RMR pictured for the first time. Who could do that to such an incredible quilt!?! I look forward to more pictures of your yesterday's acquistion. I wish I had the necessary skills for reproducing quilts like these.
ReplyDeleteI would be interesting in reproducing one of your rescue quilts! that would be a great exhibit in mho!
ReplyDeleteKathie
Excellent Idea! Quilts are pieces of our history and should be preserved. It would be great fun to reproduce an historic quilt and display the two side by side.
ReplyDeleteTim
As quilters we reproduce quilts all the time. That would be a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteI love that crib quilt. The first thing I thought when I saw it was that I would like to recreate it. I would love to give it a real shot!
ReplyDeleteI'm game! I have the maternal urge to rescue all quilts, because I know what went into them : )
ReplyDeleteThat little crib quilt could probably generate its own full exhibit. I've had several people comment to me about wanting to recreate it. The funny thing is: normally I'm very protective of my collection when it comes to reproductions. I've been asked, and I declined. But I feel differently about the quilts with serious condition issues, as if recreating them is a small tribute to the original vision of the makers.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to work on recreating one of your rescue quilts. I have several rescues of my own that I should post some day...one was being used as a table cover at a gun show and another was hanging like a curtain in the window of a garage...
ReplyDeleteEvery rescue quilt has a story, and I hope you'll keep those stories with the quilts, and the tribute quilts made from them. Will add your name to the list of quilters interested in recreating one of these. The wheels are turning, and I think I may have an idea about how to do this project. :)
ReplyDeleteHi! I just surfed to your blog from somebody else's. I'm sorry I can't remember the trial.
ReplyDeleteThat Rocky Mountain damaged quilt is AMAZING!!! I'd snatch it up, too. :) Are the suns inside the gold squares also pieced?
Yes, they are pieced. This object is really still a masterpiece in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI think that crib quilt would be wonderful reproduced -- can really see it done in either reproduction fabrics or even some of the softer new fabric lines. You've piqued my interest!
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