♦ Celebrating 250 Years of American Quilts ♦
Quilt History
Explore our Quilting Heritage
Every quilt tells a piece of history. This site is your resource for antique and vintage quilt research, dating, appraisal, conservation and the stories stitched into our textile heritage.
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FEATURED READING
Depression Quilts
1930s: Depression Era The Great Depression shaped quilt making in immediate and practical ways. Quilters relied heavily on scraps and…
Quilt Restoration
If you are interested in doing your own quilt restoration, read our article Repair, Restore, Conserve; What to do with damaged…
Quilt Study Groups
Quilt Study Groups are small groups of quilt enthusiasts who gather on a fairly regular basis to examine each others…
Browse by era
Explore quilting history by period
Pre-1850
Early American Quilts
Whole-cloth, broderie perse, and the first pieced traditions
1861–1865
Civil War Era
Mourning quilts, fundraising quilts, and Turkey red fabrics
1870–1900
Victorian Era
Crazy quilts, silk velvets, and elaborate embroidery
1930s
Depression era
Feedsacks, pastel prints, and the great quilt revival
1940s–50s
Postwar revival
Kit quilts, novelty prints, and bold graphic patterns
1970s+
Today’s Quilts
The quilt revival, art quilts, and a new generation of makers
Resources