Needlecrafts and Quilts Make a Comeback
In the 1960s, quilting began to make a major comeback, a foreshadowing of its popularity today. Craft books and back-to-the-land books presented chapters about quilt history, quilt patterns, and how to make a quilt. These books include, but are not limited to: Foxfire 9, Woodstock Craftsman’s Manual, and The Mountain Artisans Quilting Book, as well as Quilting Made Easy. Several of these are dedicated instruction manuals. All are published in the 1960s and 1970s. I could list others. Of course, Jean Ray Laury can be considered a pioneer in the latest quilt revival, encouraged by the editor, Roxa Wright, at Woman’s Day Magazine, who did tremendous work in promoting needlecrafts and quilts.
Nostalgia Breeds Desire to Emulate Old Ways
Quilting was reminiscent of earlier times. After all, Martha Washington did quilting and needlework. The art of quilting had not yet reached the pinnacle of glory that it enjoys today, but tried and true traditional designs like “Grandmother’s Fan,” “Dresden Plate,” and “Log Cabin,” blocks were among those patterns frequently offered. For the true beginner, the idea of just sewing squares together would serve as “good enough.” Many of the quilts from these two decades are based on squares.
Major Exhibition in New York
On May 14, 1969, a “major exhibition” titled “Stitched in Time: American Needlework Past and Present,” opened at the New York Gallery. The items on display were borrowed from museums and private collections, and included the work of famous people … such as Martha Washington. According to a subscription newsletter publication by (the late) Patricia Almy Randolph, titled “Nimble Needle Treasures,” the exhibit included antique and contemporary quilts, Samplers, Needlepoint pieces, Crewel Embroidery and other embroideries. A book, Crewel Embroidery by Erica Wilson (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1962) had helped to flame the interest in reviving Crewel Embroidery.
The year 1969 saw another large quilt show in Sandusky, Michigan. This show featured 90 quilts, 10 of which were made by the same quilter. The show was reported to be a big success in the “Nimble Needle Treasures” publication. Another exhibit was planned for the following year in the same town.
Quilts Viewed Vertically
An exhibit of Amish Quilts at the Whitney Museum in New York in 1971 is often seen as a pivotal moment in American quilt history. Jonathan Holstein and his wife (the late) Gail van der Hoof had amassed a huge collection of Amish quilts during the course of many trips to Pennsylvania. With an ever-appreciative eye for the simple yet artistic ways of early Amish quiltmaking and trained in art, Holstein found a way to share these quilts as ART, much to the amazement of a broad audience who no longer thought of quilts as something just to provide warmth. It was an intellectual awakening. Neither America nor the greater world have never looked back. The exhibits mentioned had a ripple effect that continues today.
After working on this article for two days straight, with barely a break, I feel like “Wonder Woman,” a block that appears on the 1975 that we discuss at length in our new article!
1975 Polyester Embroidered Quilt – This is a Must See!
A quilt we just acquired that represents the 1970s period well contains many Outline Stitch embroidered images. These all have personal meaning to the quilter. Many folks were new to quilting at that time, and the Bicentennial events fueled a lot of interest in traditional crafts. Many people who liked sewing were familiar with Crewel Embroidery yarns, and had pieces of yarn leftover from other projects. In a brand new article today that I just posted on our website, we show you a quilt made by an anonymous quilter. The “clues” on the surface of the quilt have led to some nostalgic reminiscing. This has truly been fun to research. The name of the file is “1975 Quilt: A Fascinating Research Project.”
Enjoy!
Patricia and James Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
