Customer Reviews

Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899: The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle (Schiffer Books)

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this books celebrates virginia's history through the needle, as the subtitle states. that turns out to mean lots of beautiful quilts, examples of quilted armour and other clothing, lovely pictures of virginia, and information about virginians, many of whom might be unfamiliar or unknown to many of us who are not from virginia.

there is plenty of inspiration for quilters here. there are pieced, applique (including the most beautiful whig rose i have seen), and whole cloth quilts. there are examples of quilted petticoats, slippers and bonnets. there are also humbling notes about 14, 16 and even 19 quilting stitches per inch.

this is not a pattern book--there is only one quilt pattern included, and it's only for the brave or very expert.

there are profiles of many of the identified quiltmakers, from martha washington to the slave who purchased her freedom with the income from her needle and went on to design dresses for mary todd lincoln and varina (jefferson) davis. and a couple of female confederate spies.

anyone interested in american history will enjoy this book even if they are not interested in quilts (i'm told there are some people who aren't!).

the book is extremely well-made, and the writing and photos are first rate.

This is a beautiful book, very well researched, that presents the quilts of Virginia along with the history surrounding the quiltmakers. Virginia was the home of so many early political and prominent figures in American History. In these pages you will find many familiar figures from Martha Washington to Willa Cather, but not only the famous and their quilts are highlighted. Reading the stories behind these quilts, one experiences a true connection to the times in which the quiltmakers lived. The book documents over 270 quilts made before 1900, all of which are beautifully photographed. The information is presented regionally and includes a partial listing of museums and facilities where the quilts can be seen in person. Of all the books of this kind which document the quilts of our ancestors, this is by far the best I have seen. This is a book to treasure.

This book was a joy! It contained many beautiful quilts of the time frame. I loved the quilts, of course, but I really appreciated all the historiacal information that was included as well. Virginia is rich is early American history. Tie that in with quilts and I am hooked! I came back and bought another copy for a gift. Every quilter in Virginia should own this book!

I have almost every State Documentation book published, and this is one of the best. There are wonderful stories that go with every quilt. The pictures are in gorgeous color. Loved every page.

Quilts of Virginia, 1607-1899: The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle
Congratulations to the creators of this book, the Virginia Consortium of Quilters. This is beautifully illustrated and very well written. I very much enjoy reading the history of quilting and learning about the States of America, this book is one of the best that I have read. Virginia is such a rich source of inspiration and the material that these authors have found is just wonderful. Sometimes history books can be a bit dry and technical, this is one that should find a home in every quilters collection.Well done and I look forward to any further works that may be currently a "work in progress".

Fantastic Book. Can't stop looking at it. Fabulous addition to my
quilt library!!!!

I received "Quilts of Virginia 1607-1899" as a gift. It's not the kind of book that I would have been inclined to buy for myself, simply because quilts are way beyond my customary range of interests. However, the hidden delights of "Quilts of Virginia" fit easily within my areas of interest. It is not merely a book about quilts. "Quilts of Virginia" is a history book, an art book, a photography book, and in parts, a book about both poetry and the law. The book has nearly as many facets as the quilts that it so vibrantly portrays. It captures the readers' attention, even the attention of individuals whose range of interests might not include quilting. The photographs are abundant and excellent. I found "Quilts of Virginia" to be an unexpected delight, highly informative, and extremely interesting.

This book is a work of art (Barbara Tricarico's photographs are stunning) but at the same time, it is a thoroughly researched, comprehensive history of quilting in Virginia - the authors did a wonderful job - I loved it!

This book that I purchased from Amazon has impressed me so much. It is a well written and illustrated book that shows a history of the state through quilting. The pictures show how and why we are proud of our past and our heritage. It makes me proud to be a quilter and a Virginian.

if you are a person that loves history on quilting. this is a great book. it also gives you virginias history. very good book.