Red and Green: An Applique Tradition [Paperback]

Jeana Kimball (Author), Nancy J. Martin (Author), Barb Tourtillotte (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

Today's quilters can learn about the origins of these historical designs, then stitch their own dramatic works of art with directions for 24 beautiful block patterns and one magnificent quilt.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeana Kimball is a well-known teacher and lecturer, sharing her two favorite quilt topics--applique and the stories of pioneer quiltmakers and their quilts--with her national and international audiences. Jeana is also the author of Loving Stitches: A Guide to Fine Hand Quilting.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Martingale and Company (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943574684
• ISBN-13: 978-0943574684
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And to think I almost didn't pick up this book, November 22, 2002

By 

K. Bourn "bohemiangirlpdx" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red and Green: An Applique Tradition (Paperback)

Although I appreciate applique, I didn't used to be a huge fan of doing it myself. I had always appreciated the instant gratification of rotary-cut strip-pieced quilts. Kimball's "Red and Green: An Applique Tradition" has helped change that.

"R&G" focuses on red-and-green applique quilts from the mid-19th century, but also includes photographs of earlier whole-cloth and medallion, to show the progression of quilt-making styles, and several modern quilts that beautifully reproduce this traditional look. Most fascinating to me was Kimball's discussion about how red and green became popular colors for these applique quilts: Around 1850, aniline dye produced more colorfast cloth. Green was produced by overdying yellow with blue. The green fabrics almost always changed color, since the two dyes did not have the same degree of colorfastness, but quilt makers found the resulting colors pleasing. At about the same time, "Turkey red"--using a dye that was much more colorfast than other reds--became fashionable--and commanded three times the price of ordinary calico.

A red and green applique quilts usually was a woman's "best quilt," Kimball explains, and a woman generally made one of these labor-intensive quilts either just before her marriage as part of her trousseau or later in life, after her children were grown.

"R&G" contains many stories about the making and use of these applique quilts. My favorite is about a circuit-riding preacher whose young wife defied tradition by joining her husband on all his overnight trips, instead of only on special occasions. Her repeated presence presented problems in the southern communities he served since a visit from a preacher's wife dictated that the hostess must thoroughly clean the house, wear her second-best dress and a white apron, and use her best quilt on the guest bed. If the preacher were staying over, food and bed were sufficient. After a while, the frustrated women on the circuit decided to stop putting out their best appliqued quilts on the guest bed when the preacher's wife came to visit. "She was pretty headstrong, that girl, but even she couldn't ignore what the absence of the best quilt signified," Kimball quotes from an earlier work on quilts.

For quiltmakers interested in reproducing one of these traditional quilts, Kimball provides two dozen full-size patterns as well as ideas for other designs. Her instructions for how to assemble these blocks seem very easy to follow. What I liked best was that she doesn't just give instructions for one or two "cookie cutter" quilts, but instead emphasizes that quiltmakers should follow their own inspiration, using the design elements and ideas from the depicted quilts. "R&G" contains plenty of inspiration, from the historic quilts and biographies of their makers in the front section, to the numerous rose, tulip, fruits and berry patterns in the middle, to the gallery of historic and reproduction quilts at the end.

Even if you aren't a fan of making applique quilts, "R&G" is interesting reading, and it might entice you to try a project.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Lovers of Tradition, This One Has it All!, April 6, 2000

By 

Mac - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red and Green: An Applique Tradition (Paperback)

Once in a while I pick up a book and actually feel afterward that I got every penny's worth. This is one of those. Jeana has combined the best features of great books on traditional applique forms - history, numerous quality photos of antique quilts, modern tradition-based creations, and patterns. If you haven't caught the traditional, red and green bug - fasten your seat belt because this book will leave you hungry to learn more. Thanks to Jeana for a really USEFUL contribution.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXTRAORDINARY!, September 14, 2003

By 

C. A. Mcpherson "mcpherson" (Bellbrook, Oh United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red and Green: An Applique Tradition (Paperback)

Packed for the price, this book has easy to follow directions and fabulous applique designs typical of the red and green antique quilts from the 1800's. If you have a passion for antique quilts, applique, or red and green, this book is for you or any quilter - beginner or seasoned. ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY aspects about this book is that Ms. Kimball has taken the time to not only provide a large pattern for a particular block, but provides SCORES of drawings of particular blocks with changes to the designs so that one is not confined to the pattern offered. An example of this would be for instance, the popular Single Rose Wreath. Ms. Kimball provides the layout and applique patterns for a 16" x16" block; then offers 16 OTHER rose sketches (not enlarged, however) to give varitey. The smaller sketches are even documented designs (or spin-offs) from other quilts in books and musemums.

The book has poignant information about antique quilts and the quilters themselves, history of Red and Green Quilts and the patterns. Ms. Kimball includes a gallery of photos which includes antique and modern reproduction quilts, one of which is her own; a stunning Hexagon Rose Wreath quilt.

The book even goes so far as to give instructions for making an impromptu light box! This is a perfect book for the beginner who wants to learn how to applique because directions are in the book. It is fitting for a seasoned quilter who wants to expand her/his knowledge of American quilt heritage and reproduce an heirloom. A very valued publication in my libray. Thank you.