Quilt Stories from the Museum of Texas Tech University
Quilt Stories from the Museum of Texas Tech University
Dr. Marian Ann J. Montgomery, Ph.D., Curator of Clothing and Textiles at the Museum of Texas Tech University shares images of vintage quilts from their collection and tells their fascinating stories.
So How Many Quilts Did You Make in 25 Years?
Spinning Ball Quilts
Circles in many forms have been popular quilting motifs in recent years. If you have walked through any quilt shows recently or thumbed through quilt magazines, you are sure to have seen a circle quilt or two.
State Bird and Flower Quilt
State bird and flower quilts have been popular among quilt makers for years. It is a nice way to honor each state and teach the next generation about the symbols of each of the states in the country. Learn about Jewel Dee Merriman Clark's State Bird and Flower quilt created in the 1950s using crayons.
Sunflowers in the Waning Days of Summer
Despite the drought in West Texas, sunflowers continue to bloom for farmers and along the roadways as wildflowers. Their beauty is enjoyed by many, as is evident by the sunflower motif that adorns many decorative items for the home. There are currently three quilts with a sunflower motif in the museum’s collections.
Taylor, Texas, Batting and Quilts
Many are familiar with the quilts made from the patterns printed on the inside of the Mountain Mist Batting wrappers, but few know that the Taylor Bedding Company of Taylor, Texas, participated in a similar promotional scheme.
The Green of the Times
Learn about Apple Green, the "hot" color of the 1930s. The quilts featured here in the collections of the Museum of Texas Tech University document that color.
The Importance of Finishing a Quilt
Sometimes we get a quilt top done and just don’t have the energy, creativity or stamina to quilt it. Does it matter if we leave it as a top? From a museum curator’s point of view, it does matter if the quilt is finished.
Thoughts Turning to Spring
Look for springtime inspiration with this beautiful flower garden quilt designed by Ruby Short McKim.
Tiny Treasures
New quilting tools are fun to share with quilting friends. Remember how they oohed and ahhed when you trotted out your new pincushion, pretty scissors, sewing machine or other gadgets at the last retreat? Well, we have nothing on the stitchers from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Two Similar But Different 19th Century Quilts