Celebrating the Launch of the Preservation Collection

Coming in September... New fabric and thread lines from Moda and Aurifil,
based on one of our quilts, with proceeds to benefit the museum.

Thank you for visiting us for the IQSCM/Preservation Release Event! The Preservation Collection benefiting IQSCM is a collaborative project involving Moda Fabrics, Aurifil Threads and the IQSCM. To learn more about these companies, take a peek at collections & exhibits, and take part in a fabulous giveaway, make sure to follow along via the links below. 

8/17: Aurifil

8/18: Moda

8/19: You're Here

We are so excited to have one of our quilts featured in Moda's Quilts for a Cause and to have an accompanying line of thread available from Aurifil. This Medallion Quilt, which was made by an unknown maker, probably in Allendale region, England, circa 1830, is truly a gem of our British quilt collection.

As we explained in our interviews with Aurifil and Moda earlier this week, the Medallion quilt appeared in the inaugural exhibition for our West Gallery. "Getting to Know You" featured twenty-six quilts, selected to represent the depth and breadth of our collection. Our curators chose about half of the pieces and the rest were selected by our volunteers, students, quilters and our visitors near and far.

Medallion, maker unknown, probably made in Allendale region,
England, circa 1830, 112 x 107 inches. IQSCM 2007.014.0001.

This one was among three British quilts selected by Fiona Diaper, former museum manager of the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York, England. From there, we asked people to vote online for the piece they most wanted to see displayed in the gallery. The Medallion quilt won with more than 50 percent of the vote.

A detail shot of the quilt label used in "Getting to Know You,"
which included an image of a 19th century textile printer's record book.

Voters explained why they wanted to see this quilt featured in our galleries:

"Although by heritage I should be voting for the Welsh quilt, I just loved the colours and work involved in the North Country quilt, so voted for that one."

"The colours are beautifully muted -no modern synthetic dyes, and the pattern holds attention for a good while - takes a time to work it out.  The fabrics probably reflect the fashion of that time, or show the range of one producer. I love that it has a wavy edge - I've had quite a few of those."

"I love this quilt. It looks very English to me with the variety of patterns and way it has been constructed. I like the stars and half triangle blocks making up the borders. It is probably pieced over papers and well designed."

"Totally British all the way with the flowers in the middle with lots of interesting blocks around the quilt."

"First of all I love the medallion form with several borders.  The collection of fabric is exciting and the variety of patchwork patterns adds to the over all interest. I love the 'jumble' effect of English medallions from this period."

The Medallion quilt, on the back wall, as it appeared in "Getting to Know You."

In her in-gallery description of this piece and its significance to British quilt history, Diaper wrote:

"These visually pleasing Medallion quilts, which were particularly popular from 1800 to 1850, vary immensely in terms of design, construction and materials. Just as with different dialects and landscapes across the UK, quilts can sometimes show regional influences too. This lively version comes from the north of England."

A visitor leaves a response in our in-gallery comment book.

While the quilt was on display, we asked viewers to share their thoughts on the piece's wall power:

"I love the quilts that remind me of grandmothers and mothers piecing together scrapes to use up old clothes. So nostalgic. <3"

"I believe a lot of love and creativity went into this quilt to pass on to the next generation."

"It is very nice, because I like fabric! Fabric is fabulous!"

Part of our responsibility as custodians of our world-class collection is to make sure pieces like this Medallion quilt remain in good condition for future generations to learn from and enjoy. We do this by storing our pieces in a climate-controlled setting, routinely refolding them and restricting how often they are handled and displayed. You can learn more about our care process in this video:

We also encourage you to take steps to care for your collection at home. Read our tips here.

Be sure to check out the other posts in our Blog Hop from Aurifil and Moda. Also, look for the Aurifil Moda lines in our Museum Shop when they are released in September.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

To enter-to-win one Preservation Aurifil Thread Collection and one Fat Quarter Bundle of Preservation, Collection for a Cause by Moda Fabrics, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have!  Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 25! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Friday, August 26. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway