Quilting Programs at CT Historical Society

Think back to a cold winter night of your youth. You sat by the fireplace watching the flames envelop the wood your father had brought in from outside, but still you could feel the bitter cold—so you brought your knees to your chest and wrapped your arms around them. Then your mother entered the room, observed the scene and quickly walked back out—only to return a few minutes later. This time, your mother is carrying something in her arms—a something that sends warmth throughout your whole body just by the very sight of it. Just then your mother steps closer and drapes your grandmother's quilt around your shoulders and instantly the familiar aroma of your grandmother's perfume fills the air. You felt yourself relax and you knew you were home.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could leave such a legacy to your own children and grandchildren? It's too bad that quilting—once an important part of American culture—is slowly becoming a lost art. Or is it? This spring, the CT Historical Society has presented two quilt workshops to teach both novice and experienced stitchers to stitch the past by learning how to make quilts. The last in the series, Victorian Crazy Quilts, takes place on Saturday, June 8 from 1-4 p.m.

Crazy quilting is a style of quilting that uses luxurious fabrics, irregular piecing and fanciful embroidered decoration that became popular in the late 19th century. Textile historian and fiber artist Meg Grossman will teach workshop participants how to create free-standing motifs, how to cover seams, and to explore various embroidery stitches used in early American crazy quilts. Participants will also work from period design sources using velvet, satin, damask fabrics, and cotton and silk embroidery floss.

For those who wonder what happened to our quilting heritage, particularly in Connecticut, join CHS on Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m. to hear about the CT Quilt Search Project (CQSP) from project director Sue Reich. Since its organization in 1992, the CQSP has held dozens of "documentation days," photographing and recording over 3,400 quilts in private and public collections; 145 of these quilts, together with stories of the women who made them, are featured in the CQSP's new book, Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut, which will be available for purchase following the lecture.

CQSP's archives, containing descriptions, photographs, and oral histories of each of the quilts documented by the project, were recently donated to the CHS Library, where they will be preserved and made available for consultation by future researchers.

Both the workshop and lecture take place at the CT Historical Society, located at One Elizabeth St. in Hartford's historic West End. Cost for the June 8 workshop is $55, or $45 for CHS members; materials, sewing supplies, and refreshments are included. Admission to the June 15 lecture is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors, students, and youth (ages 6-17); and free for CHS members and children under age 6. For more info call 860-236-5621, or visit <www.chs.org>.