Book Review: Quilts 1700 – 2010: Hidden Histories, Untold Stories by Sue Pritchard

I brought the hardback version of this book back in March 2 2010 when I was still struggling with my eyesight. It’s split into 5 sections, with the different centuries covered by the exhibition split across the first 4 sections, and the final section covering the catalogue of the exhibit itself.

This is not really a book to be consumed in one or two sittings. At over 200 pages, there is plenty of text, with the first section including the historical background and difference between Quilting and Patchwork and how this type of working with fabrics became popular in England. However, there are also plenty of pictures, always an excellent addition to any coffee table book!  Most (but certainly not all) are full page or even double page in size, and all in colour (except where the originals were in B&W).  Not all are of physical Quilts, with a good number showing paintings of quilts in everyday use and photographs (of people making them etc).

The last section of the book contains the catalogue, which has photographs of the majority (if not all) of the quilts in the exhibition,  something certainly appreciated by someone like myself . The photographs, plus the related text alongside allows a much greater/closer view of the quilts that I may or may not have seen (for one reason or another), whilst providing an excellent reminder for years to come of the exhibition and of a fine day out.

There are some additional resources and information sources

Some Videos, again from the V&A interviewing some of those involved with the exhibition.

A review by Dovegreyreaderscribbles who manages to give a much more extensive description of the exhibit as well as some of her practical forays into quilting

Quilts 1700 – 2010: Hidden Histories, Untold Stories