Vintage Quilts: Identifying, Collecting, Dating, Preserving & Valuing [Hardcover] Review

First the pros: lots of quality photos, covering a wide variety of patterns and eras.
Cons: basically, this book needs to be titled just "Vintage Quilts".The "Collecting, Dating, and Preserving" material is limited to just 4 pages at the beg. of the book. The rest of the volume is a "Value Guide", with a short description under each quilt photo, a notation as to "excellent condition", "fair condition" etc, and a dollar value estimate.The problem here is that nowhere in the book do they state their definition of what they consider to be good, excellent, etc.There's no excuse for this--both Aug and Newman are listed as judges in the book bios--defining their terms should have been covered in the opening pages.Without that, it makes their appraisals pretty much useless to the reader.(The photos are not large enough to show the quilt's condition.)
The other thing I thought was odd is that they don't compare individual quilts.I.e. show us two twin-size Bowtie quilts and explain [what they're worth.]In other words, show us how to appraise and value individual quilts.Which IS the whole point of the book, according to the title anyway. (Dang it, now I'm annoyed all over again!)
Needless to say, I'm returning my copy.

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Product Description:
This book idenitfies hundreds of quilt patterns and gives the rationale for the appraisal of each style, pattern, and era of the 650 quilts shown. Closeups of patterns and vintage fabric swatches of American quilts from the 1800s to the 1950s. 224 pages. AUTHORBIO: Bobbie Aug and Sharon Newman met in Paducah, Kentucky, at the 1989 American Quilter's Society Show. Both were in the first group tested and certified as quilt appraisers by AQS. Currently, both serve as members of the AQS Appraiser Certification Program Committee. REVIEW: Whether a collector, creator, or seller of quilts, you'll find this information about evaluating simple, pieced patterns to elaborate appliqued designs very educational. Written by three recognized experts, these members of the AQS Appraiser Certification Committee judge quilt shows, appraise quilts, teach classes, and write books. This book shows the wide variety of quilts made in America from the 1800s to the 1950s.

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Making History -- Quilts & Fabric from 1: 9 Reproduction Quilt Projects Historic Notes & Photographs Dating Your Quilts [Paperback] Review

If you want to learn to date fabrics found in quilts and cotton clothing, then this book is a must have.MAKING HISTORY Quilts and Fabrics covers the topics in the same detail and stylistic manner of America's Printed Fabrics, for the years 1890 to 1970. With this book, Barbara Brackman essentially finishes her update of Clues in the Calico, (1989).

If I were to use one word to describe the book's text, it is concise.She gives us a great deal of meaty information by combining period fabrics used for clothing, interiors furnishings, and quilts with interior and architectural design schools and wraps them into a synopses of their influence on patterned fabric's scale, color, weave and print.

Large swatches of original fabrics and reproduction prints are featured in exacting color photographs. Smaller quilt pictures show vintage ones. What is great, especially for someone new to dating fabrics, is that she goes back to the beginning dye history of a color and brings it forward to the focus of the years the chapter covers.

Barbara writes that her personal mission when doing research for this book was the discovery of why the look of quilts changed so much in the early 20th century, compared to the years before it. This book is a very interesting read as it draws from the greater field of textiles and interior design, with a wider focus than reproduction and antique fabrics and quilts.

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Product Description:
The comprehensive guide to fabrics and their influence on American quilts from 1890-1970.Includes 9 quilt projects.

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The United States Patchwork Pattern Book [Paperback] Review

I purchased this book to assist me in making better quilt blocks. However, I was very disappointed that block measurements were NOT given. Block patterns were supposed to be transferred to fabric, but did not include the measurements of each section. This was frustrating if you are a careful piecer and want to make sure each block is the correct size and don't like to trace. Instead, the piecer is forced to trace every section, which isn't practical for larger-sized quilts.
The lack of block dimensions made this book frustrating for me.I would recommend it only for people who like to trace, and don't mind the extra chore of photocopying the patterns, adding seam allowances etcetera before getting started.

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Product Description:
Only complete collection available of one of best-known quilt series ever-Hearth & Home's States-of-the-Union series; reprints all 48 quilt blocks of the 1907 series, plus those for Alaska and Hawaii from related series.


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Crazy Quilts: History - Techniques - Embroidery Motifs [Hardcover] Review

This book is an absolute must for every quilter or quilt collector. The historical information is excellent, as are the photos and technical information. Even if you're not interested in making a crazy quilt, this book is beautiful to look at. I have it as a coffee table book as well as for reference.

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