Throw Pillows

Fun fact: no actual sheep were employed in the
production of this item--not even in trade for wood.

A modern, if somewhat nerdy, version of the hexagonal patchwork I've taken up.  Hexes are 2/3 standard playing size, all the decoration is (necessarily) hand-sewn.  This pillow is one of a pair made for some awesome newly-married friends of mine.

Book Review: Civil War Women

Civil War Women by Barbara Brackman stands out from her other selections in that it's explicitly aimed at reenactors.  As with Civil War Sampler and Facts & Fabrications, Civil War Women uses the device of quilts to explore women's lives during the Civil War.  Where this book differs is in the depth of each story and the historical provenance of the designs.

In another departure, instead of pairing each story to a block, these chapters each feature an entire quilt project (so you can't do one of each and end up with a sampler at the end).  Additionally, a sample reenacting activity is included with each chapter--so after you've read up on Confederate spies such as Lizzie Powell and Belle Edmondson, you can devise an impression smuggling goods and information.  The accompanying quilt to this chapter, of course, is a secessionist design inspired by the Confederate flag--one corner of which makes the cover illustration for this book.

With only nine chapters to cover, more room is allowed to each story and project; instead of half a page of history, you're getting four to six pages, and consequently more fun detail and period quotations (and images).  The projects are all based on originals, and come with the usual templates and instructions. Between the history and the patterns, there are a large number of beautiful original images included.

The activities suggestions are also a welcome addition.  We civilians are often overlooked in mainstream reenactment planning, so ideas of accurate activities in which to engage while attending existing events is helpful.  The proposals require varying levels of preparation, participation, and sanction--from sewing a tobacco pouch for your sweetheart to running a charity bazaar.  Considering the book's focus, it is not surprising that 5/9ths of them involve sewing in some capacity, but there are also ideas for speech-making, writing and more.  [Break From Review: For additional ideas on civilian reenactment activities, see Liz Clark's "Value-Added Events"]

Stars: 5 Stars
Accuracy: High. Researched, cited, & full of period illustrations.  All the quilts in this book are period appropriate (but mind which side you're meant to represent).
Difficulty: Varies from simple ("Kansas Troubles", "Free State Album") to complex ("Rocky Mountain"/"Crown of Thorns").  An advanced beginner could certainly make some (but not all) of the designs, but an absolute quilting novice would likely struggle.
Strongest Impression: A well-researched and well-cited book.  This would be a great introduction to reenacting for the quilter, and a valuable resource to the reenactor who's looking to incorporate quilting into her impression.  As with Civil War Sampler and Facts and Fabrications, the seamless inclusion of original images and quotations makes this book a good introduction to those intimidated by primary sources.

Book Review: America's Printed Fabrics

Next up: America's Printed Fabrics, 1770-1890 by Barbara Brackman.

This book is divided into four broad chronological sections: 1770-1820, 1820-1840, 1840-1865, and 1865-1890.  Each section starts out with a short (2-3 page) history lesson--primarily focused on textile production and decoration--and illustrated with the expected period illustrations, photographs and textile samples.  Next up, there's brief (half to one page) descriptions of popular motif or style categories; each of these has two pages of fabric examples accompanying--one of original textiles and one of reproductions.  A page on a popular quilt design/layout from the era follows (medallions, stripes, etc), and then one to three reproduction quilting projects, with the appropriate templates and step-by-step instructions.

The main strength of this books are its beautiful pictures and accessibility.  I like that the sample textiles are given in large pieces: the smallest images are about 1 1/4" x 3" (unfortunately, this means you get as few as four examples for the larger chintz and toile prints, but closer to a dozen on the smaller designs).  The inclusion of reproduction prints opposite the originals makes for an interesting presentation.  The arrangement of technology-->examples-->project makes it easy to immerse oneself in the visual aesthetic of the period and to plan for a reproduction or historically-inspired quilt.

The limitations of the book, in my opinion, largely relate to the wide date ranges.  As someone whose activities fall mostly into a single section (1840-1865), I'm left wanting for some nuance--what makes a quilt, or even a given print, say "1860" versus "1840".  I suppose this is rather a specific concern; a reproduction quilt for 1860, after all, might include fabrics 'stylish' ten or twenty years before, but a dress for 1860 needs to avoid blatantly 1850- or 1840-style fabric.  Likewise, a quilt for 1840 needs to avoid the obviously later fabric.  That being said, it's more a difference of priority than a fault in the book.

Of all of Ms. Brackman's books, I think this one is coming up as my second favorite.  Between it and Quilts From the Civil War, you should be in a very strong position to make accurate reproductions of 19th century quilts.

Stars: 4.5-5
Accuracy: Lots of period images, both of fabrics and whole quilts.  The projects are taken from reproduction quilts of each era, which usually cite a specific original quilt as inspiration.
Difficulty: Beginner and up.  A short tutorial at the end explains basic quilt techniques, but you may get more out of this book if you already have some familiarity with quilting.
Strongest Impression: A nice reference for nineteenth century fabrics, though not the most specific one.  Gives a lot of good information for getting started in reproduction or historically-inspired quilting. Would also be enjoyable for a quilter looking for 'old' new ideas to add to his or her repertoire.

Book Review: Encyclopedia of Applique

Next up: Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Applique (2000, 2009).

This is a two-part book: the 45-page first chapter offers a history of applique and five different applique projects (with templates).  The usual pictures, etc., are included with the history, though this time the projects are grouped together at the end and not mingled throughout it. The remainder of the book is a 130-page index of applique patterns, arranged methodically according to design elements. Each design is designated with its appropriate century, and, where possible, its year.  The author notes that the designs run from 1835-1992 (most are pre-1960s).  Definitely read the "How to Use The Index" advice on pages 48-49.

As someone with minimal applique experience, there very little I can say about this book on that level.  What I can say is that I liked the straightforward presentation of the history section (another good overview for people quilting at reenactments), and that I now really want to get my hands on her encyclopedia of patchwork designs.  Also, I am awed by her organizational skills in categorizing the applique patterns--how does one even start on such an immense topic?  However she got started, the system seems to work.  It's also precisely the sort of easy-to-use, logically-arranged format that I like in my reference books.

Stars: 5 Stars (I don't do much applique, but now I really want to)
Accuracy: Beautifully specific.  Sources are cited in the history section. As always, look carefully at the date information if using for historic re-creations.
Difficulty: Intermediate and up (It's hard to say).
Strongest Impressions: I recommend this book to anyone who likes doing historic applique.  It's a comprehensive reference.  The patterns are grouped very broadly (mainly 19th v. 20th century), so care should be taken in selecting designs for historic reproductions.