Those Nerdy Quilt People Pt. 1
- lisa8773
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Quilt lovers come in many forms. There are those who have the eye and the workmanship to create any quilt from any pattern they see. There are those who have meticulous piecing skills and those who are appliqué artists. Those of you who can create fabulous quilting designs on a long-arm FREEHAND truly impress me because I know what it looked like when I tried to do that - bahahahaha!
Traditional quiltmakers, modern quilters, art quilters, those who specialize in landscapes or hand quilted wholecloth masterpieces, beginners who are in the early steps of the quilt journey or those who have made every style of quilt and have experienced the full breadth of the quilt experience from the 1970s to now.
Suffice it to say that there are a lot of us and we do a lot of "quilty" things.
Another strong arm of the quilt world are those (like myself) who wish to document, study, ask all the questions and get all the answers! We want to learn about the quilt maker, the times they lived in, access to fabric, the reason for the quilt - you know - All. Of. It.
In the late 1990s, I had already been bitten by the quilt bug and then I dove in even deeper into the world of quilts from the past. I was already buying and selling (some) antique quilts and learning about fabric history and dating quilts.
I read about a class being offered in Houston called “Boxes Under the Bed” and it sounded interesting. So I signed up, drove 5 hours and there I was!
Boxes Under the Bed was a documentation project through The Quilt Alliance meant to further the many quilt documentation projects that were happening around the country by including patterns, notes, fabric pieces, unfinished projects - you know, all those things that can end up in a shoe box under the bed.
A great example of a box full of the past, complete with mail ordered patterns and the envelopes they came in.
This was one of the first events that I attended with other people who were interested in more than just making a quilt. There was a common theme of curiosity that filled the room. These were people who (like me) would pick up a history book and enthusiastically read about the Arts and Crafts movement even though there wasn’t a quilt in the book - it still filled a hole in the bigger story of quilts and design. It quenched a thirst.
Around the same time, I joined the American Quilt Study Group. https://www.americanquiltstudygroup.org/ Here, I truly found soul mates in the quilt world! Research talk surrounded me - completed, ongoing or recently begun - all involving quilts, quilt makers and their lives. Here were people who didn’t think it was strange at all to be curious about why quilts from various regions could be so different. No one thought I was crazy because I wanted to find out everything I could about the name quilted into an antique quilt that I had purchased.
Through research and knowing smart people, I learned that trees in the border were a strong indication of a quilt from New York.
In the beginning, I was in awe of the very smart and experienced people that I met through AQSG. These people did research and wrote about it, I knew this because I had their books! I learned that these giants in the quilt research world were very approachable, helpful and supportive of new researchers.
In the years since, I have become more confident in my researching skills. There are many ways to share research and I generally choose to share mine through the stories I tell about my quilts during presentations. Some of my research is just kept with the other information I have about a quilt. It is part of the history of that quilt and will make the quilt more meaningful to a future owner.
Honestly, part of the reason I want to learn more about a quilt is just for my own satisfaction. Because I am one of the Nerdy Quilt People. Maybe you are too? There are places for people like us! You need to check out this cool event:
Research Rave: Cincinnati, August 2025
Join quilt historians Lisa Erlandson and Tara Miller for a three-day workshop designed to help you research the history of your quilts. Held at the Cincinnati Public Library, the event includes hands-on sessions, research librarian support, and follow-up Zoom check-ins to continue your journey.
Learn to trace makers through census records, newspapers, and more—all in a welcoming, supportive environment. More info here - and seriously, you need to do this!
Recent Posts
See AllThis is brief and doesn't have any snappy photos - boo! Did I go missing for like a year? The answer is yes. I've been having a little...
Comments