Julie HendricksenPreserving History: Patchwork Patterns Inspired by Antique Quilts

All but 1 of the 14 quilts in Julie Hendricksen's book Preserving History use layouts involving just 1 pieced block repeated until your attention span or stash run out. (That 1 outlier uses 2 blocks repeated as needed.) This is not a complaint, but an observation of old values worth preserving: patience, endurance, love of the craft, scrappiness, extreme accuracy, and "make do".These quilts seem to enjoy competing with each other for "most blocks", "most pieces", and "most seams". For example, "Birthday Quilt" at 68 3/8" × 68 3/8" requires piecing 1,030 9-patch units that are only 2"×2". Dare I mention the 961 alternate blocks? "Flying Geese" at 65.5"×81.75" involves 1,690 FG units done the old-fashioned folded corner way *. If that number doesn't scare or inspire you, consider the accuracy that will be needed to join each unit side-by-side into rows, then matching all those goosey points when you join rows.So many skills will get ample practice time. Of course there's the piecing and joining and the perfectly scant 1/4"-seam. There will also be hours of pressing, and directionality is critical. Plus, it's an enviable miracle that Hendricksen can keep these multitides of pieces in a straight line. The rows are long and narrow and consequently prone to curving. DO make sure to use an age-old tip when joining such rows: join row 1 to row 2 sewing in one direction. Then sew row 2 to row 3 in the opposite direction.Setting in and matching points (anyone remember point-matching?) is needed for just 1 quilt. I think it's the neatest, coolest quilt of them all. It's called "Scrappy X Delight". At 73.5"×81.5" it uses a fascinating method using strip sets to make the Xs. So, add diagonal cutting and piecing to the skill-sets used.Excellent instructions and illustrations. Beautifully vintage look. Buy more fabric.* As I gazed longingly at "Flying Geese", I realised there is an alternate way to make it, IF you are good at joining diagonal seams. Each row is essentially 1 downward-facing white isosceles triangle joined to 1 upward-facing printed isosceles triangle. No folded-corner geese units required, and way fewer seams in each row.

The book was not definitive. Ok presentation but the patterns given did not live up yo the book title.As a Historical Society , I needed more.

i have a collection of quilt books and the quilts in this one are all classic and appealing to me, and they are also accessible in terms of execution. I really love old quilts, and i really appreciate the simple machine quilting tips that enable you to achieve the antique look anew.

So many new patterns to sew and so little time! What a treasure!!

Great book for pictures of the old quilts and a nice how to make one in a modern technique.Some of the patterns are a Snowball, Sawtooth Star, Basket, Windmills, Chain, Flying Geese and a Postage Stamp (really small pieces) I really do like this book. It made me appreciate the work of the quilters. I thought of my Grandmother who cut the templates from sandpaper, traced onto the fabric and cut each piece by hand with scissors and sewed piece by piece by hand. One quilt would take days for her to cut out and then months to piece by hand. I can truly appreciate the work- but give me my rotary cutter, rulers and templates. I think with this book modern quilters will preserve the patterns but not the old ways of cutting. I think the choosing of fabrics, color, layout, and design will remain the same creative force as to why we quilt, but the execution of cutting and sewing will move these beautiful quilts into the present.

I love reproduction prints and use them almost exclusively; therefore, this book drew me in. I love seeing the old quilt patterns made with reproduction fabrics. I liked the pages spent teaching about dyes used in the fabrics, the colors like madder and Turkey Red, double Pinks, the blues, yellows, grays, and purples. All have names and a history. She wrote about some of the prints we see in those old fabrics and gave us pictures so the beginner can use this as a guide when shopping. Her directions are clear and illustrations follow so that a beginner can easily follow and achieve precise results. This is a good addition to a quilter's library.

This is the best book I've seen on reproducing patterns. It isn't a of rehashed patterns but with much explanation and history detail, told in a very easy manner. You probably need to have a little experience in making quilts as it isn't a really basic book, (that we seem to get these days that fill pages and pages of stuff that a quilter should already know.) But gives well written information about reproducing pattern from history.A real winner in my mind

Beautiful book and the quilts in it are equally beautiful. It gets 4 stars because I haven't sat down to use it yet but I have looked through it and the instructions seem clear and the photographs...well they are beautiful as well. I love the historical reproductions prints that are used. This is absolutely the direction my quilts will go when I get the time(?) to create one of my own.

Perfect for a historical background to some old designs with a modern 'how to do' section each time. Delighted with this purchase

this was bought as a birthday present and the recipient was absolutely delighted with it

havent used any patterns yet but have plans to do so. Lovely book

Very useful companion to her second book.

I love this book with fab designs and clear instructions.