Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Description:Helen Allen has been quilting since about 1980 while she was attending night school. She belongs to a quilter’s bee called “White on White”,and is also an active member of her quilt guild Piecemakers. Allen believes a quilt should have meaning, which is why she hopes to make a remembrance quilt for her five grandchildren. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Description:Helen Aponte has been quilting for about 25 years, but did not fully get into quilting until after she retired. She is largely self-taught, however, she has taken some lessons once she became a more avid quilter. She enjoys using scraps of fabrics as opposed to whole pieces of cloth, and finds quilting relaxing. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Subject:Arts and crafts
Quilting.
Quiltmakers--United States.
Appliqué--Patterns.
Artists
Arts and crafts.
Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Description:Helen Kelley talks about her "Grandma Kelley Quilts" and being included in the "100 Best Quilters of the Century." She discusses the joy she gets from quilting and where she gets her inspiration from.

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Subject:Quilting
Quilts--Design.
Applique--Patterns.
Quilters
Quilting.
Quiltmakers
Quiltmaking
Quiltmaking process
Quilts
Appliqué--Patterns.
Quilting--United States--Patterns.
Strip quilting
Authors and publishers.
Authors.
Writing
Families.

Description:Helen Young Frost discusses her quilt, “A World of Flowers,” which she started in 1992 for a class she taught at Quilt Expo Europa, then later modified it to make more contemporary. It is hand appliqued and hand quilted. Most of Frost’s books are about strip piecing, but she has also co-authored books on hand applique and hand quilting. She and quilter Debbie Gordon saw a need for books on heirloom-quality baby quilts. Frost has quilted since high school, learning traditional patchwork and how to draft her own blocks. Her mother, Blanche Young, taught quiltmaking, and Frost became a teacher when the American Bicentennial spurred interest in traditional quilting. She and her sister Dalene Young Stone have co-authored books with her mother, noted quiltmaker Blanche Young. Frost and her mother pursue different methods of strip piecing. Another sister is a professional machine quilter. Frost describes balancing family life with the demands of being a “celebrity quilter” who travels and participates in numerous quilt shows. Like other quilters, she used quiltmaking to help her deal with her feelings after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Frost discusses what makes a great quilt, the preservation of quilts, machine versus hand quilting, and taking inspiration for her quilts from the Southwest region. She talks about quilting as her livelihood. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Subject:Quiltmakers.
Quilters
Quilts--Design.
Quilts.
Quilting.
Male quiltmakers

Description:Van Kooten discusses his ventures in quilting and the influence that it has had on his life as a hobby as well as a source of monetary value when entering competitions. He talks about the wearable quilted item (the "Kootomono") that he brought to the setting of the interview, the influence of his Dutch origins on his quilting, his preferred method of quilting, and the importance of young people continuing the tradition of quilting. At the end of the interview, he briefly explains the name of the wearable quilted item that he brought along with him. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Subject:Quilts
Quilting
Women
Textiles
Crafts & decorating
Textile artists
Decorative arts
Women in art
Africans in art
Artists
Designers
Textile designers
Family
Africa
Sahel

Description:Quilt artist and designer Hollis Chatelain, whose quilt "Sahel" is featured in the 100 Best Quilts Collection, is interviewed by Paula Bosselman for the Quilters' S.O.S. Oral History Project. She discusses her time living in Africa and its major influence on her art and artistic processes. She describes how she dyes her own fabrics and paints her quilts, preferring to paint quilts over sewing them. Chatelain goes into great detail about differing cultural aspects between African and American cultures and why she is drawn to African imagery in her art. She discusses the technical aspects of quilt making and her other influences, such as color and nature. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Subject:Quilting
Sewing
Quiltmakers
Quilting--Patterns
Portraits on quilts
Art, Tuareg

Description:Hollis Chatelain is known for her monochromatic work. She begins by talking about her monochromatic pieces, particularly "Blue Men" which she brought to the interview. She considers what makes a great quilt, and her ability to make money from her work. She reflects on the quilting community and her use of dyed fabrics. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Subject:Quilts
Quilters
Quilts--Design.
Fabrics
Fabric arts
Textiles
Textile artists
Decorative arts
Crafts & decorating
Women
Artists
Sewing
Sewing machines
Families
Arts & crafts

Description:Phyllis J. Harris interviews Irma Gail Hatcher, an award-winning quilter at the Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. Hatcher's quilt, "Conway Album", was included in the 100 Best American Quilts of the 20th Century collection. In the interview, Hatcher discusses several of her quilts, including 2 quilts she created for her twin granddaughters. She discusses technical aspects of quilting, including how she creates her designs, the techniques she uses to create her quilts, and her design inspirations. She talks about the personal side of quilting, such as the qualities of a great quilter and quilt, and her career as a quilt teacher. She discusses her family and how her quilting impacts their lives. [show more]

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History

Type:Oral History