Kentucky's contribution to the perennially popular American craft of quiltmaking is a rich and varied one. Mary Clarke examines here the state of the craft in Kentucky and finds it as lively today as it was 150 years ago. Today, as in the past, the setting varies from the lone quilter stitching in quiet contentment to the busy conviviality of the quilting bee, which still thrives in many communities. Like a fingerprint, every Kentucky quilt differs from the others in some respects, whether it is an original creation or a variation of one of the traditional patterns long popular in the United States. Materials and workmanship range from frugal simplicity to extravagance. And many Kentucky quilts reveal much about the individual maker - her disposition, taste, and lifestyle, the familiar objects that bring joy to her daily life, and her response to events beyond the confines of family and home. Taken as a whole, Kentucky quilts and quilt names reflect the history of the Commonwealth, at every turn showing the intermingling of old and new in the grassroots continuity of an ancient craft that responds to fads and fashions by absorbing and refining them. Kentucky Quilts & Their Makers offers a tribute to the women of the Commonwealth who for generations have created beautiful quilts, and to the museums and individuals who have taken the trouble to preserve them. Ira Kohn's photographs bring to life Kentucky quilts of past and present.
