Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Patchwork quilts are recognized as a valid data source for historical research and are no longer deemed important solely for artistic workmanship and aesthetic value. The purpose of this research was to record and interpret data concerning Swedish patchwork quilts dated between 1830 and 1929. Forty-three dated patchwork quilts identified in 31 Swedish museum collections were examined on site. Characteristics utilized for systematic quilt documentation were design, textile, construction, and surface embellishment. Data indicated that all-over style, diamond shape, and Star pattern were the most frequent designs. Quilt fabrics were primarily a solid color, silk and cotton fibers, and plain weave. Hand sewn top sections and hand quilting around quilt blocks were the predominant quilt construction methods, with the greatest number of quilts without surface embellishment. Patchwork quilts studied reflected Sweden's industrial advancements, economic growth and decline, social conditions, and national pride across the time line investigated.

Keywords

Key Words: quilts patchwork quilts Sweden.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ågren, K. (1987). Den svenska textilkonsterns ortskaraktär. (The local character of the Swedish textile art.) Svenska Turistföreningens Årsbok 1988: Levande Textil, 104-119.

Berg, H. (1873-1874). Handbok för fruntimmershandarbeten (tredje häftet). (Handbook in female textile art [3rd edition]). Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Förlag, 126-133.

Blanchard, R.T. , Feather, B.L. , & Wilson, L. (1991). Design characteristics and inspiration sources of depression era quilts. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal , 9(2), 56-64.

Boalt, E. (1931). Lapp vid lapp till täcken och annat. (Patch to patch for guilts and other purposes.) Stockholm: LTs Förlag AB.

Brittain, J. (1979/1980). Bonniers stora bok om handarbete . (Bonnier's big book on handicraft.) (B. Ahlquist, B. Darke, S. Jungmark, E. Köhlmark, and E. Svennås, Trans.). Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Förlag AB (Original work published 1979 ).

Colby, A. (1958). Patchwork. London: B. T. Batsford.

Diding, K. (1974). Lapptäcken och andra föremål sydda av lappar. (Patchwork quilts and other objects sewn of patches.) Unpublished uppsats i etnologi Lund: Folksarkivet.

Eldvik, B. (1977, September). Levande mönster: Ett urval textilier i olika tekniker ur Nordiska Museets samlingar. (Living patterns: A selection of textiles in various techniques from the collections of the Nordic Museum.) Stockholm: Nordiska Museet.

Francey, M.F. (1993, September/October). Quilts as interactive installations . FiberArts, 10-11.

10.

Grenander-Nyberg, G. (1969). Hemtextilier under 1800-talet. (Home textiles during the nineteenth century.) In H. Eriksson & O. Franzén (Eds.), Högsbyboken (pp. 563-580). Högsby: Förlag Högsby kommun.

11.

Grenander-Nyberg, G. (1983). Lanthemmens prydnadssöm: Studier av svenskt folkigt broderi på hemtextilier före 1900. (Decorative stitching in country homes: Studies of Swedish folk embroidery of home textiles before 1900.) Stockholm: Nordiska Museet.

12.

Henschen, L. Horlen, M. , & Lilliecrona, G. (1951). Handcraft in Sweden. Stockholm: LTs Förlag AB.

13.

Holstein, J. (1983). Collecting quilt data: History from statistics . The Quilt Digest. San Francisco: Kiracofe and Kile.

14.

Holstein, J. (1986). The American block quilt. In J. Lasansky (Ed.), In the heart of Pennsylvania: Symposium papers (pp. 16-27). Lewisburg, PA : Oral Traditions Projects.

15.

Ingers, G. (1968). Lapptäcken och annan lapplek. (Patchwork quilts and other play with patches.) Stockholm: LTs Förlag AB.

16.

Jung, K.M. , & Paoletti, J.B. (1987). Documentation and analysis of dated Victorian crazy quilts. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 5, 18-24.

17.

Koersner, W. (1888). Praktiskt handbok for alla (femtonde häftet). (Practical handbook for everyone [15th part.]) Stockholm : Author.

18.

Lindvall-Nordin, C. (1979). Som man bäddar får man ligga. (As you make your bed, so must you lie on it.) Kulturen, 106-121.

19.

Martin, E. , & Sydhoff, B. (1979). Swedish textile art. (W. Barrett, Trans.). Stockholm: Liberförlag.

20.

Nylén, A.M. (1977). Swedish handcraft. (A. Harvey, Trans.). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company . (Original work published 1968).

21.

Nyström, B. (1984). Museiguiden: Vägledning till svenska museer. (The museum guide: A guide to Swedish museums.) Stockholm: LTs Förlag i samarbete med Svenska Museiföreningen.

22.

Oscarsson, U. (1987). Spinn, spinn, dotter min ... om kvinnors textila hemarbete (Spin, spin, my daughter ... about women's textile homework). Svenska Turistföreningens Årsbok 1988: Levande Textile, 92-103.

23.

Paoletti, J.B. (1982). Content analysis: Its application to the study of history of costume. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal , 1, 14-17.

24.

Salter, J. (1981). The patchwork quilt. Ephrata, PA: Science Press.

25.

Scott, F.D. (1977). Sweden: The nation's history. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

26.

van der Hoof, G. (1986). Various aspects of dating quilts. In J. Lasansky (Ed.), In the heart of Pennsylvania: Symposium papers (pp. 76-83). Lewisburg, PA : Oral Traditions Projects.

27.

Wettre, Å. (1995). Old Swedish quilts. Loveland , CO: Interweave Press, Inc.

28.

Zygas, E.V. (1993). Abstract design in American quilts: A biography of an exhibition. The Journal of American Folk-lore, 106(422), 512-513.

Documentation of Swedish Patchwork Quilts: 1830 to 1929

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References