When: closing January 20, 2020
From the 1870s through the 1920s, silk manufacturing increased, while silk prices fell, and American women made a lot of quilts. It was a way for them to express their individual imagination - to be artists in a way that was permissible in a society that frowned upon female expression. And it was a way for them to decorate their parlors.
In case you don't know, silk is a filament extruded by a silkworm as it creates the cocoon where it will mature from a caterpillar to a moth. Fun fact!
Quilts were made with pieces of silk left over from the dress-making process. Early on, women made quilts in elaborate patterns. Of those on display, I thought they were the nicest. As time passed, crazy quilts came into fashion - no pattern necessary, which allowed for more artistic license.
The Museum houses the National Quilt Collection (I didn't even know there was such a thing until this week), with over 500 examples of American handmade quilts and quilt-related items. Only a fraction of those items are on display in this show, in part because they are fragile.
Verdict: If you're a fan of needlework, this is a must see.
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