Extensively illustrated, with over 100 drawings and 11 unique Mary Schafer patterns, Mary Schafer, American Quilt Maker is a must-have book for anyone passionate about American quilting.
While we take that passion for granted today, author Gwen Marston shows that it wasn't always so; indeed, one woman, Mary Schafer, was largely responsible for the restoration of interest in one of our greatest folk arts -- long before the American bicentennial turned quilting into what seemed like an overnight sensation.
Marston presents Schafer as an unassuming scholar: the anonymous quilter, remaining humble and somewhat retiring. Behind the modest façade, however, Schafer displayed a remarkable devotion to research, historical accuracy, and community through her efforts to make quilting available to as many people as possible.
Nonquilters will find Mary Schafer, American Quilt Maker a welcome addition to their collection of the work of masters of American folk art, while quilting aficionados will appreciate it not only for the story it tells, but for the generous selection of patterns and illustrations it offers.
Gwen Marston is a nationally known quilt maker, teacher, and author. She is the author of over fifteen books on quilting, including Liberated String Quilts, 70 Classic Quilting Patterns, and Amish Quilting Patterns.
| List of illustrations | ||
| Pt. 1 | Laying the groundwork : an overview of the quilt revival in the twentieth century | 1 |
| Influences : early quilt magazines | 6 | |
| Quilt study | 11 | |
| Mary's correspondence | 18 | |
| Pt. 2 | Mary Schafer and her quilts | 27 |
| The Schafer and Harriman collaboration | 29 | |
| Coming to America | 39 | |
| Mary's early quilts | 45 | |
| Pattern collecting | 50 | |
| Mary makes quilt blocks | 57 | |
| The challenge period | 62 | |
| The bicentennial quilt revival | 68 | |
| Mary's quilts for others | 74 | |
| Recognition comes to Mary | 81 | |
| Mary, 1990 to the present | 89 | |
| Pt. 3 | The Schafer quilts | 95 |
| Mary's technique | 97 | |
| Artistic characteristics | 109 | |
| Finding a home for the first collection | 118 | |
| The second collection | 127 | |
| Motivation | 143 | |
| The quilts in the first collection | 149 | |
| The quilts in the second collection | 158 | |
| Ten Mary Schafer quilt patterns | 165 | |
| Complete inventory of Mary Schafer quilts | 183 | |
| Mary Schafer timeline | 197 | |
| Mary Schafer resume | 203 | |
| Notes | 207 | |
| Bibliography | 213 |
Overview
Extensively illustrated, with over 100 drawings and 11 unique Mary Schafer patterns, Mary Schafer, American Quilt Maker is a must-have book for anyone passionate about American quilting.
While we take that passion for granted today, author Gwen Marston shows that it wasn't always so; indeed, one woman, Mary Schafer, was largely responsible for the restoration of interest in one of our greatest folk arts -- long before the American bicentennial ...