Fresh Perspectives: Reinventing 18 Classic Quilts from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Jones and Finley delved into the database of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Neb., and played like Scrooge McDuck in his vault. The quilters (The Quilt Revival) did not merely appreciate items from the vast collection but they and others were inspired to reinterpret selected patterns. Sometimes they followed the original closely; other times, they simplified, as, for example, reinterpreting the large, 19th-century Medallion as a smaller, modern Pansy Medallion. Jones and Finley introduce each of the 18 quilts in a brief essay explaining the “inspiration,” followed by “interpretation,” directions for making their 21st-century versions. “The Inspiration” discusses the original, sometimes, as with Lady in the Lake, delving into the history of the name itself. These sections also describe the quilters’ quirks and motivations. “The Interpretation” sections, directed at the experienced quilter, include templates, colored patterns, hints and suggestions (for example, they note that Vibrant Lady works well for collaborations). The 18 projects, mostly pieced quilts plus a few appliqued, include stars and stripes, but the nine-patch appears most frequently. (Aug.)