Eo 027: From Colonial Bedspreads to the Roaring 1920s: A Walk Through the History of Quilting in America with Quilt Scouts (Part 1)

Did you know that early colonial bed quilts were expensive status symbols — not the scrappy patchwork we picture today? In this special two-part collaboration with Megan of the Quilt Scouts podcast, we're taking our amateur but incredibly enthusiastic look at American quilting history: where it actually came from, which parts got romanticized over time, and how we can imagine what we think was really happening in the sewing rooms and quilting bees of the past.   In Part 1, we cover quilting as an ancient technique used for everything from clothing to armor, the shift from whole-cloth luxury quilts to accessible patchwork as U.S. fabric mills grew, how quilting bees were genuinely skilled community labor, and the Civil War–era quilters who used their craft for activism and fundraising. We wrap up just as the world of published patterns and quilt kits begins to bloom.   Head to Part 2 on the Quilt Scouts podcast to hear what happened next — and visit patchworkrevivalstudios.com for full show notes and links!   Don't forget to subscribe to the show so that you never miss an episode! Hop down to leave a review when you're ready, and then check out my shop - listeners of the pod get an exclusive discount with code: REVIVAL