Oregon Quilt Documentation

The last Saturday of June I volunteered for the Oregon Quilt Project. I've certainly enjoyed myself both times I have helped. I was asked by Bill and Martha to be a guest blogger on the OQP blog and of course I said I would. You can read my perspective, then return to leave a comment and read the rest of this post. Of course, you can always send an email on the Quilt Project site if you want to leave a comment or get more information.


Because the quilts being documented will be published at a later date I will not be able to show any of the quilts on this blog.

I did, however bring in two quilts to be documented. I've shown this one before, but if you are like me I can look at old quilts more than once!!
The quilts are brought in to a check in desk and if you haven't filled in the paperwork for each quilt you would do that. The paperwork consist of the owner of the quilt and any information you have on. It is very detailed. With my quilt I didn't know much other than I purchased it in Bend, Oregon about 10 years ago from an antique store.

As you can see on the Oregon Quilt Doc site they had two tables set up with 4 women working each table. More information is documented from the actual quilt.
quilt pattern, fabric, batting (if they can tell) backing, year of fabric, damage, etc. It is all very detailed.
It was nonstop all day so I didn't really get a chance to hear what they said about my quilt, other than the block was a variation of Washington's Pavement and the approximate year was 1876-1900. I think they date it by the earlier fabric and the later fabric.



Next the quilt comes to the photography station where the talented Bill Volckening positions the quilt correctly with his volunteers and takes anywhere from 5-10 photos. (you must check out his quilt collection!! If we had any down time I was trying not to drool on his computer while he showed us some of his quilts)


I believe this was one of the older fabrics in my quilt.

It's amazing what you find when you take the time to really look at a quilt!! All 4 tiny corners were a different fabric. Do you see the make-do patches also?

Before the quilt is returned to its owner a quilt doc label is pinned on. I plan on appliqueing these down very soon. It is another important step in the Oregon Documentation process.

Bill and Martha are so friendly and professional. The volunteers take their job seriously and do a terrific job as well. I recommend if you have a quilt that resides in Oregon please take the time to find out where they will be working and get your quilt documented.

Oregon Quilt Documentation

Oregon has finally started documenting quilts!! I volunteered yesterday at Sisters to help. I had no idea how wonderful and fun it would be. This is a two year project and plan on helping again somewhere in the future. You can read more info at the Oregon Quilt Project.

This was one of the first quilts to enter the room!!! We about all fell over!! It was a family quilt dated to 1851. The Oak and Reel larger block is called Heroes Crown. I thought that was an awesome block name.
Need I say more about this photo? Several motifs tightly quilted all over. The flowers are reversed applique in the center.

AMAZING!!

Here was some of the group getting the fine info....with a lot of volunteers trying not to drool!!

The woman with the brown sweater is Mary Bywater Cross the author of Quilts of the Oregon Trail.

Here was a volunteers quilt that she had won in a raffle!! The quilting was amazing. Not all quilts being documented have to be old.

This was one of the more beautiful double wedding rings I've seen. The woman who brought it in found it in a bag after a death of a family member.

Here are two signature quilts. The woman who brought this on in also found in a plastic bag in an attic of her MIL who had died.

I don't remember what the story was on this one. I loved the border and how accurately it meets at the top!! hahaha
This was a beauty too!!

What a fantastic day being with fun people who also have a love of quilts and especially old quilts.

Have a great weekend!!