This remarkable book features fifty quilt blocks to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, some of which were presented on Barbara’s blog in 2011. Many of these blocks weren’t designed until the 1930s, but Barbara selected each one for the unique symbolism its name lends to recounting stories of the war during the mid-1800s. Dig into those prized reproduction fabrics and enjoy mixing and matching blocks to make your own tribute quilt. Images of sampler quilts are included for inspiration.
• Journey through this historic time in American history with Barbara Brackman, bestselling author and quilt historian
• Learn more about Civil War women through this special compilation of quilt block patterns, combined with period photos and first-person accounts
• Choose from a variety of pieced or appliquéd blocks, each shown in two colorways with instructions for assembling two sizes (8” and 12”)
Review Fons and Porter Magazine - November 15, 2012
If you are a history buff like some of us here, along with quilting, Barbara Brackmanintroduced The Civil War Sampler – 50 Quilt Blocks with Stories from History coming out from C&T. The blocks and possibilities are endless and have appear on her blog but you can get them and the history in her book.
Review professionalquilter.com - January 8, 2013
Noted quilt historian Barbara Brackman created a blog devoted to Civil War quilts about two years. It was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. She began to attract a large following for the weekly block with a first-person story about the war. By this week, she has attracted more than 1,000,000 viewers to her blog. Her book is a collection of 50 8? x 8? or 12? x 12? blocks with the accompanying stories. She chose the blocks based on the symbolism of their names, as most were published in the 1930s, well past the end of the war. It is fun to read the connections she makes between the history of the war and the blocks.
Review Australian Homespun Magazine - May 1, 2013
Each week throughout 2011, renowned quilt historian Barbara Brackman posted instructions for making a patchwork block on her blog to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Although the blocks were traditional, most had been published in the 1930s in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and the Kansas City Star - not many actually dated from the Civil War era. But Barbara uses the symbolism of the block names and words taken from the diaries and journals of the time to acknowledge the war's events and honour those who lived through them. The series became extremely popular, and Barbara was encouraged to package them, along with a few new features, in this book. She provides instructions for cutting the fabric to make both 8 in and 12 in blocks, a diagram to help you construct it, photographs of the block made in two different coourways, and a historical note that explains the significance of its name. There aren't detailed step-by-step instructions for making a quilt from all 50 blocks - that's up to your imagination.
