Talking Quilts has featured in a number of key publications

Now it’s time to listen to all those quilter’s stories. This article, written by Pauline Macaulay, chair of the Talking Quilts Committee, and Vicky Martin, Talking Quilts project Manager, outlines a summary of the project, from initial aims and objectives and getting started, to the projects achievements and taking the stories forward.

Every quilter has a story to tell about the quilts they make. Quilts are made to celebrate, to remember, for healing or therapy, as art or simply for pleasure. Talking Quilts is saving the stories of present day quilters by recording their narratives, practices and experiences, creating a national collection of quilters’ stories in their own words, including sound and video recordings, photographs and transcripts.

It’s almost five years since Dr Pauline Macaulay brought together a group of passionate quilters to brainstorm the idea of an oral history project to record the stories of people who quilt. Here, our Features Editor, Jane Rae, who has been involved with the project since those early days, shares some reflections on the value of oral history and discovers that Project Manager, Vicky Martin, has been doing more than just talking about quilts.

The first time I read about the Talking Quilts project was in The Quilter and immediately I knew it was for me. I can’t resist talking to those who share my passion for quilting. I love to find out why they choose their fabric, how they decided on a piecing method, what is their preferred quilting style and, perhaps most importantly, why a quilt was made.

So far 120 quilters have been interviewed by a dedicated team of over 40 volunteers. Each interview is recorded and transcribed, as well as documentary photographs taken of the quilter with their quilt. It is an amazing achievement and, ultimately, the Collection will provide us with a fascinating snapshot of quilting in the UK today.

I have become an oral historian. Who would have thought that quilting would lead me to this? But it has, and I’ll tell you how. I’ve been involved in the Talking Quilts project for the past five years. Pioneered in the UK by Pauline Macaulay, Talking Quilts is based on an American model called Quilters’ Save Our Stories (QSOS).

An update from Victoria Martin on ‘Talking Quilts’, a national oral history project that is recording, preserving and sharing the UK’s rich and diverse quilting heritage through the stories of today’s quilters…