American Star Work Coverlets

By Judith Gordon

Most of the coverlets in North America were woven between the end of the eighteenth century and the Civil War, by women in towns and on farms, and by professional weavers who brought with them from Europe a detailed knowledge of weaves and cloth structures necessary to create the popular geometric- patterned coverlets reproduced in these pages. Using the term star work to embrace the wonderful star, diamond, and flower motifs that were beloved of the nineteenth century, and are equally appealing today, weaver Judith Gordon assembles here a collection of 80 coverlets, most Pennsylvania German in origin, and explains their history and construction. The information given with each coverlet - including color, fiber, size, and other pertinent notes, as well as weaving drafts and photographs that convey the thread-by-thread quality of the textiles - is sufficient for a weaver to reproduce the designs exactly. But this book is not just for weavers and collectors. Anyone who takes inspiration from the past can apply the patterns to his or her own purpose: other forms of textile decoration, needlepoint and embroidery, knitting, even wood carving and pottery. A celebration of weavers and their art, American Star Work Coverlets bring fresh inspiration to crafts people of today from weavers of yesterday, rescues designs worthy of remembrance from the destruction time, and preserves our heritage. (8 3/4 X 11 1/4, 156 pages, b&w photos, diagrams)

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558213821
• ISBN13: 9781558213821
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Green Editorial
• Length: 156 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Author's comments

Star-work coverlets, with motifs of stars, diamonds, and/or flowers, were woven by professional weavers of the nineteenth century. This book is the only one extant specifically covering these textiles. The coverlets were not signed or dated. But designs for them appear in coverlet weavers' manuscripts as early as 1819. A chapter in the book discusses some of these weavers and their manuscripts. The last chapter in the book describes the method by which a coverlet may be analysed.Over eighty coverlets were analysed. Handweavers can replicate the textiles exactly, or use the designs to weave other types of fabrics. The book is also of value to antique dealers, textile researchers, museum curators, and coverlet collectors. Craftspeople wishing to incorporate these old designs into modern works may find inspiration in these pages.