C&T Publishing Blog

We are very excited to announce that we’ve just brought Barbara Brackman’s book, Quilts from the Civil War back from out of print status. This book which sold over 35,000 copies has been out of print since 2004. We’ve had so many readers request the book over the years that we are happy to announce its return.

This time around you can purchase it 24 hours a day right from your computer. The book is now an eBook and you can purchase it here for only $19.99 as a full color PDF.

Once you click on the Buy Now button, you will go to paypal to complete your purchase and instantly download the PDF.
In case you are wondering what is in the book, here is a great review from a reader review posted on Amazon:
“Quilts from the Civil War” not only contains projects for reproducing numerous quilts of the 1850s and 1860s, it also contains an excellent discussion of the role quilts played in people’s lives. Barbara Brackman describes quilts made for freedom fairs, by the Sanitary Commission for use by soldiers, and quilts made to express patriotic fervor. Brackman goes beyond a mere discussion of quilts, however, to discuss the development of chemical dyes, women’s involvement in the war effort in general, the effect of the blockade on southern textile production, the need to hide quilts from occupying Yankee forces, and even the relationships that developed between quiltmakers and soldiers who received the donated quilt.

Brackman also examines the argument that quilts were used as clues for slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, and concludes that these tales likely were a myth. (Nevertheless, she includes a Jacob’s Ladder-style quilt that honors the Underground Railroad.) In evaluating this theory, she discusses the history of the Log Cabin quilt.

Period photographs of women and children, engravings of Sanitary Fairs and other gatherings, photographs of original and reproduction quilts and original dresses beautifully illustrate this book. Excerpts from journals, letters and newspaper articles and reprints of ads calling for the production of items for soldiers add further interest.

Brackman provides a unique timeline that combines both traditional historic events, such as “March 4, 1864 - Grant becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army” with social or women’s history, such as “August 1864 - Ladies Christian Commission of San Francisco sponsors a Grand Fair” and “October 5, 1864 - Mary Jones of Georgia records paying $16 a yard for calico.”

Footnotes provide directions for those interested in further research.

For those interested in trying some of the projects contained in the book, the directions are clear and easy to follow. Brackman provides strip quilting directions for some of the quilts (such as the Underground Railroad) but not for others where this technique could speed production (such as the Log Fence). The appendix contains excellent information on batting, quilting styles, binding and other details to give quilts a more period look.

Overall, despite projects that are more inspired by historic quilts than faithful reproductions, “Quilts from the Civil War” is an excellent source of information about textile production during the 1850s and 1860s.

Let us know if there are any of our out of print titles that you would like to see us bring back from the dead. Happy Reading!!