People have always depended on furs, fibers, and fabrics for protection and warmth, but these materials also served as a way to enrich their environment. Until the rail lines opened up routes to the South Carolina backcountry in the middle of the nineteenth century, residents had little access to imported goods. In the mountains and foothills, Scots-Irish immigrants brought a strong tradition of flax harvesting and linen production. In other parts of the rural south, plantations provided another source of homespun textiles. Textiles, especially quilts, can serve several functions. Quilts carry powerful emotional significance and many were made to show off fine fabrics and fancy needlework; others were composed of scraps and remnants. Whether using imported fabrics, domestically produced fibers, or material scraps from the family farm, quilts are intimately connected to the maker’s social and economic environment.
Content is provided by McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina.
For further information about any of the artists featured on Digital Traditions, send your questions and comments to hallagan@mailbox.sc.edu.
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Ruby and Estelle discuss an afghan Rineheart is especially proud of, and using small scraps and making something out of it.
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Beachy-Amish Mennonites who live in Cold Springs, S.C. (Abbeville County). Sadie is an accomplished quilter.
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Mabel Hagan Is an accomplished quilter. She is pictured with a “Save All” quilt. The rop was made by her grandmother and was given to her as a wedding present. Five or six years later, she and her...
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Quilting Two Greenwood (Greenwood County) women who like to quilt together. Interview conducted by Anne Kimzey.
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Ahrens, Pat All Male Chorus of Blacksburg Arnold, Mac Ayers, Sara Basket, Nancy Baylor, Amos Bellow, Roger Bennett, Mary Jane Benson, JD Blackwell, Richard Boggs, Horatio Manning Bollack, James Booker...
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Audio transcript for: Ruby Richey & Estelle Rineheart, Part 1 - How They Began Quilting Ruby Richey & Estelle Rineheart, Part 2 - Buying Material Ruby Richey & Estelle Rineheart, Part 3 - More On...
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Audio Transcript for... Canning Vegetables Corduroy Quilt Curing Meat Killing Hogs Making Lye Soap Making Souse Meat Quilting Snakes
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Audio transcript for: Nellie Mursier, Part 1: Growing Up Nellie Mursier, Part 2: Making String Quilts Nellie Mursier, Part 3: Other Patterns Nellie Mursier, Part 4: Afghans
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Audio transcript for: Church Homecoming Different Weather Lived Off Land Making Gingerbread Making Molasses Necessity Of Hog Killing Quilting Senior Quilting Group Sugar Vs. Salt Curing Working At The...
