Inside the Virginia Quilt Museum: Where Tradition Meets Trend

Discover a hidden gem in Harrisonburg, VA – the Virginia Quilt Museum. You won’t be disappointed even if you don’t think you’re interested in quilts. The museum is a treasure trove of Virginia’s quilting scene, with classic heirloom quilts and trendy contemporary pieces that will blow your mind!

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Overview of Exhibits

Exhibits switch up every 3-4 months, so there’s always something new to check out. During my last visit, I found a few exhibits that I think you’ll find interesting. They’ll give you a good taste of what you might expect when you drop by.

Contemporary Quilts

Contemporary quilts are having a moment, and the Virginia Quilt Museum is the perfect place to experience it.

My favorite gallery featured contemporary quilts by artist Cindy Grisdela. Cindy’s unique approach involves hand-guiding the quilt through the machine to stitch her designs rather than letting the machine do the work.

While she sticks to solid color fabrics for quilt-making, she creatively repurposes printed fabric scraps for backing, maximizing every bit of material.

Her bold use of color and her improvisational designs are so much fun.

One of Cindy’s quilts is displayed in a manner that showcases both the front and back sides.

In 1996, she started hand-stitching this traditional quilt but left it unfinished. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that she rediscovered it and decided to complete it using machine stitching. What’s fascinating is that the improvised backing she made in 1996 seemed to predict her future passion for contemporary quilting.

Historical Applique Quilts from the VQM Collection

This exhibit highlights the art of applique, where cut-out motifs are intricately layered onto a background fabric.

The names stitched into the squares of this Baltimore Album quilt aren’t just random; they represent the family members who resided at Belle Grove, a National Historic Landmark near Winchester. Additionally, the border features the names of all the women who contributed to the quilt. It’s incredible to think about the meticulous work, especially the tiny stitching. Everything, including the quilting, was done by hand.

One interesting aspect of historic quilts is the survivorship bias they represent. Essentially, what survives doesn’t always reflect what was commonly made and used. The quilts that endure are often the exceptional ones, not the everyday ones that are regularly used on beds.

While some everyday quilts still exist, they’re typically in poor condition or repurposed as rugs or rags over time. The VQM collection mainly consists of well-preserved quilts crafted to showcase the needlework skills of the women who made them and beautified their homes. They weren’t necessarily intended for warmth but rather as decorative pieces.

Quilting was one of the few areas where women historically had full autonomy. They could choose and buy their fabric, decide on the quilt’s design, and work without much interference from their husbands. Interestingly, quilts also allowed women to express their political sentiments silently.

Mixed Media Exhibit

This gallery exhibit by Wen Redmond features mixed-media fiber art inspired by nature. In addition to the hanging art pieces, visitors can engage with a collection of tactile cards and journals to feel the handmade paper textures.

Fiber Arts

Not a quilter? Each year, the museum hosts at least one exhibit exploring a different fiber art form. For instance, last year featured rug hooking, and this year is all about weaving. Looking ahead, the museum is hoping to showcase embroidery in an upcoming exhibit.

The weaving exhibition features creations by the Rivanna Weavers, a collective of seven artists.

Antique Sewing Machines

The history of sewing machines is fascinating. Multiple inventors conceived similar ideas around the same time, leading to a surge of innovation in the 1840s. What followed was a flurry of legal battles, with each inventor vying for recognition and protection of their designs. Eventually, they realized constant litigation was futile and counterproductive and formed one of the earliest patent conglomerates.

Singer emerged as a frontrunner in this conglomerate due to their innovative payment plan, a groundbreaking concept tailored to women’s domestic work.

The collection boasts around 60 sewing machines, ranging from full-size models to sample sizes and toys.

I loved seeing the vintage Howe treadle sewing machines. The body, base, and foot pedals are cast iron and have the brass medallion with Elias Howe’s head on the base.

Special Events

• Quilt Evaluation Days – Experts are available to provide insights into the history and care of your quilt. While appraisals are not offered, they can offer guidance and may recommend visiting an appraiser for further assessment. It’s a valuable opportunity to learn more about your cherished quilt!
• Meet the Artist Days – Visitors can interact with the artists behind the artwork.
• Quilt Raffles – Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the unique quilts crafted specifically for these fundraising events.
• Coming Soon – The basement is currently undergoing renovations, but once finished, it will host an exhibit explaining the essence of quilting and the process behind making them. Visitors can look forward to interactive activities, including a design wall featuring fabric scraps for creative exploration.