New Pathways into Quilt History written by Kimberly Wulfert, www.antiquequiltdating.com

Quilt Historian Interview with:

Pat L. Nickols
Quilt & Fabric Historian

1) How do you prefer to be described as, within the field of textile history?
If you have a business, please tell us about that.

"Quilt Historian & Fabric Historian."  Click to see some of Pat' Nickols' line of fabrics

2)  When and where did you begin your serious interest in the history of quilts, textiles or garments?

"It all began in Columbia, MO in 1977 when I took my first class in quilting.  I loved selecting the fabrics and doing the hand piecing.  I was soon looking at old quilts and tops at our local Flea Market.  I still have the first antique top I purchased.  A year later we moved to southern California and I soon began teaching in Orange county.  While teaching was a pleasure I was eager to learn more quilt history.  Attending the Continental Quilt conferences, the American Quilt Study seminars and doing independent study at museums around the country and in Europe has given me that opportunity."   

3)  What “known” individual (or group) influenced you the most and why

"Sally Garoutte and Joyce Gross introduced me to “quilt history” and the American Quilt Study Group.  I was thrilled to find others interested in learning more about antique quilts.  Cuesta Benberry gave a quilt study workshop at the first (of many) annual Continental Quilt Conferences that I attended and she gave me the insight on how to study quilts.  Sally helped me with my first published paper, Joyce started me on my way to Mary McElwain research and Cuesta has answered so many questions over the years.  She is ever present with her storehouse of knowledge."

4) Who became your personal mentor as you began your learning?

"In addition to the three mentioned above I would add Mary Barton.  She was a great inspiration, she recognized my serious interest and we discussed the various methods to study fabrics, their dating and documentation.  Our exchanges were ongoing stimulus to me."

5)  What aspect of study were you most passionate about at first ?  How has this changed over time and why?

"Dating and documentation.   The vast variety of prints, and their documentation has fascinated me and that intrigue has continued.  Who designed and produced the fabrics, where and when was this done, are the questions I continue to ask.  It is very satisfying to put a mill, general time frame, or even a date with a print."

6)  What is your current “pet project”?

"Which one?   Charm quilts, string quilt, quilts made from sacks, are big but there are always about 6 ongoing research projects with another big group sitting in folders on the sidelines."

7)  What aspect of your research or contribution to textile studies has satisfied you the most?

"Seeing my research findings published and used by others has and continues to give me a great deal of satisfaction.  Gathering pieces of a puzzle is a long, often solitary journey.   When you assemble information that others recognize and can use to support their   ongoing quilt study it is gratifying.

"Must also include producing authentic reproduction fabric.  Working with a great team at P & B Textiles, Inc. we have been able to print two collections of very real looking reproduction fabrics.  Work already begun on Collection III.  What a thrill to be able to cut into newly printed fabrics of early 1800s prints to make quilts that look like that era."

8)  Within the textile arena, what would you like to do, but haven’t done yet?

"Publish; several books and some articles - information I have gathered through research often with interesting illustrations.  I would like the opportunity to share what I have learned to enable others to use and build on my findings."

9)  Any further comments are  invited.

"We are still in the early beginnings of quilt history, I believe.  There is much to learn as we put many parts of the puzzle together.  The State documentation projects and the books they have published are most helpful, the quilt history books from other countries have added a great deal of information, but the continued exploration and contributions by individuals is most important."

Please describe (in a list) the contributions you have made via books, exhibits, presentations, contests, articles, fabric lines, research papers and the like.