This groundbreaking book documents the fascinating history of quilt and patchwork production. The hidden histories and personal narratives of some of the most evocative objects in the V&A's collection are revealed, from the origins of the 'love poem' on the Chapman marriage coverlet to the sources of inspiration for the intricately pieced pictorial 'George III coverlet'. Now available in paperback, this lavishly illustrated book challenges the assumption that stitching is simply 'women's work'.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is the world’s greatest museum of art and design, with a vast collection that been an unparalleled resource for designers for 150 years. This new series of pattern books presents the range of the V&A’s superb collections. Beautifully designed, accessible, and informative, these little books are a repository of ideas and inspiration for designers of all kinds. Included in each volume is a CD of all the images shown within--to be redrawn, reworked, or even licensed for further use. The books are available individually or in a beautiful decorative slipcase. The Fifties The Fifties produced some of the most inventive and innovative twentieth-century pattern designs as the emerging trend for abstraction in the fine arts--as exemplified by Miró, Calder, and Klee, for instance--acted as a stimulus for many European and American designers.