
Welcome to the Putnam County Museum

Not Your Grandma's Quilt: Contemporary Quilts of Putnam County
Opening October 6, 2024
This exhibit, curated by the Putnam County Extension Homemaker Quilt clubs, One Stitch at a Time and Sew Many Stitchers, features contemporary quilts of the 21st century.
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Grandma’s quilts were oftentimes made from feed-sacks and bits of fabric from worn out clothing, each piece of the quilt holding a memory of family and times gone by. Time, technology, and the vast array and availability of fabric and quilting tools has changed the look of quilts and quilting. Our quilt clubs embrace the joy of quilting and views quilting as a means of expressing ourselves using fabric, texture, color and patterns, with the hope of leaving behind a legacy of love and memories for our children and grandchildren.
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Quilts are so much more than just warm bed covers -- they are love, care, memories, hope, and creativity expressed through the patterns, materials, and hands of their makers.
​There is something special about snuggling under a warm quilt on a cold night. Though light in weight, the quilt traps the body's heat in the air cells created by the quilting, a unique combination of layering and stitching. Soon the quilt becomes a cozy, enveloping shield that no icy blast can penetrate.
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The term "quilt" comes from the Latin “culcita”, meaning a stuffed sack. The word has two meanings. It is used as noun, meaning the 3-layer stitched bed covering, consisting of a decorated top, a backing and a filler in the middle. It is also used as a verb, meaning the act of stitching through the 3 layers to hold them together.




A selection of contemporary quilts.
Quilting is not only a fun and creative hobby, it also offers numerous health benefits for both mind and body. The concentration required to choose fabrics, stitch and create intricate patterns diverts attention away from stressors, fostering a sense of calmness and reducing anxiety levels. It offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as it provides a tangible end-product that can be used or gifted.
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There is something special about snuggling under a warm quilt on a cold night. Though light in weight, the quilt traps the body's heat in the air cells created by the quilting, a unique combination of layering and stitching. Soon the quilt becomes a cozy, enveloping shield that no icy blast can penetrate.
​
The term "quilt" comes from the Latin “culcita”, meaning a stuffed sack. The word has two meanings. It is used as noun, meaning the 3-layer stitched bed covering, consisting of a decorated top, a backing and a filler in the middle. It is also used as a verb, meaning the act of stitching through the 3 layers to hold them together.
Quilting is not only a fun and creative hobby, it also offers numerous health benefits for both mind and body. The concentration required to choose fabrics, stitch and create intricate patterns diverts attention away from stressors, fostering a sense of calmness and reducing anxiety levels. It offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as it provides a tangible end-product that can be used or gifted.