Add Your Quilt to Quilt Index

We now have a free and (relatively) easy way to document our quilts.  Our work does NOT need to be lost in history.

The Quilt Index is an amazing digital archive of quilts that is free and open to everyone.

Here's an overview from their site.

The Quilt Index is an open access, digital repository of thousands of images, stories and information about quilts and their makers drawn from hundreds of public and private collections around the world. The Quilt Index is a digital humanities research and education project of the Matrix: The Center for Digital Humanities & Social Sciences at Michigan State University.

PLEASE:  Add Your Quilts to the Quilt Index!

The Index is now open for public submission. YOU and everyone you know can now add quilts to the Index.   Submission is FREE.  All it will cost you is a bit of time.

Even if your photos are just OK, please submit your quilt anyway.

If you have older quilts made by family members, this is a wonderful way to preserve that legacy.

Don't have time or computer skills?  HIRE a teenager to do the uploading for you!!!

Submitting is free however,  I urge you to donate to the Index to help sustain this important project.  Donate Here.

Yes, YOUR quilts need to be documented!

If you are reading this and thinking that your quilt or your mother's quilt isn't a masterpiece, or that you aren't an artist or professional,  please , please, please wipe those thoughts from your mind!  Too many wonderful quilts are listed as 'Anonymous' even today because the makers are reluctant to even put their name and date on the quilt.

Here is a blog post where I discuss how to label your quilt.  The post has links to other resources. And there are YouTube videos on documentation projects.  Search quilt documentation on YouTube for videos on interesting projects.

My First Index Quilt--I Am Getting to Work

As of Feb 1, 2023, I have one quilt in the Index.  It was added by the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum which owns this work.  See it here.

Today--I Am Getting to Work

So, my commitment is that once a week, I will take 15 or 20 minutes to add a quilt or two to the Index.  If I have more energy, I will work up to one hour.  I might do it in the evening while watching TV--most of what's on streaming only takes a tiny bit of brain energy!

Here are a few of the quilts that I will start with.

Dear Dorothy art quilt

by Carole Lyles Shaw

MidCentury Modern Curves Ombre 101 By Carole Lyles Shaw

How to Add Your Quilt -- Here's the Process

The Public Submission page is here.

You can first download a blank Submission Word document on the Submission page and print it out to take notes on each quilt you want to submit.

In my case, I will create Word document with standard information that will apply to all of my quilts--such as my bio information on pages 7 and 8 of the form.  Then I can cut and paste my basic information into the Submission Portal.  That will save a bit of time.

Here's the good news--the form is mostly check boxes!!

The time it takes to to complete the form will vary.  In my case, some of the quilts have been published in my books or magazines so I need to make sure I have that information right at hand when I start completing the form.  For other quilts, I might have to dig a bit.

And, yes, the form doesn't fit modern quilts in some of the categories but so what!! Just SKIP less relevant questions and sections and add information in the text boxes.

REMEMBER:  It is BETTER to add some information than not to document anything.  And, we might want to make recommendations about changes or upgrades to the form that better fit modern and art quilts.

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