Textile enthusiasts who were not able to make it to the York Quilt Museum Exhibition Summer of 2013 will be thrilled to see the exhibit through this book. The unique collection of quilts and coverlets cover the period from 1780-1820s showcasing the burgeoning fashion for printed cottons and linens and their use in patchwork and quilting. Drawing on pieces from the Great Britain Quilters' Museum's heritage collection and loans from private collections, guest curator Bridget Long and curator Heather Audin have assembled one of the most comprehensive collections of early printed cotton quilts and coverlets that has ever been on display for public view in the UK and can now be seen in this book. "The period 1780-1820 represents an exciting chapter in our textile history. Technological improvements in the textile industry enabled printed cottons and linens, either new or second-hand, to be available to all levels of society. For the first time, needlewomen were able to demonstrate their artistic and design skills with printed patterns, combining fussy cutting and careful piecing to create dramatic and complex designs. The quilts and coverlets in this collection, by their very nature, provide a visual reference to the multitude of designs that were in production during the late 18th and early 19th century." The Coverlet on the pictured on the cover includes over 13 identifiable designs produced at the Bannister Hall printworks and at least two from the Jouy factory in France. The designs show the variety of design influences on furnishing fabrics, including fashionable Chinoiserie, Neo-classical, Egyptian and Drab styles. With more glorious images inside, this is a must have for textile and quilt lovers.