National Museum of the American Coverlet

New Exhibition - Catalogs Now Available - The National Museum of the American Coverlet is pleased and honored to offer this new exhibition entitled SIGNATURE WO...RKS - Sweet Dreams are Made of These. The exhibition focuses on inscriptions, trademarks and other identifiers. The entire exhibition is comprised of coverlets recently donated by our friend Jude Fera, who has very generously given the Museum 158 of her cherished coverlets along with one panel of ingrain carpet. Over many years Jude has been a knowledgeable, careful and selective collector who assembled an outstanding group of textiles. Her collection is as important as it is sizeable. Although she acquired a large and varied assortment of coverlets both geometric and figured - and from many states of origin - Jude, a Connecticut resident, has always had a special interest in New England coverlets, and particularly signed, labelled and/or dated geometrics. It is useful to note that New England coverlets don't seem to make their way to us here in Pennsylvania as often as coverlets from other parts of the country. The Fera coverlets, now in the NMAC permanent collection, are significant and welcome additions to our efforts to show and preserve coverlets from around the country. Although figured and fancy coverlets, those with realistic, curvilinear pattern motifs, often bear inscriptions (name/date/location, etc.), it is rare to see geometric coverlets (patterns based on circles and squares), especially those of overshot weave structure, having inscriptions, either woven or embroidered. The Fera collection includes several geometrics showing initials and/or dates, some in the weave and some embroidered, while others have early handwritten labels sewn on. These coverlets are truly uncommon. For this exhibition Museum personnel selected 94 coverlets from the Fera collection, including a variety of examples, many of which are Jude's most precious New England geometrics. Jude Fera’s contribution to the Museum and its mission of preservation and education is an exciting and meaningful one. This new exhibition is a must-see tribute to Jude, her service and her generosity. We hope you will enjoy seeing these great coverlets as much as we enjoy working with them. Attendees to Coverlet College 2020 will learn more about our friend Jude, her collection and what makes New England coverlets special.

The Coverlet Museum (www.coverletmuseum.org) has reopened! "Bedford County: Friendly Social Distancing Since 1771" - Thank you for your patience and your support of our beautiful town of Bedford. We look forward to seeing you!

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival cancelled. Very sad.

To All Our Friends: Per Pennsylvania state mandate, in response to the coronavirus situation, NMAC will be closed through March 31. Our doors are open for receiving mail, and our phones and email are monitored. Feel free to leave messages/questions/requests by voicemail and or contact us by email at [email protected]. Our website will soon be updated with changes to our event calendar. In the meantime, we fervently hope for your continued good health. Thank you for your support. Melinda Zongor Director/Curator

Merry Christmas Everyone! It's been a busy year here at the Coverlet Museum. You are invited to check out our latest YARNS newsletter at www.coverletmuseum.org - link at the top of the right hand column on our home page. Have a Warm and Wonderful Holiday Season and New Year and we hope to see you here!