See some of the quilts filmmaker Ken Burns has collected since the 1970s

Filmmaker Ken Burns has collected quilts since the 1970s. Unlike his films, Burns has not publicly shared his collection until recently when he allowed the International Quilt Study Museum to host an exhibit of a small selection of them. We talk with the filmmaker to learn why he chose to share his quilts and why he chose Nebraska.
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[@bogtrottername7001]

As a man, a retired ( 48 year ) carpenter, early handmade gun & quilt collector two things always surprise me: nearly every person you see in this video is female and nobody seems to think about the stitching designs. The emphasis is always on the colors and the drama and the overall impact and not on the impressive hand sewing of the quilting process. I like to look at the back of quilts to see that detailed work that, to me, makes a quilt aa quilt !

[@Pacabelle]

Ken Burns is a man of impeccable taste and eloquence. I am absolutely dazzled by his collection and his infectious enthusiasm.

[@susankaltenbach9169]

What a beautiful display of quilts he finally decided to share. Thank you Ken Burns.

[@deborahgiles8214]

What an incredible quilt collection.

[@vickiarion8943]

I had no idea that filmmaker, Ken Burns, is a quilt collector! I only knew him as a maker and narrator of The National Parks series and historical documentaries. This video is so lovely and well done! Enjoy!

[@pampaxton3072]

I'm so very happy to see Ken Burns beautiful collection of quilts! Thanks for sharing them! 💕

[@dianedickinson708]

Must be a heck of a barn!

[@deloresangus6687]

So lovely and it made me weep! Thank you for sharing, Mr. Burns!

[@patticriss2238]

I truly enjoyed every minute of that presentation. Thank you.

[@juliegolub2602]

I love and make quilts and found this video about Ken so beautiful ❤️

[@jeanhawken4482]

Beautiful. All those wonderful stitches and the people who made them.

[@maryroselorenc895]

As a quilter, l was blown away. I would love to see Ken's quilts. A little further than l travel these days.

[@karenhomick2108]

Just loved listening to him talk about the quilts was wonderful. Truly enjoyed this.

[@gretchenvandewalle1068]

Sharing........Yes.......They should be shared. Good that he has he has kept the history of each quilt.

[@4starnova]

I'm so glad I discovered this so inspirational... Takes my breath away reminded of my grandmother's 💕

[@tamaracooper5797]

I started collecting Quilts when I was 10,starting with my grand mom quilts.'m also a quilter too.

[@lisareed5669]

I love the show design!

[@Ethnography1000]

How inspirational. I wish I could have seen those quilts up close. The quilting detail is absolutely sensational. Thank you Slainte!

[@SewTexas]

I love all Ken Burns historical films, he does it best. As a hard-core quilter I am happy he acknowledges the importance of historical quilts. I love them too.

[@kaym804]

What a lucky man to be able to collect so much history!

[@beckyscheller9358]

As a quilter I love this!

[@anniemorris5855]

Oh wow! This was fantastic! This is insane! I did not think I could admire Ken Burns any more?

[@marshaflorom4433]

Thank you so much Ken burns ! A Nebraska quilt maker marsha

[@XenusMama]

Repairing some of my rescue quilts as I watch this video.

[@Happybidr]

As a quilter myself, I love that a historian like Ken Burns collects items made mostly by women like myself. I loved many of them for their design and the skills required, but my favorite is the flag with the crosses.

[@katrinalevin4064]

It tickles me to no end to learn that Ken Burns is a quilt collector. The level of craftsmanship and design shown in the quilts he collects match his work as a documentarian and historian.

[@lorihuntley836]

History and quilts. A man after my own heart.

[@marieravening927]

To me the lovely thing about Ken Burns collection is that they are all hand quilted. Most are probably hand pieced as well. As a hand quilter for 35 years I feel rather sad that so many quilts are machine quilted today. There's a softness to a quilt that has been hand quilted and they drape well. Modern machine quilting may be able to achieve amazing designs but so many machine quilted quilts feel as though the quilter is trying to put in as many quilting designs as space allows. This can result in the quilting overtaking the design of the top itself and the quilts tend to bend rather than drape. I have nothing against machine quilting as long as it complements the quilt design.

[@cathywestholt5324]

Overwhelmed! I had no idea this great historian collected these exquisite treasures! Oh how blessed are the people who got to view these. ❤❤❤

[@jerrycraig3737]

What a surprise to come on Ken Burns beautiful quilts. I was so glad to see that he appreciates the art of the quilt. To me quit making is such a beautiful art. The work that goes into designing sewing and then quilting is such an art that is whey under estimated. If you are hand stitching the quilt that is a whole other level of art involved to bring the quilt to its beauty. If you are machine stitching the quilt this is another level of bringing these quilts to its beauty and amazing artistry that is involved. Anyone who is enjoys buying history they should crab the quilts made by the Amish people. That is pure history to be passed down. This will be the last group of people to bring these quilts to life all done by hand stitching. The applicator quilt that Ken picked out as one of his favourites has always been one of my favourite styles of quilting.

[@jodyherr3249]

Who'd of thunk it! On top of all the tremendous historical documentaries Ken Burns has done, he also collects quilts. Of course, quilts are a great documentation of life!

[@chlexiel.1022]

Ken Burns “The War” shows a clip of my dad. I couldn’t believe it. That was so special. I hope he reads this. Thank you for that documentary that is extra special for me.

[@connieguenter5253]

I have so much appreciation for your work, especially the baseball series. My husband has dementia from Alzheimer’s and we watch when he is sitting in the comfy chair, over and over but I am not tired of it as I learn something new every time I watch with him. I’m not bored. You did a fantastic job on that!!!

[@lisakoehler7313]

Beautiful quilts. Thank you Ken Burns for sharing them!

[@andreawalker2535]

Thanks for this amazing showing!

[@roniakrieg6819]

I hope that Ken Burns would consider the Gees Bend quilts! Talk about stories!

[@charlottehetherington8720]

What a fabulous collection I've always wanted to make a quilt

[@zereldahammer5470]

How extraordinary! What I wouldn't give to see the quilts and have a conversation with Ken Burns.

[@user-tb4ij7zx1y]

Wish I could have seen them in person. However- I truly appreciate having seen this little clip on KZbin. As a quilt maker myself, I always love to see that there are people in the world who appreciate what it takes to create a quilt. Thank you Ken Burns - for both your love of quilts and for sharing them with us. Each one is a perfect piece of art!

[@sandyfields678]

Omg,has he done a show lately on pbs..i collect old quilts,not expensive ones as i hav no ways 2 do that..they mean love,security,warmth,grandparents,winter .. Love..i use mine and they are used when i find them.. Be still my heart.. 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄

[@jebsmith323]

I'd love to know how he hangs the quilts.

[@teresarettkowski8436]

Very much enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@KathleenJLightWorker]

Beautiful! And that one they called sea of crosses? That lady said it all, that is very powerful. And isn’t that the essence of art? Something that moves a person is art.

[@ellenhofer3343]

Lovely video. Beautiful collection of quilts

[@shewolf614]

I never ever made a quilt, but was just drawn to this video....would be a beautiful thing to see some museum display such talent and the history of each piece. I would attend, thank you for sharing

[@sophievirgil1919]

Fascinating! I would love to see one if his exhibits!

[@lubideaton9902]

Ken, do you have a Hawaiian quilt? They are spectacular.

[@patriciachopp2556]

How very interesting . Ken Burns is such an amazing person, and showing his quilts in my home state of Nebraska makes me so proud . The quilts are great and his love for them is wonderful .

[@skeinandspool5282]

Wow, loved this!

[@marshaflorom7497]

The quilts are so wonderful! I also hand sew my quilts! Marsha

[@Carolmaizy]

I do too!

[@verashevchenko7008]

“the mystery and the beauty” …so wonderful to think that even though the person who created it is long gone their quilt still speaks to us and we appreciate their work.

[@TheSewingSwan]

love it!! thank you for sharing!!

[@mandyofmarymac]

Beautiful! We are lucky enough to have an award-winning quilt maker in our immediate family. She, now 86, as her legacy, has made a full sized hand stitched quilt for everyone who is close to her. I have three! But what she did, as she finished every one of them, was to label them with all the relative information for each one.

[@drkatel]

I don’t know quilt terminology but the quilt at 4:35 is spectacular, sort of a multicolored sunburst. Wow!

[@rmorine6394]

The pattern is often called Star of Bethlehem. Imagine the geometry skills required!

[@LindaKing-nq6ut]

Having made many quilts myself & so appreciated seeing the quilts in Ken Burns collection…he speaks very eloquently about quilts & country

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Quilt alley is a beautiful building! What a lovely collection! I think the quilt is an often overlooked piece of art. It's a wonderful opportunity to view the extensive amount of work someone was willing to put in to express their love of their art. It's beyond amazing.

[@julieprior3126]

What a beautiful film. I am in UK and had never heard of Ken Burns but I'm so glad he is caring for those beautiful examples of American quilts. There is an American History Museum in Bath, England that has a lovely collection of quilts which impressed me very much as a teenager on a school trip. That visit prompted me to start making my own quilts a few years later. Ken is preserving some priceless heritage there!

[@elsafischer3247]

I’m not American, but when I lived and went to the University,I found a quil from my friends mother, I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I didn’t have time to do quilting, but when I came back home ( Switzerland) I found a quilt shop and took classes. I was huck. I also had a stroke and quilting was my therapy

[@maxibrasch]

I might never know him as a filmaker but i am staggered at his appreciation of amazing quilting history ….thankyou for this view of the most incredible quilt collection

[@user-hr3tx6uu9o]

Love quilts and was enthralled to see Ken Burns' collection! I also collect old quilts and was lucky enough to have mine researched and authenticated in my state. Each received a label. One quilt I have was found out to have another underneath it and both handmade. Quilts to me are tactile art! Way to go Ken!❤

[@evangeliakaratza-styliara4413]

Amazing !!!!

[@roseannecarratkinson4271]

This was so awesome to watch! I have made close to 80 quilts. To hear Ken's passion for quilts is priceless.

[@viviansnyder8247]

So moved ! Thank you for sharing your exquisite collection with all of us Mr. Burns!

[@creatinghanley]

This guy continues to impress. As a quilter, I’m amazed that he collects quilts for fun. So cool

[@EP-xu1yt]

Beautiful collection. I am surprised the quilts are touched so much by bare hands. 😔

[@fjhaydn6047]

Me thinks the intrigue of the quilt is tied to the amount of painstaking work involved in their creation.

[@s.johnson703]

Wow beautiful collection

[@maureenhebert7673]

Well I’ve just added that to my bucket list. See Kens quilt collection!

[@cjacob9875]

I love it!

[@sandrahodges4410]

I knew he was special.

[@caitjohnson6021]

The behind the scenes staff in the readying the quilt hangin! Superb People!

[@rubyhaze1]

What an amazing collection- thank you for documenting this beautiful extraordinary show!

[@E-Kat]

I used to make these!! His appreciation of this art is heartwarming. 😊

[@melanied6777]

I would love to see his collection. I hope it travels to NC.

[@robinblack3865]

What an amazing individual he is!!❤

[@ann-mariejensen2623]

How fun! I loved his comments about the efforts to get the right blue colors!

[@Silva007ish]

How fabulous! The quilts stories are important!

[@jelenntkatigbac7446]

Wow !

[@judithmurphy419]

Just when I thought you could not be cooler.....(I Quilt)

[@sherylgaynor8389]

I have a quilt I would love to give him. It’s called the civil war melodies quilt.

[@ja-uh9gz]

What a fabulous collection of quilts, so varied in design and colors! Ken speaks poetically about them and has a great eye for the quality and uniqueness of each quilt. The NRA piece is especially cool...but I love them all. Thank you...

[@jennylowing4904]

I really enjoyed watching this, Beautiful quilts, what a collection. 😊

[@snnetteachexnayder63]

♥️

[@sandradankowski6120]

Very interesting. I have followed Ken Burns for years through his PBS shows.

[@marilynsullivan4361]

Just a tidbit that I gleaned here. Mr. Burns expresses his thought that the American quilt, more than anything else, represents who we are as a nation. He states that as one of the main reasons he has been drawn, as a narrator of our history, to collect them. It struck me that most quilts from American history have been made by women. Women have always been a great motivating current in America, and it is wonderful to recognize that. We have never been in the background as American women - we have been the foundation.

[@LuckyLucy451]

How interesting! I have made 9 Cathedral Windows quilts - love sitting hand sewing. Not a great admirer of quilts made with $10,000 sewing machines - they cannot compare with the authentic hand sewn with history behind them! Enjoyed this very much, thanks!

[@ShoreShihTzuNurs]

Thank you, Ken, for loving our American history and culture!

[@MrsSLFlores]

I would love to visit this place! These are beautiful!

[@grandmaoldschool7011]

Love this! Wish I could attend.

[@terriwilson4984]

I have two Quilts my Maternal & Paternal Grandmother's did by hand. Also my Great Grandmother which is All white with Beautiful Red Tulip Baskets. Your Collection is Utterly Gorgeous!!! Terri From Northern Minnesota

[@kateryan190]

Wonderful video & beautiful quilts! Thank you for sharing.

[@kazzrieneval4243]

Love, love, love!!!!!

[@janlascko]

I don't feel alone for "rescuing" quilts!!!

[@trudiel7353]

I got to see this place in Neb. No ken burns quilts, but still a great place to go.

[@jaelancaster5506]

Love Ken Burns….An American History Genuis❤

[@Desert8dweller]

Is there a BOOK of his quilts? Outstanding!

[@tallblonde1976]

This is awesome, I LOVE Amish quilts.

[@cyndifoore7743]

Well, this is about 2 hours too short!

[@gretchenrobinson825]

Thank you, Ken. Your documentaries and now your quilts are extraordinaries. Remember, NRA means National Recovery Act.

[@karenroddy4780]

Ken Burns is a national treasure.

[@donnacrozier2003]

To each their own, eh? Interesting. Ken Burns is a huge film maker whose stories encircle History and the outcomes! Appropriate for him to collect something historical. Thank you, enjoyable! If you like quilts. I do very much and appreciate all of that needle work and the beautiful outcome!