Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2019 – #2
Nine Patch, Weatherford, Oklahoma, c.1920, 90″ x 70.5″, Barbara Yoder. From the collection of the International Quilt Study Centre, IQSC collection number 2005.039.0005.
This quilt knocks my socks off!
I love that the design is elongated and stretches beyond the central “x” in the interior of the quilt. I love the mix of colours … all the varying shades she used of pinks and blues and lilac to purple to complete her design. The consistent use of black as the corner stones in the “x” anchor the design, but she wasn’t afraid to sprinkle a few more of those same blocks around in the echo-ing “x’s” on either side of the centre one and in the borders. And look at those black setting blocks … they didn’t bother her one bit and they don’t bother me either! Notice how in some of the nine patches that there is so little contrast that the design fades out … that’s okay too! That purple/magenta sashing or inner border sets it all off. And don’t overlook that divine blue binding.
Again, look at the injection of the unexpected in this quilt … those few rust coloured setting blocks and mustardy/puce/gold setting blocks. Love these colour moments.
But about those borders on each end …
Grab the smelling salts and bring the fainting couch closer!
What do you think of this quilt? Does it “feel” Amish to you? Does it change your perception of what an Amish quilt is?
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I love this quilt! Seen in isolation, I would not have pegged it as Amish, and I would not have thought it was a hundred years old. To me it has a very modern feel. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Very well put Karen! Thank you for stopping by.
I’d give it all the ribbons. I could study it forever and not run out of learning. What an eye for exactly enough subtlety! The off-kilter color placement has me swooning. And the unexpected brightness is divine. It’s as if she’s risen above the plain drudgery and taken flight toward heaven.
Oh how I love your description! Thank you for sharing Audrey.
And this morning I was looking at it again and suddenly the four white/lighter squares right in the middle jumped out at me. So much to discover!
This quilt speaks to me! It’s the kind of quilt I aspire to make. Full of interest and movement but not fussy. It makes me wonder, when I see a quilt like this…how many of these design decisions did the maker ponder and intentionally plan. Or was she just intuitively using what she had and now we analyze her choices that work so well. Either way she was an artist, but I always like to imagine these quilters as the people they were in their natural habitat. Was she renowned in her circles for her amazing quilts? Or was she quilting outside the box for her day and were her friends and neighbours less than appreciative of her quilts? I’m sure somehow that she would not have been presumptious about the artistic ability in her quiltmaking!
So so true Jolene. I am sure she did not consider herself an artist, but she did have an appreciation for her process. It shines through in her work.
Greys and blues – I’m in! It doesn’t feel Amish to me design-wise, but the colors do. I’m just surprised that there are so many of them. Excuse me – I’m off to start my own!
I couldn’t agree more … and I’m right behind you!
Oh my word, stop the presses! This quilt is the icing on the cake!!! When I clicked on this page I literraly exclaimed out loud to an empty room. It took my breath away, such incredible workmanship in color placement, design,…..well every part of it. The quilter was truly a very gifted artist.