Twelve Quilts of Christmas – #4

Red and green and cheddar is one of my favourite colour combinations in antique quilts. Interestingly enough, I have never made a quilt with this colour combination, always just admired them. I think that is going to have to change.

Two other things about this quilt knock my socks off, beyond the colour combination.

First, that piping! The floral blocks are 16″ square, so not small at all. Rather than adding wide sashing, the maker added very narrow red piping to define the blocks and outline the centre of the quilt just before the border. The piping adds a wonderful contrast to the weight of the floral arrangement in each block, and frankly I think it’s delicacy makes this quilt stand out as one that is notable. Notice how the maker continued the piping into the border in the lower right. Wonder what was up with that?

Second, those borders! They are are 10″ wide and many of the applique motifs are stuffed. Three of the borders share matching appliquéd motifs of undulating vines, tulips, leaves and hearts. The fourth is a departure with the hearts being replaced by stalks of berries. Notice how each of those stalks have their own personality, somewhat like how the maker of the quilt yesterday made slight but visually interesting alterations in the placement of some of the elements. These variations create to visual appeal, intriguing the eye.

The quilt is bound with 1/4″ finished binding and rounded corners.

I am so grateful to all those who shared their quilts during documentation days and to those volunteers who spent countless hours recording these magnificent works. This quilt, although made in Ohio, was part of the Arizona quilt documentation project.

I would love to hear your thoughts. That being said, the captcha on my website that allows you to leave comments is currently nonfunctional, but I would love to hear your comments over on Instagram or Facebook. Hopefully over Christmas I can get that fixed as I so love reading your thoughts and comments about the quilts.