DECEMBER 16, 2019
In this early Illinois Amish wool quilt, she made lots of colour substitutions, working with what I imagine she had on hand as she made it. What I find interesting is that she would have had enough of the darker pink to make all the outer corners of another nine patch like the one in the upper left corner but she didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love how she handled the composition of the nine patches, just curious about her construction and thinking and design process. How exactly did she go about deciding on the placement of the pieces in those nine patches and arranging all the blocks for top? Did she lay out all the blocks and then put it together or pieced together the top as she finished blocks?
The setting triangles that border the centre are wonderfully balanced in their colour placement and that small triangle in the upper left was such a good decision. Without a doubt she had an artistic eye.
I love the simplicity of the three concentric circles of quilting in the setting blocks and the organic nature of the quilting of the chevrons in the borders. She alternated the direction of the straight line quilting in the pieced blocks for interest. That blue binding is the back brought around to the front and stitched down.
And I haven’t mentioned yet that superb border with it’s make do piecing and that wonderful dark bit in the bottom border. I like it! Would you be brave enough to make a border like that?
This one keeps drawing my eye in and sending it around and around the quilt looking at all the details. What about you?
DECEMBER 15, 2019
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?
DECEMBER 14, 2019
Early on in my antique quilt studies, Amish quilts spoke loudly to my heart. I was taken by their bold designs and striking colour choices. Over the years I have come to appreciate those elements even more. There are lots of “old standards” examples of Amish quilts on Pinterest and the web … stunning quilts that we know and love and that have clearly spoken to many of us … examples of designs that you automatically visualize of when you think Amish quilt. In considering the quilts for this year, I have chosen to focus on Amish quilts that are a bit different, that have a wee twist in colour combinations (although let’s face it, the Amish were fabulous at creating interesting colour combinations) or interesting interpretations of those designs that we think of as quintessentially Amish.
Working with solids is unforgiving, but rewarding. Solids create a visual clarity that contributes to the powerful visual impact of these splendid quilts. The lines of the design are sharply delineated since the fabric is without printed pattern to visually soften the transition from one piece to another. In looking at all the quilts I considered for this year’s celebration, it is was sometimes the colour that grabbed my attention first, and sometimes it was the design, but grab my attention they did. And I just have to say it was so hard to choose which ones to include out of all the options … I know, I know … you hear that from me every year.
I am so glad you stopped by. I hope you will join me every day from now until the 25th as we celebrate Amish Quilts. Enjoy!
*A special note.
A huge thank you to all who are antique quilt collectors or who work to preserve our precious quilt textile heritage. With many antique quilt photos readily accessible on the web, we can forget that someone or some organization has to be the one responsible for preserving and caring for those quilts so they can be enjoyed in person for years to come. It can be challenging for collectors to arrange permanent custodianship of their collections in a museum, and when it does happen we need to support those museums, that make those commitments to hold quilts in their collections, so they can truly be permanent custodians of our quilting legacy. An interesting article here on quilt historian Janneken Smucker’s blog about the changing fate of the “Esprit Collection” of Amish quilts.
Triangles (crib quilt), Kalona, Iowa, c. 1930, 41″ x 33″, Artist unknown. From the collection of Faith and Stephen Brown.
This quilt centre simply glows against the wide black border. Interesting secondary designs are created when one triangle “tops” the triangle below it and is in a similar colour. A mixture of purples add visual interest and break predictability. The black triangles scattered throughout the quilt give unity with the border and the royal blue triangles add vibrancy to the overall design. Of note are the two orange sherbet-ish triangles and the two pale khaki green triangles. They make the quilt. Take them away and you miss them … that’s how you know it needs them.
I would love to hear your comments or just say hi below.
Thank you for stopping by!
Mary Elizabeth
DECEMBER 25, 2018
Floral Crib Quilt, American, c. 1850-1880, 39″ x 46″, Artist Unidentified. From the Collection of The American Folk Art Museum (Accession Number: 1998.13.2. Photo credit: Gavin Ashworth, Gift of Cyril Irwin Nelson)
This last quilt of this year’s celebration of crib quilts is so festive and bright, it just seemed the right note to end on.
I adore that you can see the hand of the maker in this one, whether it is in the individuality of the points of the tiny dogtooth border as they undulate along the edge, or the slight variations in the yellow buds that burst from between the green and red leaves, and the fact that some leaves are green and some red. Love that! And then there is that one bit of the tulip that snugs right up into the border. That little element does not detract at all from the overall beauty of it. The quilting on it is detailed and plentiful for something this size.
And you will notice that the central design is slightly off centre. Just ever so slightly … and it doesn’t matter. This quilt is elegant, and there was love in every stitch.
We know about that. We pour love into our quilts too. Still, there’s something so special about quilts we make for babies. They just seem to have extra love sewn in, if that is possible. What lucky, lucky little ones to have slept under all the joy these quilts contain.
Thank you so much for joining me this year. I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the very best for the New Year!
Cheers
Mary Elizabeth
PS: There has been such a strong response to so many of the quilts hightlighted this year, I am keen to get some feedback. So here is my question to you: If there was to be another quilt-along (wink!) to be chosen from this years celebration of crib quilts, which one would you choose? Leave your response in the comments below.
DECEMBER 24, 2018
This collection of quilts for 2018 would be totally incomplete if I did not include this quilt. If I had to pick one favourite it would be this one. For a quilt of it’s age and the heavy use it clearly saw, it is still remarkably bright and cheery.
I was immediately smitten with it when I saw it up close on one of my trips to England. In fact I loved it so much I set about making a copy of it, as faithfully as I could. You can find my version of it here.
Remember when I said that it is hard to assess the size of pieces in a photograph. Well I did not have the length and width measurements of the original when I made mine, so I went with what I thought they should be, and kind of what I remembered. Here’s the rub: I think when I had seen it in person, I had been staring so intently at the small little squares that are on the top and bottom of the centre star that I didn’t pay enough attention to the overall size. That detail just did not stick with me at all. So, without that memory and without measurements, I ended up making made my version of this quilt about half scale! Yes I am crazy for small pieces!
It was that centre star and the wee squares that run down the middle that left me breathless the first time I saw it and that feeling of delight has not vanished. Still when I look a the the quilt I almost don’t see the medium scale blocks in the next two rows as you move outward. My eyes instead choose to rest on the larger blocks of the outer rows … a welcome relief after looking at all those small pieces. But after a few rounds back and forth between the largest blocks and the smaller squares, I can see the whole of it and it still makes my heart sing.
Here’s the reverse, for those who are wondering what’s on the other side of this two-sided cot quilt. This side is not too shabby at all either!
Other side of the Double Sided Cot Quilt. Double Sided Cot Quilt, The Dennis Cann Family, c. 1890-1900, Devonshire, England, 112 cm x 115 cm (approx. 44″ x 45″). From the Quilters’ Guild Collection.
Be sure to check in tomorrow … there’s a question you might want to answer!!
And UPDATE on yesterdays quilt. The wonderful news is that both quilts did end up staying together. The buyer bought both! Head back to yesterday’s post and read the comments.
