Featured Quilt
Floral
Applique, 72"x 72" Unknown pattern c.1875. This quilt was shown at the
Rotary Quilt Show, "Antique Quilts from the Experts", April 2006,
Paducah, KY. It was also used as the artwork on the Rotary's annual quilt show
pin. Hand applique and hand quilted with feathers and feather wreaths. The quilt
is in a private collection.
Floral Applique Quilt Detail.
"Garden
Bouquet", 76"x91" From a pattern published by Florence
LaGanke's Nancy Page Quilt Club, c. 1932. Made from cottons, the quilt is
pieced, appliqued, and embroidered, and has a green Greek Key border. This quilt
is in a private collection.
"Garden
Bouquet"
Detail.
"Crazy
Quilt", 68"x77" This quilt, c.1880, reportedly came from New
York state. Silk and velvet were used with I 1/2" metallic fringe on
three sides. The quilt contains commemorative and advertising silks and
embroidery. This quilt is in a private collection.
"Crazy
Quilt" Detail.
"Tulip
Cross", var. 79"x79" A quilt from c.1890 with hand applique and
hand quilting with a feather wreath in center and diagonal cross hatching. The quilt
has red and white 3" borders and four-patch blocks in the corners. The red
fabric is Turkey red characteristic of this time period. The quilt is in a private
collection.
"Tulip
Cross" detail.
"Ocean
Waves", 65"x76" This c. 1930 quilt is machine pieced and hand
quilted. The scrap quilt is pieced of multicolor triangles in fabrics from this time
period. Quilting patterns include a double line chain in the wide white border and
diagonal lines and flowers in the body of the quilt. A pieced triangle border acts
as a frame for the design. The quilt is in a private collection.
"Ocean
Waves" detail.
This
quilt pattern has several names: Double X, Crosses and Losses, Fox and Geese and Bow
Tie Variation. The quilt is 66"x77" and dates to c. 1875. The maker and place
made is unknown. It is hand pieced and hand quilted with diagonal lines and hanging
diamonds. The on-point black and light blocks alternate with cheddar or butterscotch
yellow solid blocks. This very graphic quilt is in a private collection.
Double
X Detail.
PIECES OF LIFE
A needle, some thread, a small piece of time,
Her scissors and thimble, an old print scrap;
And like a rich man with just a thin dime,
She searches the box that sits on her lap.
Her glasses are thick, gray hair a neat bun,
Nimble fingers are still graceful and quick;
She sorts through the fabrics and, one by one,
Lays out a quilt pattern like a card trick.
That piece of red dress she'll put over there,
And stitch it to this dark print from a shirt;
This was a blouse, she'll choose each with care,
And add this calico print of a skirt.
From stitch to stitch busy fingers will fly,
Quilting piece to piece of life that's gone by.
by: JG Butts
© Copyright, 1999
March 31, 1999
This wonderful poem appears here by permission of the poet, thanks Joy.
