New Year Old Mysteries - Antique Quilt Research

I found this amazing quilt online at an auction. Did you know that you can buy quilts from live auctions over the web? Well, you can. There are several online auction platforms and bidding is similar to the end of timed listing on eBay. Live auctions end when the auctioneer bangs her hammer and proclaims the item as sold (or sometimes passed). Quite often there is an actual live auction being conducted simultaneously at the auction house and you are bidding against the attendees, other online bidders, and people who have left bids online before the auction. I purchased the mystery quilt below online from a live auction.

Double Irish Chain antique signature top dated 1842. It may be from Maryland? But where and for whom it was made is a mystery.

In addition to the lovely 4 hearts in the chain intersections, there are absolutely amazing inked drawings and sentiments on the quilt top like the ship below with Biblical quote signed "your son, Emaniel Dumar". There is another block with the Lord's Prayer, Our Father, dedicated to Shelby Pruitt from Shelby Pruitt (son?). Seems like for 2 different people??

Not sure what is depicted in this inking with another Bible passage, Psalm 110:1 and signed "your affectionate _____ Benjamin Pruitt."

Love this cornucopia of wildflowers or maybe they send a message using the symbols attached to flowers at that time. Signed Mrs. Rebecca Dumar but another block is a message to Mrs. Dumar? Very confusing.

***I found Emanuel and Ruth Anna Dumar (she's on another block) in Philadephia Episcopal church baptism records for their son George Washington Dumar, born in Feb. 1844. The next child baptized was also named George Washington (he was really popular). Hopefully, I'll find more of the signers/names now. Stay tuned.

Day 31 - Bethlehem Star- Month of Antique Hand Quilting

Ending the year and month full of antique quilts with hand quilting with this firework Bethlehem Star!

Bethlehem Star, circa 1850 from Pennsylvania.  One can't help but smile when looking at this quilt!  Part of my antique quilt trunk show, Quilt Masterpieces.

From the eBay listing: "An amazing rising sun quilt with satellite stars and deep blue print background. I love the way this quilt was designed with the blue background. The center star floats against a blue background sky."

Note:  the quilt top is from around 1850 BUT it was finished much more recently probably in the 1940's or 50's.  That is when it acquired that wild yellow backing

Day 30- Antique Whig Rose -31 Days of Antique Quilts - Hand Quilting

Tonight's antique quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection is another "best quilt" Whig Rose from Ohio, circa 1850s. Like my Quilted Joy, this one is a 9 block applique with NO negative space and is chockful of applique and intense hand quilting. And that border!! Isn't it delightful?

Check out the hand quilting! Close triple-rod quilting (three lines close together separated by similar sized space and repeated across the quilt). ***Note that the diagonal quilting goes right across the appliques.

Here's the same flower used in my repro quilt, Pennsylvania Posies for Paducah.

Day 29- Old and New Oak Leaf, Reel A Month of Antique Hand Quilting

Tonight's quilt is antique Oak Leaf (Reel) quilt with hand applique and lots of straight-line hand quilting. And the single block/quiltlet is my repro version made for a potholder project for Pam Weeks. Potholder quilts are constructed of blocks that are individually quilted and bound.

Here's a close-up of my little quilt. Click on photo to enlarge. Hand applique and hand quilted.

The Oak Leaf with more of its red and green friends ...

The full quilt. So effectively composed with the sashing and red cornerstones and the 5 strip borders.

Antique Hand Quilting Antique Hearts Signature Quilt Day 28

Today's antique hand quilted quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection is full of LOVE!

It was made for a beloved Sunday School teacher - Esther McAllister whose husband was the reverend of the Willet Street Church (Methodist Episcopalian) in New York City. But is was made for her because of her works not because she was the pastor's wife. This is shown by the poignant poem below:

Antique Hand Quilting Day 27 - Rocky Road To Kansas

Today's antique hand quilted quilt is a jazzy Rocky Road to Kansas or Kite block quilt from Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, circa 1890. Only in Southeastern PA would this double pink Greek Key stripe fabric be considered a neutral. 

The backing is a fabulous neon print in green, pink, and black. People think clothing back then was boring but they used prints like this for everyday dresses.

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The full quilt - look at all those stripes! Love how they are all in a line for the borders and go every which way in the blocks.

This block is part of my Patterns Through Time lecture where I share at least 2 examples of about a dozen different designs from the early 1800s to mid 1900s. You learn quilt history while looking at amazing quilts.

Here the Lancaster quilt is shown in the lecture with a much larger scale Rocky Road circa 1930s made by my Great Grandmother Isabelle Rogers in Kanosh, Millard Co., Utah.

A Jolly Quilt-mas, A Month of Antique Hand Quilting - Day 26 Red and Green French Star

I couldn't do a month of antique quilts without one of my favorite patterns, the French Star. To see another early French Star from the Starley collection, visit Day 3 of this month long journey.

Look at the beautiful grid background quilting and the curves in the swag. Click on photos to enlarge and see details.

Can't go wrong with a swag border and this one is quite impressive. The quilt is from Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, circa 1865/1870.

The uncommon French Star pattern is part of my Patterns Through Time trunk show (a combination of quilt history, eye candy, and humor). A recent review hailed it as the perfect blend of education and entertainment. The lecture features about a dozen patterns with at least 2 examples per pattern spanning the early 1800s to mid 1900s.  An example are the 2 French Stars below - red/green quilt circa 1870 and multi-colored top circa 1940s. I'd love to come share a bit of my collection with your guild, shop, or show. See more information in the pages (tabs below main banner photo, top of page).

French Star quilts are also part of my Antique Stars  and Quilt Masterpieces trunk shows. I also do custom designed lectures on request. Have Antique Quilts - Will Travel!

Month of Antique Quilts - Christmas Stars Day 25

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
I couldn't do a month of antique hand quilting without sharing this amazing antique Christmas Star quilt with some stunning hand quilting - now in the Starley Quilt Collection. Circa 1850.

Look at that trapunto work - love the 5 point star - stars in stars! Don't forget to click on pictures to enlarge and see the details.

And that quilted pineapple!!! Oh my !

The full quilt in all its glory. What a triumph of hand quilting. Ps. Have Antique Quilts, Will Travel and bring treasures to your guild or show or shop.

Month of Antique Quilts -Hand Quilting Day 24

Today's quilt is an antique red/green hand quilted quilt - an Oak Reel with a lovely swag and tassle border. Such a classic design. Circa 1850.

I don't think the maker was into hand quilting or maybe she was making it for a special occasion, like a wedding, and was on a tight schedule as there isn't much quilting (been there, done that). The quilt has unusual quilting - click on the picture below to enlarge and see details. There is a quilted pair of scissors above the swag and a set of spoons under the swag.

Antique (Inspired) Hand Quilting Month - Cheddar Baskets Day 23

Here is my hand quilted miniature Cheddar Baskets quilt made for the American Quilt Study Group 2016 Quilt Study of Basket Quilts. It is currently traveling with the Baskets exhibits. Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge and see details!

Here's my top (left) with the antique on the right. The original had only 3 fabrics, cheddar, blue, and pink. I kept that color scheme but used 13 different pinks and 13 different blues for a scrappier look. I use foundation paper piecing for the baskets and the sawtooth border. I hand quilted using the same patterns as used on the original.

And the full antique quilt - Mennonite Baskets Quilt, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, circa 1890.

Antique Hand Quilting - Mennonite Cheddar Baskets Day 22

Today's hand quilted quilt is a cheddar-licious basket quilt (tomorrow I'll share my reproduction quilt). It is a Mennonite Quilt from Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Don't forget to click on pictures to enlarge and see details.

There is a charming heart quilted inside every basket handle and another below each basket.  Lots of feathers and fleur de lys figures too. Diagonal quilting lines in the border. The blue fabric is a chambray and the pink is a delicate floral stripe. Last year I found the twin - exact same piecing and quilting. Maybe they were made for sisters.

Such a cheery quilt! Isn't that sawtooth border a perfect touch! Circa 1890. Starley Quilt Collection.

Month of Hand Quilting - Antique Inspired Quilted Joy Day 21

Here is my version of yesterday's antique Quilted Joy, Rose of Sharon quilt. Quilted Joy Too!
Hand appliqued and hand quilted. It is the star one of my newest classes where teach my method of almost no prep applique and also share antique quilts from the Starley Quilt Collection.

Yes, I did a lot of applique and hand quilting on this repro quilt! And yes, you can now purchase a PATTERN on my Etsy Shop.

Imagine spending a day creating a delightful quilt, learning applique, and drooling over beautiful antique quilts!

The full quilt - Quilted Joy Too   36" x 36"

A Month of Antique Hand Quilting - Quilted Joy, Rose of Sharon Day 20

Another hand quilted beauty from the Starley Quilt Collection, this hand appliqued Rose of Sharon quilt is full of JOY!!! Such a happy quilt. Love all the birds and flowers.

It is the star of my Birds and Blooms Antique Quilt Trunk Show and my Quilted Joy hand applique class. I'll share the repro quilt tomorrow. Look at all that hand quilting.

The full quilt - look closely, there are 9 Rose of Sharon blocks. The maker filled every inch! No negative space for her. Circa 1850, Ohio.

A Month of Antique Hand Quilting - Antique Signature Quilt Day 19

This lovely antique signature album/sampler quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection has a variety of charming hand appliqued blocks. The blocks have a variety of hand quilting patterns as well.
Isn't this a charming flower basket!

Dated 1879 - made in Tuscarora, Bradford Co. Pennsylvania.  This detailed rose and bud bear the sentiment: "Forget Me Not, Forget Me Never" -Em Wood.

The full quilt - sporting lots of wreaths and flowers and even a Bible (row 4, block 3).  Part of my antique signature quilt class.

Antique Quilt-mas Hand Quilting Blogathon Day 18

8 pointed Star - Quaker- Chester County Pennsylvania - dated 1850 - made for Enoch and Mary Worrall.

The quilt is chock full of history and  several blocks detail Worrall and Hoopes family genealogy (see center block above with multiple names).

Amy Davis's block sporting that ever popular "Forget me not" message.

The full quilt in all its glory. The 2 Oak Reel blocks in the bottom corners were leftovers from a quilt top made for Enoch and Mary Worrall's daughter Mary.