Red Green Quaker Signature Quilt Day 30

I've learned so much studying this antique signature quilt. It is dated 1850 from Chester Co. Pennsylvania and made for Enoch and Mary Hoopes Worrall. From the Worrall, Hoopes, Davis, Windle, Umstead, Hicklen, families.

Love sharing this beautiful signature quilt that is also a genealogical treasure.  The center block  reads Enoch and Mary Worral's children and then lists them (living and deceased) and in the very center states that it is "Enoch and Mary Worrall's Quilt. 

As interesting fact about the quilt, it is really a red, green, and white quilt as it has Scarlett, Green, and White surnames. Thomas & Hester White are in the block above.

And several of the blocks have even more genealogical information.

You may have noticed that there are 2 different blocks in the corners of the bottom row. They are leftovers from the quilt made for Enoch and Mary's daughter Mary Worrall and are dated 1846 when her quilt top was made.

Hexagon Medallion Day 29

Love the hypnotic effect of this hexagon medallion quilt, c. 1870 from the Starley Antique Collection.

Closer look at the Madder Brown fabrics alternating with shirting fabrics. *Remember to click on photos to enlarge and see more details.

One of my favorite things about this quilting is the simple and yet creative hand quilting pattern. The maker used a simple overall grid pattern. A much easier pattern than quilting around each hexagon by hand and it would be a super way to quickly machine quilt a hexagon design.

The full quilt - so striking and graphic!

Crazy Days, Crazy Quilt Day 28

Charming cotton Crazy Quilt c. 1890 but quite different from the fancy silk and velvet Crazy Quilts that were more commonly made in the late 1800s or the plainer wool crazies made into the 1900s.

Got to love the cat and the mitten and wonderful cheater hexagon fabric and the galloping horses and that is just one block!

And then there is the wonderful cheddar yellow/orange fabric. This block has a great bird print and another faux patchwork or cheater print from Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado.

This block has a conversation print, steel engraving with equestrian motifs (jockey cap and horseshoes) and other nice prints. 

And the full quilt top. By the way, the block pattern is called crazy quilt. Starley antique quilt collection.

Quaker Stars Day 27

One of many signature/name blocks in my dated 1843-44 Ohio Star quilt from Philadelphia and surrounding towns.  This block for Henry Jones was stamped with a signature stamp with 2 charming cherubs (angels) on top and anchors and maybe a lyre on bottom. Mr. Jones was a Quaker from Gwynedd, Pennsylvania. A Welsh Quaker living in a Welsh town with a lot of other Joneses. 

And here's the block for CE Green:  a grape vine branch.  A number of blocks also have Green surnames. From Gwynedd, PA

Love this wonderful little bird carrying a ribbon for RL Simmers.  Several blocks have the Simmers name. This one belongs to a teenage girl from Gwynedd PA.

Here is the full quilt, very large 104" x 108" with a variety of signatures/names from Philadelphia, PA and the Welsh Quaker town of Gwynedd, also Bristol, Bucks Co, Montgomery etc.   Some of the surnames are Green, Simmers, Foulke, Lukens, Jones, Downing, Huffnagle.  Based on Quaker meeting records, I have confirmed that this is a Quaker quilt.  And the surnames and Quaker style dating method on blocks, also support this conclusion.

1858 Quilt from New York Day 26

An amazing quilt full of LOVE! Made in 1858 for Sister Esther McAllister, a Sunday School teacher in New York City. She was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School program and her husband was the Reverend at the time of the Willet Street ME Church.

The quilt is full of love as shown by the heart motifs (both visible and hidden) and the loving sentiments written in the quilt blocks.

Christmas Rose, Day 25

A charming Rose of Sharon/Whig's Defeat c. 1850 with wonderful triple rod quilting. Adore the border baskets. Starley Antique Quilt Collection

 Detail with the triple rod (three line) quilting and charming cheddar and red flower.

Look closely and the very busy design will reveal itself as a 9 block Whig's Defeat set together with very little breathing room or negative space.

Star of Bethlehem Day 24

'O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining.

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.

Antique Christmas Wreath Day 23

Sending Holiday Cheer with this floral wreath from my 1850 Virginia Crib Quilt. The quilt was clearly made for a beloved child. Amazing this quilt survived the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

And another lovely floral motif from the VA crib quilt. And yes, it is a "signature" quilt but mostly initials instead of full names. And done in teeny cross stitch. be sure to click on the wreath photo to enlarge it and see the little stitches.

And tulips on this block with more cross stitch initials.

And a bit more of the antique quilt with my recreation.

To see more of the original and the reproduction

Caesar's Crown Day 22

Caesar's Crown is a technically difficult pattern which is probably why I'm collecting antique versions rather than making one of my own. This is a signature quilt from 1851 from Berks/Montgomery Co, PA (near Philadelphia) from the Starley Antique Quilt Collection.

It was made for Elizabeth Bickel or Bechtel (seems to depend on the neighborhood and how English or German it was). The blocks were "signed" written by a paid professional scrivener or writer.

Such beautiful quilting expecially for a signature quilt which generally have very basic quilting as they are "all about the signatures/names".

Folky Red and Green Day 21

I adore the folky, funky birds on this Pennsylvania antique quilt, circa 1870.

Starley Antique Quilt Collection

Not sure what kind of birds - doves, eagles?? Such a whimsical, delightful charming quilt!

And if you are thinking it is a one of a kind quilt - close, but there is a more formal version in the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska.

Red, Green and Cheddar Day 20

I love re-creating antique quilts in my collection. 

Here is a block from another one of my recreations,

**Please let me know if you are interested in a pattern or a class on the full quilt, or a class on hand applique or hand quilting. I enjoy sharing antique quilts and new quilts too.

A close-up of the trulip block with some stuff work for a trapunto look.

Hand applique and hand quilting

And the full quilt, an adaptation of 4 quilts in my antique quilt collection.

"Posies for Paducah"

42" x 42"

Made for the Pilgrim/Roy Challenge 

A fundraiser for the National Quilt Museum in Paducah

Princess Feathers Day 19

Antique Princess or Prince's Feather Quilt, c. 1870. 

Starley Antique Quilt Collection.

Back in the day, this would have been a very Christmasy Red and Green quilt but unfortunately, the green dye is "fugitive" and most of it has run away.  Fugitive dye means it is unstable and there will be color loss. The turkey red dye was very stable.

The border baskets are a charming touch!

Hickory Reel Day 18

Another Christmas-y quilt, an elegant reel block quilt in red and green. 1850-likely from Maryland. Love the secondary design created by the block placement and of course that swag and tassel border!

Starley Antique Quilt Collection

Close up of the swag border. Look at the quilting under the green swag piece - yes, those are 2 spoons. Now look above the swag- a pair of quilted scissors. Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge so you can see the detail.

Another Christmas Quilt Day 17

Oak Leaf Day 16

More Christmas-y quilts from the Starley Antique Quilt Collection. 

Today featuring the Oak Leaf pattern, circa 1860.

The full quilt. Red and green was a very popular color scheme for decorating in US homes in the middle of the 1800's. So while these quilts scream Christmas to us, they wouldn't have to the makers.

And here it is with more of its Christmas-y friends.

More Red and Green Day 15

Another Christmas-y quilt, part of the Starley Antique Quilt Collection.

A graphic red & green lily or peony quilt that is hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted, with early fabrics dating from 1830-1850.   This quilt is from the pre- civil war era.

This would be a formal quilt but the stems are all different (some quite wonky) which gives it a bit of a whimsical, folky feel.

Beautiful hand quilting around the piecework and in elaborate straight line, feathered, maple leaf, and sunflower designs in the background.   And it almost goes without saying the turkey reds are absolutely amazing.  

The full quilt.