Antique Quilts - Day 20 -A Month of Celebrating Antique Quilts Red and Green Reel

 A very Merry Christmas Quilt! This is the poster child for exquisite Red and Green quilts. The Reel or Hickory Reel quilt is so elegant and cheerful and clearly done by someone with a designer's eye. Note how the blocks set on point create a wonderful secondary 4-leaf pattern and give the quilt so much movement. Circa 1850 and likely from Maryland. Starley Antique Quilt Collection. Part of Quilted Joy class and trunk show - now available as a virtual class.

And then the masterfully executed swag and tassel border is the crowning touch. Just look at how she beautifully rounded each of the 4 corners! She definitely liked hand piecing and applique but I don't think she was a big fan of quilting or maybe she ran out of time before the quilt was due. Click on the photo below to see the unique quilting motifs - a pair of scissors above the green swag and a pair of spoons below it. Not a lot of quilting but who doesn't love quilted scissors and spoons!