Antique Quilts - Monthlong Celebration of Antique Red and Green Quilts from the Starley Collection

 Another different Red and Green antique quilt from my collection- enjoy! This is one of a small group of Tumbling Block Stars featuring solid fabric center stars made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the 1880s. My friend Greta and I have found about 15 and fellow collector Pat Nickols found quite a few too. So I think that at least 30 of them were made at that time and place. 

Here's one of mine with the distinctive center star (above) made of only solid fabrics and generally the only solid fabrics used in the quilt. And look at the stars around the central stars - note how carefully she matched the three sets of fabrics used in each star. Look at the lower right star and notice how nicely the two pinks match each other, as well as the two browns and the two purples. \Click on the photo to enlarge - there are 6 different prints in each star.

This is the only one I've seen so far with a diamond braid border which is a great finish! This maker was very careful with her color placement to create the twinkly Tumbling Block Stars. Again, note how carefully she was to match the three sets of fabrics used in each star.  So many different fabrics. I think several different ladies made the quilts based on workmanship and fabric coordination (some didn't pay attention to color placement and lost some stars). I think they traded fabrics to get such close matches. Great variety of prints - look at the two Madder orange paisley prints in the star below. 

Also wonderful novelty prints like this circus dog jumping through a hoop - one of the all-time best novelty prints!

Antique Quilts - Day 19 - Antique Quilt Festival - Red and Green Quilts

Antique Quilts - A month of textile treasures. Day 19 follows up on the elaborate Bethlehem Star quilt shared yesterday. This is another amazing central star quilt surrounded by smaller stars - 4 full stars and 4 partial stars. Red and Green and more :)

 

Isn't that blue background just fabulous! Makes this look like THE Star of Bethlehem. Such a different feel from yesterday's central star quilt with a light background and applique motifs. 

The bright yellow backing is a more "recent" addition - this 1850/60s quilt top was likely backed and quilted a 100 years later in the 1950s. Here's the center - so striking.

Day 16 A Month of Antique Quilts! Red and Green Antique Caesars Crown Quilt

Last week I shared one of my antique Caesars Crown quilts from Southeastern Pennsylvania and said that I had more including some that are signature quilts. Here's one of my Caesar's Crown signature quilts - an amazing piece of history.

The full quilt. Such a formal quilt ... except that the placement of the white centers creates such movement.

A close-up of one of the blocks. Each block has a message like a "Tribute of Respect" along with the person's name and hometown.Most also have the classic signature quilt sentiment, "Remember Me When This You See" or simply "Remember Me" and the date of 1851.

"Tribute of Respect by Esther Eschbach/ Colebrookdale Tps, Berks Co PA Remember Me When This you see 1851" Click on block to see more detail and the yummy fabrics.

 The crowning detail is the ownership/dedication block reading"Elizabeth Bickel or Bectel -His (sic) Property In the Year of Our Lord 1851, Berks/Montgomery County Pennsylvania". 

This ownership block was appliqued to the quilt border before the quilt was quilted. It is done in German script called Fraktur writing by a professional writer or scrivener, William Ehst. The blocks were also written by him not the individuals named.

Part of my Sign of the Times, Antique Signature Quilt Trunk show and class. Now available as an online - Zoom class. 

 

Day 12 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Red and Green Antique Quilts

 Ready for another antique quilt? I hope so! I've got another Red and Green French Star quilt for you.

It is one of my absolute favorite patterns. And I was tickled when I recently found this one that was so similar to the one above. Aren't they both lovely! To see more of this 2nd one see my post from earlier this month.

Here's the full shot of antique French Star quilt #1

And another shot of it where you can see all the hand quilting - click on pic to enlarge.

And here it is with another French Star from my collection. I love sharing them in my Patterns Through Time lecture. Contact me if you are interested in seeing them virtually in an online presentation.

Rocky Road

Things are so crazy that the Rocky Road to Kansas block seems an appropriate block to share.

This block is one of the featured designs in my Patterns Through Time lecture/trunk show. Can't wait until I can get out and share these again with quilt guilds.

Circa 1930, Rocky Road to Kansas quilt made in Utah by my great grandmother Isabelle Day Rogers. The backing is made of sacking (flour sacks) that she dyed at home - a bright bold yellow!

 1890 Rocky Road To Kansas made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Smaller scale and more planned out.

The two together as I would show them in my lecture.

Thanks for stopping by. Please comment and let me know other blocks you'd like to see or favorite eras, or styles.

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 -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.

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 Hand Quilting Blogathon Continues - Antique House Quilt (Day 17)

Love this crisp, fresh House Quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection.

It features simple hand quilting which is all that is needed with such a great pattern!

The full antique quilt. Circa 1890.

Antique Hand Quilting Blogathon Day 16 - Antique Log Cabin Quilt

More antique hand quilting on this circa 1890 Log Cabin quilt from Pennsylvania. Simple quilting in dark thread. I really like the X (marks the spot) in the block centers.

The quilting is basic in the ditch/along the seam BUT on both sides of the seam!! And look at the delightful novelty print of a critter in a rakish hat. Is it a fox, ferret, badger??

The full quilt - Log Cabin Barn Raising setting. Backing is pieced of alternating stripes of solid red and green, a strippy or bars backing.

Antique Hand Quilting Blogathon - Hexagon Medallion Day 14

You may have noticed I like antique hexagon quilts. This hexagon medallion from the Starley Antique Quilt Collection is full of wonderful novelty prints. The hand quilting is the traditional outline around every single hexagon.

Look at all the wonderful novelty prints!! The bird above and flower below are from a crazy quilt cheater print.

That pink/red hexagon with the bell is an 1876 Centennial print (made to celebrate the Centennial of the United States, 1776-1876). Remember the 1976 Bi-centennial hoopla? Well, the Centennial was a huge event as well.

The full quilt! Love the rounds of color. So well done.

Antique Hand Quilting Blogathon Caesars Crown Day 8

Today's antique hand quilted quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection is a Caesar's Crown quilt It features decorative quilted details and a beautiful cable border.

It has delightful bright red/green/yellow print fabrics and each block has a signature and an inscription. The crowning detail is the ownership/dedication block "Elizabeth Bickel or Bectel -His (sic) Property In the Year of Our Lord 1851".

This beautiful signature/friendship quilt is from Berks and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The names were inscribed by a professional paid signer, known as a scrivener.

Hand Quilting Blogathon Day 7 Hexagon Medallion

More hexagon madness ... today's hexies are set in a medallion

The hand quilting is done in grid/straight lines (horizontal and vertical). Such a brilliant idea! Instead of tediously stitching around each hexagon, the maker made it easier.

The full quilt - it is hypnotic isn't it?  Circa 1875, Starley Antique Quilt Collection. Part of my Patterns Through Time Trunk Show.