Day 17 - A Monthlong Celebration of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 More 9 Patch Fun! Another Uneven Nine Patch from my collection. This one is quite early and has some fabulous fabrics. And something very special ...

Amazingly, it is signed and dated 1836 in teeny crossstitch! It is so awesome to have a name and date on a patchwork quilt like this. Such a great resource for dating the fabrics.

Setting the 9 Patches on point makes strong graphic lines, especially with all the red fabrics.

Day 9 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Hmmmmm, what treasure to share tonight?  One of my absolute favorites is this Rose of Sharon with fabulous applique birds, berries, and blooms. The star of my Birds and Blooms trunkshow. 

Aren't these birds delightful!!! Every inch of this quilt is filled with love and JOY. Hence, the name, Quilted Joy.

It is a 9 block Rose of Sharon created by someone who loved hand applique and was pretty good at hand quilting too.

I loved this full sized quilt so much that I just had to reproduce it in 1/2 size - small scale. Pattern is available on my Etsy shop.

Day 8 - A Month of Antique Quilts

 Another pattern that I really like is the Caesar's Crown block and I have several that are signature quilts from the 1840s in Pennsylvania. This one from circa 1860 is also from Pennsylvania and though it is not a signature quilt it is still fabulous!!

Such yummy colors. Another name for the block is Strawberry and by the colors on this one, I can see how it got that name.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the secondary designs created when it is pieced without sashing. Look at the white background between the blocks. See the cross or four bells? Such a cool effect. Enjoy.  Ps. Wondering how the block was made? It is NOT appliqued; instead, it is all curved pieced by hand.

Day 6 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Another favorite is this 1850 Quaker signature quilt from Chester Co. Pennsylvania (right by Philadelphia). The quilt was made for Enoch and Mary Worrall and features extensive family genealogy. Such a piece of true history and it is beautiful too.

Look at this inked drawing of cupid's arrow !

And this is the center block showing ownership. Hexagon center reads: "Enoch and Mary Worrall's Quilt, 1850". The background of the block says " Enoch and Mary's children" and lists each child (both those living and deceased at that time). More blocks featuring other family members and family history while other feature friends, neighbors, fellow Quakers.

31 Days of Antique Quilts - December Quilt Blogathon - Day 1

For the SEVENTH YEAR in a row Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com is leading her December 31 Day Blogger Challenge and for the SEVENTH YEAR, I am joining in. I'll need to post twice today to catch up. I hope you'll consider joining in too (click blue to learn more). It is a great way to get back in the blogging groove, if you've lost your mojo. Or just a good way to keep going and get motivation and new viewers. Hope you'll check back in to see all the treasures I'll be sharing.

To start off the antique quilt show, here's one of my red and green treasures: an antique circa 1850s peony quilt with hand piecing and hand applique and beautiful hand quilting. Part of the Starley Quilt Collection. Enjoy! 

Ps. I love sharing these treasures in person and virtually and would be happy to join your guild live or via Zoom for a trunk show and/or class. I teach quilting classes too.

Antique Cheddar Houses Old and New

I'm sew excited to give you a sneak peek at my secret sewing project that will soon be coming to your mailbox, newsstand, quilt store or bookstore. Okay, it is soon to be published in American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine!!!

 Just a tease for now. 

 Antique cheddar houses quilt top from my Starley Quilt Collection with mini repro blocks. Blocks are from the amazing Homestead Harvest Collection by Me and My Stitches - Julie Letvin. Fabric by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. It is still available in limited quantities - released earlier this year. You'll need fat 1/8's of each print (24 in all) or get quarter yards (more is better) to make the soon-to-be-published pattern, So if you find some, snatch it up and get ready to SEW!!!

Antique Signature Quaker Quilt

 Zimmerman family quilt from Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania, 1840s - Starley antique quilt collection.

The quilt was made for Cecilia Zimmerman.

Detail from the Zimmerman quilt

Another one of the signature blocks

Happy to share these treasures with you in live presentations - in person or via Zoom. Contact me to arrange an antique trunk show and/or antique quilting study sessions or quilting classes. 

Antique Quilts - A Monthlong Celebration of Antique Red and Green Quilts - Day 30

 This is a wonderful antique quilt with an amazing paisley sashing and great red and greens and blues and more. The icing on the top is that it is an early signature quilt to boot.

Interestingly for a signature or friendship quilt - the focus is on the fabrics rather than the names which are written in corners of the background. Usually, names are placed in the block centers especially with a star block like this one.

Isn't that paisley border bold and beautiful! A star of my Signature Quilt trunk show and my Antique Stars lecture.

The full star quilt from Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Western NJ, just across the river from Philadelpia). It is an early signature quilt and has dates of 1841 and 1842. 

Antique Quilts - Month of Antique Quilts Day 24 - Red and Green Antique Quilts

Day 24 of the antique quilt extravaganza features a wonderful antique friendship crib quilt from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

 

The Red and Green antique quilt even has a Christmas wreath :)

Here's the full quilt - it was obviously made for a beloved baby or child. Starley Quilt Collection.

I was inspired to make a miniature replica of the quilt.

 

I'm putting the final touches on the pattern and it will be released in a few days in my Etsy shop. By the way, all my patterns are on sale right now (20% off for the end of 2020).  Both quilts are stars of my now virtual or online Sign of the Time trunk show and the miniature quilt is available as an online hand applique class. Contact me for details. 

Antique Quilts Celebration - A Month of Antique Red and Green Quilts

 Red and Green or Pink and Green Antique Quilt - Part of the Starley Quilt Collection.

The pattern is Cherry Tree. Don't you just love all those dots (circles)?

Such an interesting arrangement and combination of elements with the formal set of the applique blocks and the rather freeform look of the border. From a distance, the border flowers and leafs look like they have been scattered but they are all anchored by a delicate yellow vine. Click on the photo above to see the details.

Antique Quilts - Day 21 of a Month of Antique Quilts - Red and Green Quilts

 Okay, this is more Pink and Green :) But close enough, I'd say. The pattern is an Uneven Nine Patch, also known as Puss in the Corner. Starley Quilt Collection.

Check out the fabulous zigzag pink and green border!

Click on the photos to enlarge and see the great fabrics and the diagonal triple rodded hand quilting (3 lines of quilting, space, three lines, space, repeat).

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! 

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 15: Antique Quilt Festival - A Month of Antique Quilts - Red and Green

I can't do a Red and Green antique quilt festival without my favorite quilt which just happens to be a glorious, over the top, a red and green masterpiece! It is the most joyful quilt I've ever seen. And it is the star of my Birds and Blooms trunk show (available now as a Zoom, virtual presentation).

Who doesn't love antique quilts with flowers and birds? No one I want to know! I love how the birds are happily diving into the berries. I call the quilt: Quilted Joy!

The full quilt in all its glory. It is a 9 block Rose of Sharon Quilt (set 3 x 3 blocks -squint to see past the busy layout). The maker did not believe in negative space and every inch is covered with applique

And look at that border that will not be contained in the border area but instead boldly crowds far into the blocks. And all of this is topped with a lot of wonderful hand quilting.

There are 4 of the larger red birds and 4 of these little yellow and pink birds. Simply delightful. Be sure to click on the photos to see the beautiful details and quilting.

WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN? The pattern for the small Quilted Joy is on sale for the first (20% off to end 2020), click here to buy the pattern on my Etsy Shop Textile Time Travels 

(all patterns are on sale for December).

Post 14: Antique Quilt Extravaganza: A Month of Antique Quilts Red and Green Quilt Festival

 Post 14 Red and Green Antique Quilt Festival. Okay, today's quilt is Pink and Green (close enough to Red, isn't it) and are quilt blocks (again, close enough, I hope). One of the happiest set of blocks, I've ever found. They come from SouthEastern Pennsylvania.

Aren't these blocks utterly delightful!! Somebody really liked to do applique!

And this is a mock-up of a quilt from the blocks (thanks Karen Alexander for this sample).

And finally, here is what I believe is the quilt made by the same maker (and my blocks are leftover blocks). Found by Donna Vitale in Maxatawny, Berks Co., PA (SE PA) and dated 1890. These blocks were all placed in the same direction, unlike the mock-up above.