Turkey Reds - Antique Quilts

A sampling of Turkey red fabrics in my collection.

These two are from a Quaker Quilt from Chester Co. Pennsylvania, dated 1850

These two are from circa 1850 also.

And this feathered friend is circa 1860. Enjoy

1840s Quaker Signature Quilt - Antique Signature Quilt

Wonderful signature quilt from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Quaker signators. Love the mostly green which isn't seen very often in signature quilts. Part of the Sign of the Times Trunk Show.

Block with amazing detailed inkings.

Block with Quaker dating "1846 10th mo 25th (day)."

Another with a lovely grey-blue print

An Antique Cheddar Break

A palate cleansing cheddar break. Pieces from my collection.

All the Letters - Alphabet Quilt - Antique Quilt

Alphabet Quilt top - from Pennsylvania. Dated 1914 with funky ampersand & a house/schoolhouse block.

Quilt blocks are based on the Ladies Art Company patterns from the late 1800s.

Hope you have followed along with our tour through the alphabet.

Z is for Zig Zag! Antique Quilts

Z is for Zig Zag - the powerful and popular block setting. If you ever want to make a WOW quilt, try using zig zag blocks, setting, or borders.  Here are five from my collection  -part of my Antique Stars Show. (Last quilt is from Michigan's Mary Schafer collection.)

Variable Stars in Zig Zag setting

Cactus Basket in Zig Zag setting

1880s Wild Goose Chase in Zig Zag set - Michigan

1830s Variable Star on right with vertical Zig Zag setting

Southeastern Pennsylvania - Bethlehem Star with Tulips and Zig Zag border, circa 1870

Mary Schafer Quilt Collection - 1870s quilt top that she finished. Triangles staggered to create Zig Zags

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Y is for Yellow Birds - Antique Quilts

Y is for Yellow Birds found on antique quilts in my collection and featured in my Birds and Blooms trunk show.

1850s detail from Quilted Joy - Rose of Sharon Quilt

Bird and fish from another antique Rose of Sharon/Whig's Defeat Quilt

X is for X Block - Antique Quilts

X marks the spot - for the signature. X Block or Old Italian Block was a popular pattern for antique signature quilts. Here are two from the Starley Quilt Collection - featured in the Sign of the Times, Signature Quilt Show.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, circa 1850.

Chicopee, Massachusetts, dated 1848.

W is for wild goose chase

W is for Wild Goose Chase - antique quilt top from Michigan - Starley Quilt Collection

V is for Variable Stars - Antique Star Quilts

V is for the Variable Star pattern and Variations - Enjoy. All part of the Starley Collection - featured in the Sign of the Times antique quilt trunk show and also the Quilt Masterpieces show.

U is for Underground Railroad Quilt

U is for Underground Railroad Quilt - spoiler alert - while there are some antique blocks called Underground Railroad - antique quilts were NOT used as part of the Underground Railroad. Quilts as signals/codes for the Underground Railroad is a MYTH. It is an engaging story but it is not history.

I will share a signature quilt/presentation quilt made before the Civil War with ties to the real Underground Railroad - this quilt was made by The Congretionational Church in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The Church was staunchly abolitionist (anti-slavery) and a stop on the Underground Railroad. The quilt was made for Reverend E. B. Clark's wife who by all accounts was a wonderful woman.

Old Italian Block dated 1848. The quilt has signatures in each block center. Some are handwritten while others are stamped.

T is for Trapunto - Antique Quilt

T is for Trapunto (stuffed hand quilting) on this treasure from the Starley Collection. Part of the Antique Stars trunk show. Look at the star quilting in the alternating blocks between the pieced stars. Circa 1840s.

And this is the border quilting - got to LOVE that quilted pineapple!

The star block with trapunto showing in the corners.

The full quilt.

S is for Stars, Stars, Stars - Antique Star Quilts

S is for Star Quilts -- Here are several wonderful 1800s Stars from the Starley Collection, part of the Antique Stars Trunk Show. Booking now for your quilt guild or show, or quilt history group. Have Quilts, Will Travel!