Antique Quilts Week: Red and Green Applique

Welcome to Treadlestitches!  It's the last week of the month, so that means time for antique quilts from my collection.  This month's theme is red and green applique.

Both of these quilts date from 1850-1875.  They are hand pieced and hand quilted, with no evidence of machine sewing on them anywhere.  These are the only two quilts I have ever had documented, and some of the photos I'm using came from the documentations, which is why they have a number pinned to them.  To be clear, I took the photos myself.

Here's the first quilt, a Peony variation.  That word, variation, is very useful when identifying (or trying to identify) antique quilts, especially appliqued ones.  Quilters then were like quilters now, changing patterns to suit themselves.

By the way, the photo above shows the entire quilt.  It's not folded, this is just all there is.  Blocks at the top and on the sides are simply cut off.

There are borders on two sides only, and an unusual small wreath in one corner.  I bought this quilt from an Ebay seller many years ago.

 

Sometimes when a quilt has only two borders, it may have been meant to cover a bed in a corner, as above.  (Why add two borders that no one will see?)  The vine in the borders is a sort of blue, rather than green which we would expect, and there is staining all around the vine.  I believe this vine fabric might have originally been dyed a shade of green, and faded and/or bled.  But I can't tell for sure.

The flower and leaf shapes are simple and graceful, and there is lots of lovely hand quilting, at 8 to 9 stitches per inch.

There are feathered wreaths in the alternate blocks, and hearts quilted in the corners.  I know it's hard to see here, sorry.

The seller had no information about the maker of the quilt, but knew it was made in Kentucky.  This embroidered letter "L" might be from the maker's or the owner's name.  I'm sure the family that originally had the quilt knew who L was, but now no one does.  Just a reminder to us all to label our quilts!

The second quilt is a Cherry Wreath.  There are 9 large wreath blocks (13.5-14 inches square) and vine borders on all four sides.  Quilt teachers encourage us now to make our borders turn the corners, but this quiltmaker had apparently never heard of them.  Her borders were obviously made separately.  They might not win prizes at a quilt show, but I like the less formal look of it.

The sheer amount of work in these blocks is astounding.  There are 52 tiny appliqued cherries in each wreath.  Plus 18 leaves, and the wreath circle itself! 

Here's a dime next to the cherries, for comparison.  Also, you can see the embroidery better here.  Each cherry has an embroidered stem connecting it to the wreath or the border vines.  Most of the embroidery thread in the blocks has faded from green to white.

In addition to feathered circles quilted in the alternate blocks, there are lots of other motifs.  The quilting here is 9-10 stitches per inch.  

The border is quilted with a double hanging diamonds pattern.  Green solid fabric with this characteristic yellowish hue usually indicates a date prior to the Civil War.  

Both of these quilts are around 150 years old.    Neither one is in perfect condition, which is why they were affordable. I have loved studying them, and it is an honor to own them. 

Back in this century, I have discovered I am a bandwagon jumper.  (Who knew?)  I have jumped on the Switch Plate block bandwagon, and am happily cutting and sewing these little 3" x 5" finished blocks.   Of course I'm doing the green ones first, for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month.  Click HERE for Cynthia B.'s first post on them, from back in April.

Plus, this!  When cutting pieces from 3.5 in. strips, it was easy to cut these Little Bricks also, and sew up 8 patch blocks.  This time I'm copying Cathy from Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting.  Click HERE for a recent post with the 8 patch blocks, plus lots of other scrappy goodness.

And now here's a happy first for today.

My Little Guy went to the library for the very first time.  He loved it!  Except for the part where you have to let go of the book you've chosen so the lady can check it out for you and hand it back. 

He was born in March of 2020, and Covid kept us away until now.  I always took his brothers to story time and other library events, and I've felt bad that he missed those activities, which were cancelled because of the pandemic.  The virus may not be over, but we are cautiously venturing out, and doing these very important things.

Let's do important things this week.  Things like getting together with family and friends, either in person or virtually or by phone.  Things like remembering our loved ones who have died, and passing their stories on.  Things like helping others, sharing hugs, smiling at strangers, looking after our animal friends.  And sewing, as donations, gifts, or kindness to ourselves.  This stuff is important!

Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend, and a wonderful week ahead.

Thanks for reading,

Sylvia@Treadlestitches

Linking up with:

Alycia at Finished or Not Finished Friday

Angela at So Scrappy

Cynthia at Oh Scrap