Today the quilt top I’m pulling from the quilt top cupboard is a simple one patch. The pieces are all the same size and contain lights and darks, but don’t form a particular pattern.
The quilt top is hand pieced and dates to 1880’s-1910. The fabrics are indigo, shirting, homespun plaids and checks, Cardinal reds, Turkey reds, mourning prints, double pinks, and chambray.
There are several prints with a black background with bright pink, chartreuse, and electric blue, exotic colors for the period. These prints are a relief from the more common mourning prints of the era which are black and white.
Mourning prints appeared after Prince Albert of England died in 1861, and Queen Victoria went into heavy mourning. They were also worn in mourning for fallen soldiers during and after the Civil War. These dark colors remained common through the turn of the century.
The quilt top was sewn together in sections. Perhaps this made it easier for the quilter of yesteryear to handle..or broke up the monotony of sewing long seams?
The section at the top of the quilt appears to have gotten turned around from the orientation it should have had? This area along with the section twelve squares in from the left throw off the alternating light/dark fabric placement.
I don’t know if this was accidental..or if the maker didn’t care about having a pattern to her color placement? As you can see, the squares don’t line up in this section either?
When I see anomalies like these it makes me wonder if the same person did all of the sewing, or did someone else sew the pieces together to make a functional piece from a UFO? (unfinished object)
The quilt top is in very good, clean condition with tight seams. The squares measure about 2″ finished and the top is around 80″x 94″. It’s not a valuable piece to serious quilt collectors, but to lovers of fabrics like me, it’s a treasure.