American Quilts a Stitch in Time

American quilting traditions are categorized by century, decade, region, state, eras and by ethnicity. Quilts are a historical and personal kaleidoscope that tells a story stitch by stitch.

Early 19th century quilts are scarce, only the wealthy could afford expensive and imported materials from Europe so few quilts were made. Late in the century excluding the Civil War cotton was abundant and affordable. Quilts of the era notably were assembled with complex quilting stitches. Appliques of favor were Oak Leaves, Four Patch graphicals, flowers and other patchwork variations.

After the Civil War Log Cabin and Crazy Quilts hit the quilt circuits; made of silk and cotton. The Crazy quilt era was show-off time for women with embroidery skills, quilt tops were bedazzled with beautiful embroider stitching as well.  

At the brink of 1900, cotton was bountiful but quilts were still made from scrap materials or old clothing men’s shirts provided light backgrounds that contrasted with very dark colored cottons like burgundy, navy, black and dark green. Predominant in early 1900 were madder prints and fabric with tiny conversational figures. Patterns of popularity were the Prairie Star, Criss Cross, Double Nine Patch, Philadelphia Pavement, and so many others.

The 19th century brought patterns into popularity but the 20th century pinnacled the use of them. Publication sources commercialized original and old stand-by designs into kits containing the pattern, fabric, and other notion. Quilt historians later had difficulties finding and recording the quilt kit frenzy. Then farther into the 1900’s Crazy Quilts morphed to warm utility blankets of wool and upholstery material.

 About 1978 the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center launched a Folklife Project seeking authentic culture in the Blue Ridge Area ;stumbled upon was quilting just before major technique changes took hold.