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A quilt is a symbol of warmth and artistic ingenuity. This is so indicative of those items made by
our ancestors as a necessity that was turned into a work of art. I look at quilts as works of art! If you are lucky enough to own a quilt made
by an ancestor, it is a history lesson for you on what fabrics, dyes and prints
were available during their lifetime. The patterns had specific names and designs that were shared across generations. Quilts not only provided warmth but also, for a time, served as a signal
of safety and direction for escaping slaves.
The slaves were taught to memorize the patterns and what they meant. The quilt served as a mnemonic tool to
make their escape safely. Quilts served as a means for women to gather socially
when they did not have much time to themselves.
The women would gather to quilt together and share local news and family
milestones. They would often collaborate
to make a quilt as a gift for someone moving from the community. They would each make a quilt square with
their name stitched into it. They would
gather together to construct the quilt then present it to the family leaving
them and a memento of their time together.
I love the fine stitching you find in quilts. This was tough as you were stitching through
three layers of fabric at a time! Not
all quilts were patchwork. There were
those that had embroidered motifs on them or had the layers held together with
knotted strings. I especially loved those
old crazy quilts that did not have any rhyme or reason to the quilt patch and
had lovely hand stitched embroidery on each of the seams. Quilts are pieces of history for us and should
be cared for and conserved. You will
find a great selection of vintage and antique quilts at South End Antique Mall
so be sure to stop by and check them out!
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| This is a patchwork quilt |
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| This one has hand embroidered redwork motifs |
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| This is a patchwork piece; love the diamond! |
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| This is the "Basket" pattern |
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This is a great example of a tied block
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