History, Highlights and Helpful Hints


Quilted fabrics have served a utilitarian purpose throughout much of history, functioning as bedding, clothing and even cushioning under armor. In modern times, quilts have become collectible works of art that people display in their homes and hang on walls.

The basis for quilting as it is known today was brought to this country by the colonists, who needed to patch existing quilts in order to survive the frigid winters. “Professional weavers, spinners and textile makers were banned from coming to Colonial America because Britain didn’t want competition in the new colony,” explains author and quilt historian Judy Howard. As a result, most women in America carded and spun wool into materials for clothing and bedding, with only very wealthy housewives having time to practice decorative needlework and quilting.

By the mid-1800s, the American textile industry was thriving and fabric was readily available. This access to materials prompted more women to begin appliqueing and piecing quilts from fabric swatches, and the craft became a social pastime, notes Howard. The increased popularity resulted in magazines, newspapers and catalogs regularly printing quilt patterns.

This graphic quilt dates from the 1880s and displays a pattern known as Robbing Peter to Pay Paul. Quilt appraiser Karen Housner speculates that the name refers to the opposing images created with the dark-blue and white fabrics.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, quilt styles were numerous, says Phoenix-area certified quilt appraiser Karen Housner. She points to Crazy quilts and Grandmother’s Flower Garden as two collectible designs with recognizable patterns. Crazy quilts emerged during the Victorian era and were popular among affluent women who incorporated velvets, satins, silks and “an amazing amount of embroidery” to fashion small quilts with intricate, scattered patterns. These often were displayed in their homes as artwork. “Crazy quilts were a status symbol representing free time, access to expensive fabric, and skill with needlework,” she comments.

In contrast, Housner states, Grandmother’s Flower Garden was a style common during the Great Depression—a time when women again made quilts out of necessity to keep their families warm. According to Housner, economic hardship often meant that every scrap of fabric was utilized, whether it was from a feedsack, old piece of clothing or salvaged from curtains. These tiny fragments of cloth were then pieced together to form a distinct small, repeating hexagonal pattern that resembles a flower.

“Time for quilting became rare during World War II, as many women were forced to go to work in the ammunition factories,” or had to work if their husbands died in the war, says Howard. Housner explains that when women entered the workplace, the collective mind-set changed, and people wanted store-bought items that were easily obtained.

Quilting experienced a revival in the 1970s with the country’s bicentennial, and today is a multibillion-dollar industry. “Quilts are things of comfort and love,” says Housner, speculating on their popularity as collectible items. “Many feel they have been chosen to be caretakers of beautiful works of art—it is amazing what women could do with a needle and thread.”

The large basting stitches in cream-color thread found in this quilt from the 1850s indicate that it was never completed. A quilter created the intricate hexagonal pattern—which includes approximately 4,300 pieces—by first cutting the shapes out of paper to ensure precision when piecing together the design. The shapes were then used to cut correctly sized fabric hexagons that were attached to the paper using basting stitches.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Collectibility. Judy Howard says that the most sought-after quilts are those with unique qualities. For example, she notes that pictorial, doll and small crib quilts are in high demand, as are Amish creations, with their bold graphic designs and color schemes. Quilts from the mid-1800s are rare, and identifying marks such as signatures, dates or initials are desirable attributes.

Color palette. Some antique quilts can be dated by their calico-print fabrics and colors, tutors Howard. Red work-embroidered quilts were introduced in the late 1800s; embroidered quilts made between 1910 and 1930 often utilized blue thread.

Graphic appeal. Look for strong graphic appeal in both color and pattern, says Karen Housner. Currently, quilts with a red, green and white scheme are popular, and blue-and-white combinations are always collectible, she states.

WHAT TO AVOID
Impostors. Be on the lookout for new quilts that are touted as antiques, cautions Housner. Those that are not authentic often feature long, uniform stitches made with white thread. Quilts with six or seven stitches per inch usually are machine-made. Buy from a reputable dealer, or have a quilt examined by an expert to help verify its age.

Poor craftsmanship. “Judge quilts as you would art—look for graphic design, borders, color, symmetry and personal appeal,” suggests Howard. “Look for quality of piecing and hand-quilting. Stitches should be even and close. And, condition is the most important factor in valuing a quilt.”

Unwise investments. In general, antique quilts cannot be washed, dry-cleaned or ironed because the fabric is too fragile, explains Housner. Instead, they should be shaken and aired out. However, most vintage quilts, which are less than 100 years old, can be cleaned. She suggests being leery of purchasing dirty or worn antique quilts. “Love them, warts and all, or leave them there.” Howard agrees, saying, “Invest in the best quilts you can afford, and resist the temptation to buy a bargain if it shows wear and doesn’t appeal to you.”


HISTORY LESSON
According to author and quilt historian Judy Howard, quilt styles and techniques have varied over the years. Here are a few interesting tidbits:
•In the 19th century, a young woman often would make 13 quilts for her dowry chest—12 everyday quilts to keep her soon-to-be family warm, and one bridal quilt. Quilting bees were held in some areas of the country
to help craft the quilts. In these instances, after the bridal quilt was complete, a cat would be thrown onto the middle of the quilt, and the girl nearest to where the cat jumped off would be the next to marry.

•After World War I, color schemes featuring maroon, brown and gray were common, as widows cut up their mourning clothes to craft quilts.

•“By 1925, home-decorating and ladies’ magazines began pushing optimism and lighter, brighter decor. Quilts experienced an abrupt change from somber colors to refreshing pastels and bright floral calicos, and dreamy floral appliqued quilts were prized,” she notes.

•Patches of cotton grown specifically to make batting for quilts were planted by farmers during the Great Depression. In addition, worn-out clothing and feed, flour and sugar sacks were reused to make quilts to survive cold winters.

•In 1971, the Whitney Museum of American Art showcased quilts in an exhibit, which helped elevate the craft to a recognized art form.

WHERE TO FIND THEM
Phoenix area. Look for old quilts at antiques stores, such as Antique Gatherings, Antiques on Central, and The Brass Armadillo, all in Phoenix.

Online. Numerous websites carry antique and vintage quilts, including antiquequilts.com, antiquequiltsource.com, buckboardquilts.com, oldquiltcompany.com, rockymountainquilts.com, and stellarubinantiques.com. Find a certified quilt appraiser at quiltappraisers.org.