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Patriotic Posters
A Glance at American Quilts
By Claudia Hudson
When Americans first tried their hands at
quilt making back in Colonial times, it was already a long practiced
craft in England. Despite the delayed start, the women (and
sometimes the men) who worked on quilts on these shores are credited
with developing the art to its finest degree. All of this was done
with a frequent lack of formal education or artistic background.
During the beginning years, the many hours needed to design and sew
were scarce. Even when yard goods were available the cost could be
prohibitive, for farming and village folk had little or no money to
spare. Before the American Revolution, the colonies were banned from
manufacturing better materials, which forced their import from
England, and at even higher prices, France. In fact, in the late
18th century, quilts were for the most part whole cloth quilts that
required costly yardage that could be afforded only by well-to-do
women along the Eastern seaboard and on Southern plantations. It is
a popular impression that scraps from outworn garments have always
been incorporated into quilts, but this is hardly the reality. Into
the early 19th century, it was a rare cupboard that overflowed with
clothing, especially among farm women. Wardrobes were severely
limited and the few garments owned by women and children were
usually worn to unusable shreds. .
By the mid-1830s, American mills were annually producing about 120
million yards of printed cottons, about one-third of Britain's
production. The vast majority were utilitarian commodity
cloths...Many were small patterned block and roller printed dress
prints in two or three colors that did not match the quality of
English imports. As a result, Americans in search of high-quality
printed textiles had no choice but to turn to European fabrics.
Prices were high. In 1841, a Hartford (Conn.) merchant advertised
American, English, and French calicos ranging from 6 cents to 37
cents a yard. The French fabrics...were too expensive.
"Drabs" that emphasized the brown family and dull greens, were an
even more prominent choice for quilts in the mid-19th century. The
drab colors reflected the great modesty of the period and the dark
shadow cast by the coming Civil War (and hid the dirt to boot).
The name of a quilt frequently reflects a phase of life. Here is a
sampling
The Presentation, or Friendship Quilt --used as a gift for a
bride, departing friend or clergyman. Each block was completed by
another person, and often included embroidered or written signatures
or verses. Quilts of this design are also referred to as "Album
Quilts." - The Bride's or Marriage Quilt --It was considered bad
luck for the bride to make her own quilt, so friends frequently
completed it with signed blocks. Doves, love knots, hearts and
cupids were the favored embellishments. Memorial or Memory Quilts
--bordered with dark, somber colors and fashioned from the clothing
of a deceased loved one. Commemorative Quilts --bring topical
subjects to the fore. Flags, patriotic symbols, commemorative
handkerchiefs or other printed materials are common motifs. The
designs could be scattered over the quilt, or a single, large
symbol, surrounded by several borders, was centered on the quilt.
(Sometimes called a "Medallion" Quilt.) Sampler Quilts --a mix of
many patterns frequently made as a reference, or to spark fresh
ideas.
Claudia Hudson (Isis) Claudia has written articles for some of the
biggest and brightest on the Internet. Prior to being a professional
copywriter, Claudia's career was that of a public school teacher.
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