Patchwork Quilts

About Vintage and Antique Patchwork Quilts

Quiltmaking and patchwork have been popular pastimes in the U.S. since the 1700s, and today quilts are highly collectible as works of folk art with historical significance (or just nice to look at). Antique quilts vary widely in design and materials, and can be hard to date definitively because they may have been assembled in phases from older quilts or blocks.

Made from a variety of materials, from elaborate fabrics to scraps of old clothing and sometimes even old feed bags, quilts have both a functional and social significance. Groups of women often gathered to create quilts together, and the finished result was sometimes given as a gift for a special occasion (like a wedding) or as a symbol of friendship. Quilts can also document a family’s history as the pieces sewn together can come from baby blankets, old clothes, etc...

Antique quilts are typically categorized by style (broad classification) and pattern (of the individual blocks). Some notable styles include central motif, log cabin, album, circular, star, patriotic, thematic, representational, whole-cloth, charm, utility, signature, medallion, redwork, appliqué small block, applique 4-block, strippey, Colonial Revival, Amish and crazy quilts, among others.

Some notable patterns (of individual blocks) include Sunbonnet Sue, fan, log cabin, Rose of Sharon, 9-patch, Lone Star, Whig’s Defeat, Pot and Flowers, hole in the barn door, bowtie, and so on. There are some situations when the pattern (block) name was also used as the style name (this was common in the 20th century), such as Sunbonnet Sue, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Dresden Plate and Double Wedding Ring.

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Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: An Introduction to Identifying and Collecting Antique Quilts

Many antique quilt collectors think of themselves as caretakers of historical documents, made at the hands of… [more]

American Patchwork Quilts

The antique quilts which collectors admire today for their colorfulness and variety of design represent two o… [more]

An Interview With Tramp Art Collector Clifford Wallach

My first book, "Tramp Art, One Notch at a Time", was self-published in 1998. At the time we started to do the… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

International Quilt Study Center

International Quilt Study Center

This University of Nebraska affiliated site showcases a spectacular collection of over 1800 colorful quilts from th… [read review or visit site]

Antiquequiltdating.com

Antiquequiltdating.com

Though not an actual online dating site, the subject here is certainly love... of quilts. Kimberly Wulfert has put … [read review or visit site]

The Quilt Index

The Quilt Index

This collaborative project provides a visual index of almost 2,000 antique quilts across multiple museums and colle… [read review or visit site]

American Folk Art Museum

American Folk Art Museum

The American Folk Art Museum's website showcases current and past exhibitions along with their permanent collection… [read review or visit site]

Anonymous Works

Anonymous Works

This blog combines American primitive folk art, vintage vernacular photography, outsider art, and other interesting… [read review or visit site]

The Outsider Art Pages

The Outsider Art Pages

A modern look at folk and outsider art with a focus on what people are doing to keep these traditions alive. The si… [read review or visit site]

Folk Art in Bottles

Folk Art in Bottles

Whether you call them Bottle Whimseys, Whimsey Bottles, Puzzle Bottles, or Whimsies, this site showcases great folk… [read review or visit site]

Index of American Design

Index of American Design

The Index of American Design project (1935-1942) was an effort to catalog American decorative arts objects from the… [read review or visit site]

Stoveburner.com

Stoveburner.com

A stunning collection of 162 images of stoveburners, those corroded cast iron elements that power stoves, broilers,… [read review or visit site]


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Clubs & Associations: Folk Art


Other Great Reference Sites: Folk Art

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Westie Rescue:westie Mom And Pups Quilt+pillow 50"x 65"$635.00 Ends Wednesday 13 bids 1 watcher
Antique 19th C Lady Of The Lake Quilt Unused Fab Prints$400.00 Ends Saturday 10 bids 38 watchers
Exquisite Vintage Dresden Plate Quilt Unique Must See!!$325.00 Ends in 6 mins 30 bids 17 watchers
Westie Rescue: Mom And Pups Handmade Quilt And Pillow !$305.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 1 watcher
Hand Made Amish Broken Star Quilt King Size New$300.00 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Vtg Applique Magnolia Handmade Scalloped Edge Quilt Kit$280.01 Ends in 20 hours 6 bids 25 watchers
Antique Red White Pineburr/star Quilt C.1888 Gd Graphic$249.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 41 watchers
1800's Bright Pa-style Paisley-bk'd Stunning Quilt Mint$202.50 Ends in 21 hours 9 bids 19 watchers
Antique/vintage Quilt- Drunkard's Path-turkey Red & Wh.$202.49 Ends Sunday 2 bids 10 watchers
Vintage~christmas Red~satin~wool~pinwheel~yoyo~quilt$200.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 3 watchers
Pennsylvania 1903 Hand Made Signed Dated Crazy Quilt$199.99 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Allis Chalmers Quilt 92 X 69$187.50 Ends Sunday 17 bids 22 watchers
Victorian 1880's Basket Quilt Very Nice!$150.50 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 26 watchers
Hand Made Red And White Quilt + 3 Standard Shams$149.95 Ends Sunday 1 bid 5 watchers
Xlarge Handloom Ikat Weave Man's Hingghi, Sumba, Timor$147.61 Ends in 18 hours 9 bids 28 watchers
Vintage Handpieced Bowtie Quilt Top-feedsacks-#2- Mint$129.99 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Vintage Handpieced Butterfly Quilt Top-old Jadite Green$129.99 Ends in 10 hours 2 bids 4 watchers
Santa~antique 1800's Star Quilt~primitive Christmas $125.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 9 watchers
Mint* Antique Cotton Log Cabin Quilt Unwashed & Unused$117.50 Ends Sunday 4 bids 10 watchers
Amish Hand-made Lonestar Quilt (new)!!!!$110.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Antique Yellow & Green Feathered Star Quilt$103.50 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 6 watchers
Old Irish Chain Postage Stamp Quilt 1800's 3/4" Sqs. $100.09 Ends in 18 hours 3 bids 15 watchers
Hand Stitched Quilt!! Very Rare King Size Never Used!!$100.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
Beautiful Handmade "new Jersey Star" Quilt$99.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers
Rare Antique Blue 6-point Star W/ Satellites Quilt Top$99.00 Ends Monday 3 bids 12 watchers
Early! 1840s Star Of Bethlehem W/ Satellites Quilt Top$99.00 Ends Monday 7 bids 17 watchers
Maritime-hand Stitched&embroidered Quilt-queen$99.00 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Antique American Blue White Applique Quilt 1930s$91.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 44 watchers
Handmade Snowman Sofa Quilt Throw$90.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Vintage Dresden Plate Quilt Top- Nice!!!!$89.00 Ends in 22 hours 4 bids 10 watchers
Estate Find, Scrappy Yellow 'x' Quilt, Hand Quilted $86.00 Ends in 16 hours 13 bids 9 watchers
Colorful Vintage Hand Sewn Yo Yo Quilt$85.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 6 watchers
Stunning Hand Made Country Patchwork Quilt ~$81.80 Ends Sunday 1 bid 8 watchers
Vintage Handstitched Quilt-cathedral Window-periwinkle$81.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 12 watchers
Quilt Top ~ Wild Geese In Vertical Rows Antique 1800's $79.00 Ends Monday 4 bids 16 watchers
Peony Variation Antique Quilt - Unusual 1800s Exc Cond$76.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 17 watchers
C1900 Printed-navy & White Quilt Double X Excellent Nr$76.00 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 24 watchers
Vintage Handquilted Christmas Star Quilt Red Greens $76.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 6 watchers
Antique Kentucky Rose Quilt~fine Stitching~red,green$76.00 Ends in 23 hours 7 bids 17 watchers
Handstitched Hawaiian Quilt From The 1980's $76.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 9 watchers
Beautiful Ohio 1920's Antique Lone Star Quilt-no Reserv$76.00 Ends in 23 hours 7 bids 19 watchers
Stunning Blue Antique Lone Star Of Bethlehem Quilt Top$76.00 Ends Monday 7 bids 6 watchers
Antique Quilt Applique Iris Pansy Please Read Story $76.00 Ends in 21 hours 3 bids 13 watchers
Vintage Queen Yoyo Style Quilt, All Hand-made, Beauty!!$69.99 Ends in 16 hours 1 bid 11 watchers
Grandmother's Flower Garden Vintage Quilts 1 " Coins @@$69.99 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 16 watchers
Nr ~antq Tumbling Blocks Quilt / Comfort Slight Tlc$68.01 Ends in 19 hours 6 bids 37 watchers
19c Diamond Pyramid Quilt Detailed Unused Provenance$68.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 22 watchers
Nr Antique Blue White & Pink Feathered Star Quilt 10spi$68.00 Ends Monday 3 bids 14 watchers
Excellent Vintage 40's Carolina Lily Quilt-no Reserve$67.00 Ends in 23 hours 10 bids 42 watchers
Ccc Lg Vintage Chenille Patchwork Quilt Spread Plush! $66.50 Ends in 14 hours 15 bids 25 watchers
Beautiful Vintage Handsewn Quilt With Unfinished Edge$63.75 Ends Sunday 12 bids 26 watchers

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Recent News: Patchwork Quilts

Source: Google News

Vintage quilt blocks will benefit area school children
Pratt Tribune, November 20th

By Carol Bronson Methodist quilters (from left) Marian Bush, Janet Shinkle, Priscilla White and Jean Bailey show the vintage quilt they finished from...Read more

5 Stocks Bouncing Back
Motley Fool, November 19th

Highly rated CAPS All-Star Drew2142 is counting on the crazy-quilt collection of boring businesses to ultimately drive its stock price higher...Read more

Newtown Holiday House Tour not only about houses
Bucks Local News, November 18th

More than 40 antique quilts will be on display in historic Wesley Hall of the United Methodist Church of Newtown at Green and Liberty streets...Read more

Exhibit offers visual history of quilt designs
Binghamton University Pipe Dream, November 17th

The museum tour begins at the lower level of the Art Museum with "Vibrations: Color Resonance in Antique Quilts," where most of the history lies...Read more

40s quilt on display
Henley Standard, November 16th

AN antique quilt is to go on display at a patchwork and quilting exhibition at the Sue Ryder Care hospice in Nettlebed. The quilt was made in Canada in the...Read more

Use simple, natural elements for holiday party
San Francisco Chronicle, November 15th

"I'll use an antique quilt, blanket, sheet or curtain instead." Her resourcefulness has saved her on numerous occasions. Antique canning jars have been used...Read more

Antique quilt honors 69 WWI veterans
Fort Morgan Times, November 13th

By JESSE CHANEY, Brush News-Tribune Pictured with the quilt that honors local WWI veterans are, left to right, Harry Rieger, Wes Clem, Stan Gray,...Read more

Antique Quilt Show returns to Arnprior and District Museum Nov. 7-14
EMC Arnprior, November 4th

After a yearlong absence, the Antique Quilt Show is returning to the Arnprior and District Museum. Quilts from across the province will be on display at the...Read more

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