Creating a presentation on 250 years of American Quilting and Quintessentially American Quilts for the American Quilt Study Group was a fantastic opportunity to study our amazing quilt heritage. Again, I would love to share pictures of all the epic quilts that I reviewed, but instead I will give you an overview. I hope you will be inspired to follow up and start searching using the keywords I share below. Americans did not create quilting, but we have definitely made it our own!

The Flowering of American Quilts 1840-1870:
Time of Growth, Industrialism, and Westward Expansion

This is the period when American Quilting really developed its personal identity. Mid-century quilters expanded upon the signature album or friendship quilt phenomena that began in 1840. It blossomed with the detailed Baltimore Albums, one of the icons of quilting. Chintz applique was transformed from medallions into blocks used in signature quilts. And speaking of blocks, the block format especially pieced blocks of stars with alternating plain blocks began to develop as a uniquely American style. Elaborate red and green appliqué are classic patterns of this era. Red and green were popular home décor colors that translated to quilts, both appliqued and pieced. This was also the start of published patterns and more fabric being produced in America. Most importantly, the time-saving marvel of the sewing machine was becoming available to the public.

The Grand Epoch 1870-1900:
Centennial Celebration for a Grown-up Nation

It is difficult to really convey the extant of the enthusiasm and significance of the Centennial Celebration to this seasoned nation. Those of us who remember the Bicentennial know a bit about Centennial fever, but the quilters of 1876 really took the commemoration up to the nth degree. There was a frenzy of piecing and competition to see how many different pieces could be utilized in a single quilt. Fabric was so accessible that makers could easily make quilts with 1,000 or even a celebratory 1,876 separate fabrics. Patriotic fabric with symbols of the American Revolution and dates of 1776 and 1876 were extremely popular. If you find a circa 1880 charm or scrappy quilt, be sure to look closely for a Centennial fabric! Piecing was king during the period, mostly due to the availability of sewing machines.

Crazy for quilting

This period also gave birth to the most widespread quilting craze of all time: the Crazy Quilt. These wonderful works of velvet, silk, and satin covered with elaborate embroidery began in the early 1880s, and after just a few years, ladies’ magazines were complaining about the obsession they had created. In 1890, Good Housekeeping said: