Page 6 - February 2022 Issue.indd

Let’s Go Antiquing If the quilt was mainly for “show” it would be filled with a
cotton batting rather than wool. It was tacked to the wooden
frame and rolled. It was then ready to be quilted by the needle-
By Jean H. Hurst
women.

QUILTS These quilts were often “presentation” gifts for the minister,
teacher or other prominent members of the community. Many
Many of us have a quilt that we treasure. Perhaps it was made by of these presentation quilts stilt exist. Most are found in good
a great-grandmother and passed down to us. Perhaps it caught condition as they were never used.
our eye in a shop and we purchased it, but it is treasured for
the time and skill required to make it. Women prided themselves on their needlework and even the
very young made samplers to acquire skills for more elaborate
Our American quilts started out as strictly utilitarian articles to stitchery. Young girls were sometimes allowed to make a “plain”
provide warm covers for beds. Our English ancestors had been quilt before they began on quilts for their hope chest or dowry.
quilting since the Crusades borrowed the idea from the Turks. It was expected that each young bride would bring 13 quilts to
They had discovered that the Turks wore comfortable quilted her new home. She made 12 on her own and the 13 was made

th

fabric under their armor. The ladies made these quilted undies by her friends and relatives.
for their knights and also quilted petticoats for themselves.
The ”bride’s quilt” was unique to the Baltimore area and Rhode

The art of quilting as bed covers flourished in America between Island during the 1840s and 1850s. These quilts always had

the years 1775-1875. “Quilting Bees” became very common and one or more blocks containing a heart or hearts. Many quilters
served two purposes: to do a task that would have taken one would not use a heart in a pattern for a bride, they considered
woman months, and to have a sociable gathering. it to be bad luck.
A quilting frame would be set up in the middle of a room and Some of us have fallen heir to “friendship” and “autograph”
the quilt would be readied for the stitching. Quilt tops were quilts. Many a young man went off to military service accom-

made in blocks, then set, and sometimes bordered. A muslin panied by a “freedom” quilt made for him by his loving mother,

or cotton backing was added. The quilting design was marked sisters, and lady friends when he reached his majority.
on top of the quilt using a pencil or chalk.
Bereaved husbands were presented with “memory” quilts made

from the clothing of his dead wife. These are probably very
rare as clothing, even in wealthy families, was passed along
to the next wife.
Crib quilts were very popular as were doll quilts. Th ese small
quilts are eagerly sought after today. Quilts, as are all textiles,

are very much in demand. As with all antiques, they must be
in Ridgely given proper care. The ideal way to store any textile is to roll it.

However, most quilts are stored in chests or trunks.
AFFORDABLE HAIR CARE
If a quilt is stored folded it should be taken out occasionally and
Trish Puckett, Stylist & Barber; refolded to reduce the stress on the cloth and stitches. Museums
Stylist: Crystal use acid-free paper and boxes to store their textiles. Th ese can
be obtained from dry-cleaning establishments.
Cuts – Color – Hi-Lites – Foils It is best not to wash an old quilt. To freshen them and remove
Perms – Nails – Waxing - Pedicures some stains, hang them outdoors between two clothes lines
distributing the weight evenly. Let the dew-fall dampen it and
Sweetheart styles are here! the natural rays of the sun dry it.
Quilts are considered by many to be authentic American Folk

Art. The unusual one in excellent condition commands high
Redken
Crew • OPI Tues.-Fri. 10-7; Sat. 10-3 prices from collectors. Whether used as wall hangings or to
Sebastian grace a bed, they stand as testimony to the needlewomen
Paul Mitchell 410-634-9200 who made them.
Kenra 7 N. Central Ave.,
Ridgely, MD
This article was written for the January 1982 issue

of the Caroline Review by a long time contributor
HELP WANTED and friend, Jean Hurst. Jean’s articles were related to
antiques, of which she was very knowledgable.

6