Whole Cloth Quilts

Whole Cloth Quilts

Woman’s Boutis 1790 Note: the blue cording inserted inbetween the stitching

One of the earliest known uses of quilting is armor. This campaign vest from Japan dates from the late 16 century. Back has an appliqué pawlonia flower.

Fireman's coat dating from the early 20th century. The layers of fabric would be drenched with water before he began his work.

Sashiko, a style of Japanese quilting, which means “little stabs,” is a unique combination of quilting and embroidery. Some patterns have symbolic significance: the hexagonal grid repeat represents the shell of the tortoise implying long life and prosperity.

Fine needlework of quilts done in Bangladesh are known as Kanthas. These quilts are created using simple running stitches and are rich with the culture of life.

Petassouns were small lap quilts designed to cover and protect clothing while babies were being fed and changed. This all white version was used for christening and other special occasions. This Provencal quilt from France includes fine cording between the stitches and adding tiny bits of additional stuffing through the linen back, as called trapunto quilts.

Quilts from Wales typically have a central motif set in a series of borders separated by a a row of quilting. This quilt using cotton sateen is from 1933.

Quilts form Wales region can be easily distinguished. The designs are generally more geometric and draw on a particular repertoire of motifs.

Detail of a quilt from Wales with elaborate stitching and featuring a large cross motif. Dating from 19th or beginning 20th century

The unique color of Amish Quilts is from hand dyeing the fabrics are dyed using weeds, berries and bark. The quilting was done on frames and was a communal activity.

Contemporary Whole Cloth Quilts

Dorothy Caldwell 1995 “Field Notes” Dorothy Caldwell is a contemporary textile artist who integrates historical work in modern context.

Barbara Todd 1995 “Overlay Deep Blues”

Michael James 1977 Sky I

Barbara Todd 1974 “Night Sky”

Elizabeth Gurrier1983 “The Ladies in the Garden” (trapunto quilt) Her unusual sculptural quilts typically feature stylized human faces and large scale floral motifs.

Pat Autenreith 1995 “Icarus” This quilt gives a modern twist to the depiction of the ancient Greek myth of Icarus.

Martha Borders 1984-86 Best of show National Quilting Association 1986

Made in the spirit of Kantha Quilt Lynn Setterington 2003 “Paradise?”

Dianne Firth 2003 “Cosmos”