Love of Quilting - March/April 2012 - (Page 93)

FROM THE CURATOR “Pieced basket quilts started to appear in the 1850s,” says Carolyn Ducey, Curator of Collections at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum, “becoming especially popular after Isaac Singer invented the ﬁrst treadle sewing machine in 1851.” The machine made it easy for home sewers to achieve straight seaming for the basket block design and multiple borders. The maker of this striking circa 1900 basket quilt (72" × 84") is unknown, but it can be traced to the Old Order River Brethren in Chambersburg, in south-central Pennsylvania. Quilt historian Barbara Brackman says that quilts like this—with a vivid palette, pieced blocks separated by plain sashing, set diagonally in a grid, with multiple borders and contrasting binding—are characteristic of the River Brethren quilters. “The backing is a dark cotton check typical of the somber, ﬁne prints often used by the Amish for their quilt backs,” Ducey adds. Although neither Amish nor Mennonite, the paciﬁst Protestant sect originated around 1780, near the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, and is still active today. The River Brethren accentuate Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, with long prayer meetings and acappella singing similar to Gregorian chants. Author Patricia Silla notes that the Brethren stress honesty, modesty (with long, solid-color dresses and linen caps), helping the poor, nurturing children, and respecting elders. Young girls learn to sew and quilt from their grandmothers and grow up participating in quilting bees to beneﬁt the group’s schools and missions. The River Brethren currently have small congregations in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster and Franklin counties, as well as Dallas County, Iowa. ABOUT THE COLLECTION: In each issue, Love of Quilting features an antique quilt and pattern from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Center has the largest publicly held quilt collection in the world. See other gorgeous quilts from the collection and enjoy interactive Web features at www.quiltstudy.org under Quilt Explorer. WEB EXTRA Go to www.Fons andPorter.com/ antiquebaskets to download materials, assembly instructions and diagrams for this quilt. Your one-stop-shop for the coolest quilting notions! Use promo code STLOQ12A. Expires March 31, 2012. Receive 15% off your 1st order! Visit us at www.SewTool.com or call 1-800-865-9458 • a tiny little division of http://www.FonsandPorter.com/antiquebaskets http://www.FonsandPorter.com/antiquebaskets http://www.FonsandPorter.com/antiquebaskets http://www.quiltstudy.org http://www.SewTool.com http://www.SewTool.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Love of Quilting - March/April 2012

Love of Quilting - March/April 2012
From Liz & Marianne
Contents
Sew Many Tips
Shop Hop
This Old Quilt
Floral Explosion
Churn Dash
White Labyrinth
Northport Crossing
Sew Easy: Quick Triangle-Squares
Sew Easy: Trimming Oversize Triangle-Squares
Project: Table Topper
Sew Easy: Quick Hourglass Units
Sew Easy: Cutting Pickle Dish Pieces
Quilt with the Stars
Fan Dance
Sew Easy: Bias Strips for Appliqué
Three Tours
Neutral Chic
Quilting the Quilt: Bitty Border Quilting Ideas
Trellis of Mums
Antique Baskets
Quilt Chat
Quilter’s Bookshelf
Sew & Tell
Behind the Seams

Love of Quilting - March/April 2012