- Thursday 9.00am to 4.00pm
- 07889 480224
- info@alanteatherquilting.com
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday by appointment only.
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THE EIGHT OLDEST QUILT PATTERNS IN HISTORY.
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These brief facts are taken from https://www.oldest.org/culture/quilt-patterns/ where more detailed information can be found.
8. Dresden Plate
Est. year of origin: Early 20th century
Origin/nationality: German
Popularity: Common
Significance: Decorative
First inspired by the design of German porcelain plates (presumably produced in the city of Dresden) It is reflective of the romantic era that occurred in Europe beginning in the 19th century.
As with other quilts around this time period, women who sewed Dresden-patterned quilts made them out of feed sack material, saving trade feed sacks until they had the colours and patterns they needed for a complete quilt. They would often send their husbands into town with swatches, try to obtain the desired material for their wives.
Images are the result of a dresden plate workshop we did recently. Everybody made their own template first and then made a block from their fabric choices.
7. Log Cabin
Est. year of origin: Mid-19th century
Origin/nationality: English/Irish
Popularity: Common
Significance: Symbolic
Everyone associates Log Cabin with early American history. This is mainly due to early American settlers, known as Puritans using the quilting tradition while adapting to a new life. In fact, Log Cabin’s true origins actually began in England & Ireland. The Log Cabin’s light and dark colours were symbolic of the sun’s movement across the sky, with both light and shadow.
Image is a log cabin quilt top made by Alan.
6. Pinwheel
Est. year of origin: Mid-19th century
Origin/nationality: American (West)
Popularity: Occasional
Significance: Symbolic/utility
The Pinwheel quilt pattern was designed to depict the vanes of water pump windmills, common along the Orgeon Trail in the 19thC.
As with other early quilts, Pinwheel quilts made during the Great Depression in the United States (1920s-1930s) were often pieced together with cotton feed sacks. However, by 1925, the manufacturers of these feed sacks became aware of the fact that women used their material to make quilts and began producing the feed sacks with patterns and prints.
Quilt made by Joan one of our lovely ladies from our drop ins and long arm quilted by Alan.
5. Nine Patch
Est. year of origin: Early 19th century
Origin/nationality: American
Popularity: Common
Significance: Utility (every-day use)
As with many other early quilt patterns, the Nine Patch began in the early part of the 19th century, this was due to young American girls learning to sew using this pattern as it is quilt easy to sew once the patterns are cut.
Pioneer women made Nine Patch quilts as a way for them to use any scraps they had, without having to spend money on new material. This design was also popular during the Civil War for the same reason. The quilt and design became known as lower-class.
Disappearing 9 patch work in progress by Alan.
4. Friendship Quilt
Est. year of origin: Early 19th century (1808)
Origin/nationality: American (New England)
Popularity: Rare
Significance: Gift
Originating as a fad in New England, friendship quilts became extremely popular round about 1808 (early-19th century). They were made for loved ones as a going away present for a loved one and were often also signed.
Embellishments were added after the quilt was made and these were not only signatures but also verses and small drawings.
Friendship quilts are sometimes completed in secret as a surprise, but they are not always used as going away gifts as they were originally.
3. LeMoyne (Eight Pointed) Star
Est. year of origin: Early 18th century (or later)
Origin/nationality: French
Popularity: Common
Significance: Spiritual
The LeMoyne Star, aka Eight-Pointed star pattern has many theories surrounding it’s original creation. On theory states that the first of these quilts may have been seen at Versailles, France, where King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived.
Allegedly, Jean-Louise Moyne designed the tiles of this pattern for Versailles, and also sculpted for the palace in the early 1700s.
The above image taken from https://fieldguidetoquilts.com/1Star/1Star8Diamond.shtml
2. Rose of Sharon
Est. year of origin: Unknown (popular throughout 19th century)
Origin/nationality: American
Popularity: Rare
Significance: Spiritual
On the Homestead National Historical Park page which features research about quilts by the National Park Service, The Rose of Sharon design is thought to be one of the oldest quilt patterns in existence. The applique style of this pattern reached its peak and the height of it’s popularity during the 1800s, although the exact date of origin isn’t known.
The Rose of Sharon is mentioned in the Bible and may refer to a Palestinian flower that grows on the plains of Sharon.
The Rose of Sharon is also known as “The Whig Rose” pattern from the 1828 US Presidential election in support of The Whig Party.
Above image taken from https://www.patternsfromhistory.com/bible_quilt/bible_rose.htm
1. Crazy Quilt
Est. year of origin: Unknown
Origin/nationality: Multicultural
Popularity: Rare
Significance: Utility
This design is thought to be the oldest quilt pattern, according to research. It is thought that textiles resembling this crazy quilt design where found in early Egyptian tombs, and also in European courts, which pre-dates the 17th century.
In fact, there is evidence that the first-ever quilt is shown sitting on the shoulders of an ivory statue of an Egyptian pharaoh which housed in the British Museum. The pharaoh is wearing what we would perhaps recognise today as a modern quilt.
About Us
Alan Teather Quilting is a new venture built on old fashioned principles. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile to satisfy our valued customers in Hartlepool, the North East and further afield.
Contact Us
Unit 8, The Bis, 13-17 Whitby Street, Hartlepool, TS24 7AD
What 3 Words: inches.shall.fails
(A very short walk from the Railway Station).
If you are travelling by car, there are some free spaces directly outside the front door. If these are full turn down the side street with the St Helena’s Pub, cream building, and you will see a barrier. As you approach the barrier there is a silver button on the right hand side. Press the button and tell reception you are visiting us and they will raise the barrier and you can park in The Bis Car Park free of charge. (No reception on weekends please ring us to raise the barrier)
Sun & Mon: Closed
Tues -Fri: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday by Appointment only because no reception to let you in.
(please ring to let us know when you are visiting)
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