I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Red and White Quilts for Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope your secret admirer sent you something pretty! Or yummy! Or both!



In honor of Valentines Day I thought I'd share my collection of antique and vintage red and white quilts. (There's some very cool beach pix at the end for you non-quilters too!)



Last year there was an exhibit in NYC of only red and white quilts---and quilting bloggers are still talking about that show, searching for the catalog, and making red and white quilts in group on-line quiltalongs.

                          

I wonder if red and white is the most popular all time fave color combination? I prefer blue and white, yet I have only 3 blue and whites...and all these red and white pretties.


So here goes, in no special order....
 Irish Chain c.1940-60. Great quilting! Flowers and hearts....



Irish Chain, very old, c. 1860-90.


The white fabric seems to be a homespun linen and there's a few pink blocks and these oddball cheddars [once red?]...finely, densely, quilted.



Star of Bethlehem, Lone Star. c. early 20th century. Again some pinks and faded cheddars.




One of the first quilts I bought, from Wellfleet Flea Market, Cape Cod Ma....
Thousand Triangles c 1880. Tufted, cutouts for bedposts.



Thousands of 1" red and white squares....


Wonderful ABCs Quilt, c. 1922. Purchased from Shelley Zegart before she got real famous, lol. I still love it!



I especially love that it is dated and also that the ''white' ground is many different black on white sprigged calico/ shirting patterns...



Redwork, very fine...




dated 1911





Redwork with Irish Chain sashing, newer, c.1920-40. Fun because it has all the classic later blocks, like Teddy Bear's Week/ Months etc...



Redwork summer coverlet, very fine embroidery. Ruby McKim  animals and storybook designs. No batting.



A couple almost red and whites:
Churn Dash with turquoise c. 1940-60?




Schoolhouse  c. mid 20th century



Valentine Hearts and Arrows, top. c. 1930




And just for fun, red and white redwork shams ''Good Morning''/ ''Goodnight". I bought them for crib quilt backings as they aren't in perfect condition, but haven't ever wanted to cut them up.....







enjoy!





love

             lizzy

gone to the beach...

Below, wind-runnelled sand...like lines of quilting...