Vintage 16-Patch Quilt
This is the oldest vintage quilt top I have received from the Vintage Quilt Study Group meeting in Raleigh, NC. The fabric dates from 1890-1910 and includes cranberry, indigo, black mourning prints, and shirtings.
Each 16-patch block is hand-pieced, but some of the sashing is machine-sewn. I had not realized that sewing machines were available in the late 1800’s, so I did some research.
According to a medium.com article, Singer started mass-producing his treadle sewing machine in 1851. At that time, treadle machines cost $125 and the average family income was $500, so only upper and middle-class women could afford them.
In 1902, the prices fell enough for a common woman to purchase one. Those who owned a machine would share it with their friends and neighbors. Hence, even if the maker of this quilt top did not own a sewing machine, she must have had access to one. (See https://medium.com/@objectivehistories/an-early-history-of-the-domestic-sewing-machine-721adf38de1c)
When I searched the internet for some instructions for making this 16-patch block, the ones I found did not have sashing. This could have been a creative choice of this quilt maker or sashing may have been more common then. I always have many questions when I receive a vintage quilt like this one.
Even though this quilt top is over 100 years old, it struck me as having a modern look, so I decided to longarm it with the “Calder” panto/design rather than the traditional “Baptist Fan”. The backing and binding are muslin and the batting is Quilters Dream 80/20 Cotton/Polyester blend. I added a label so that at least its currently known history will be preserved.
Do you have a vintage, but unfinished quilt top left behind by your mother or grandmother? I would love to longarm and finish it for you so it can be used and enjoyed. This is an example of what you might end up with.
Quilt Top Maker: Unknown maker circa 1890-1910, blocks hand-piece with some sashing machine-sewn.
Size: ” x ”
Quilt Pattern: St. Louis 16-patch Block
Longarmed/Completed: by Faith Patterson of Quilting Cats Studio in Wendell, NC in 2024 (after 125 years)
Pantograph: Calder
Free Pattern: https://www.jozmakesquilts.com/blog-and-tutorials/stlouis16patch
