Antique Sampler Quilts
Sampler quilts
What are they?
Following is the simple explanation, though regretfully scant and incomplete. The examples provided will, hopefully, illustrate more thoroughly than my words can explain.
Most quilts are made of a number of pieced or appliqued blocks in one design which are then arranged over the quilt top. Sampler quilts differ in that they are made with a variety of block designs rather than just the one block design.
What are they?
Following is the simple explanation, though regretfully scant and incomplete. The examples provided will, hopefully, illustrate more thoroughly than my words can explain.
Most quilts are made of a number of pieced or appliqued blocks in one design which are then arranged over the quilt top. Sampler quilts differ in that they are made with a variety of block designs rather than just the one block design.
Sampler quilt top from PA, with a large variety of blocks divided by sashing strips and corner stones. Blocks are set in a balanced arrangement mirroring left and right. c1890
Sampler Quilts, sometimes called Album Quilts, have many variations with some styles more prevalent than others. Like other styles of quilts, they often vary depending on when and where the quilts were made.
Sampler quilts are made by one person and differ from similar looking quilts like the Friendship and Signature quilts, which are made by a group of relatives and/or friends for a designated recipient.
Settings
In the sampler quilt the quilt blocks can be set together in many ways. In the quilt shown above the blocks are separated by sashing and cornerstones. Below the quilt blocks are separated by unpieced fabric blocks of chintz, which are then separated by long strips of chintz.
In the sampler quilt the quilt blocks can be set together in many ways. In the quilt shown above the blocks are separated by sashing and cornerstones. Below the quilt blocks are separated by unpieced fabric blocks of chintz, which are then separated by long strips of chintz.
Many chintz fabrics as well as other 19th C printed fabrics are used in this Sampler. The pieced blocks are almost over powered by the chintz fabrics making the viewer search for them..
A variety of blocks are joined edge to edge and divided by strips in this Sampler top. Some blocks appear to be incomplete or cut down to fit the top. c1890.
The design of a sampler quilt top can be carefully thought out with the blocks arranged in a well-balanced and pleasing fashion. Often the blocks are divided with sashing strips or plain blocks in an effort to organize the blocks or bring the whole look together. This is the type of sampler quilt made most often in the past, and this is also the type of sampler quilt most quilters make today.
A variety of pieced and appliqued blocks are set with teal sashing and gold cornerstones. The applique blocks add a folk art touch to this c1900's quilt top.
Quilt at top of page. A sampler crib quilt, c1840. Patchwork blocks are set on point using an indigo print in the setting blocks.
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Nine blocks form the center of this sampler quilt, c1900. A simulated patchwork fabric is used for the border.
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In the past sampler quilts were not always so neatly organized. We see many styles of antique sampler quilts, some dating back to the 1700's, depending on one's definition of a "sampler" quilt. Styles can vary widely, as they were made over many decades, and of course, quilt makers continue to make them today.
At times the quilt might be described as an Album quilt, with a combination of pictorial, applique, and pieced blocks which are artfully arranged over the top.
The two quilts below may or may not be considered sampler quilts because of the arrangement of the blocks and the use of the same patchwork patterns several times. However in my opinion they fall into the "sampler" quilt category because of the use of several patchwork patterns in the same quilt.
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Pennsylvania quilt with several different pieced blocks set in a medallion design.
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PA quilt with stars and tulips in set in an unusual design with peonies in the corners.
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An early sampler quilt, c1840, with floral and geometric blocks. A lovely prussian blue print is used in the alternate blocks.
Some sampler quilts may be an accumulation of a quilter's pattern collection, a collection of block patterns made up in cloth by the quilter and saved for reference later when she wanted to make a quilt in that pattern. A collection of pattern blocks may come together into a quilt top when the collection is found years later and someone decides to "finish" the quilt by putting the blocks together into a quilt top. *
This sampler quilt is made from apparently unrelated blocks, perhaps a pattern collection, with a large Sunburst block providing a center focus. c1880.
At other times they were a combination of leftover quilt blocks, or sections of other quilt projects (leftover patchwork or sections of unfinished tops) with additional scrap fabrics added in to make up the quilt. These can be the most unorganized of sampler quilt types and can make even some "crazy quilts" look sane.
A collection of mismatched blocks, unfinished patchwork projects and quilt parts make up this quilt top from c1890. Fabrics span several decades.
These types of sampler quilts can be fascinating at times, but distracting at others as the placement of blocks and patchwork seems to defy balance or symmetry. Although sometimes when studied carefully, we do find that there is a balanced arrangement, it's just hard to see it with the plethora of prints and block patterns.
This quilt top is arranged and fit together with some balance, though it's lost because of the many fabrics used, resulting in an interesting, if busy, quilt, c1890.
Painstakingly pieced together, this quilt top is a combination of seemingly unrelated patchwork sections made to fit together. The various quilt elements come together nicely by the use of the warm and attractive fabrics. c1890
These types of sampler quilts are sometimes made of completely unrelated patchwork quilt sections, made from different fabrics, and differing in size sometimes by many inches. They are often made over a wide span of years, or perhaps started by one generation and finished by the next, and can have a two generational look to them.
A combination of pieced quilt sections and parts joined with quilt blocks make up this quilt top c1890.
A section of four patches sits in the center of this sampler top giving a checker board effect. c1890.
*For more information on sampler quilts see Clues in the Calico by Barbara Brackman 1989. She goes into detail describing the various types of sampler quilts.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing these widely varying examples of sampler quilts. Quilters using the fabrics available to them, perhaps saved in scrap bags for decades or even using previously made patchwork blocks, have pieced together many wonderful creations. So often we see seemingly perfectly designed and executed quilts in print or in quilt shows, and tend to forget the wonderful, often spontaneous or randomly pieced together quilts that were made in the past.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing these widely varying examples of sampler quilts. Quilters using the fabrics available to them, perhaps saved in scrap bags for decades or even using previously made patchwork blocks, have pieced together many wonderful creations. So often we see seemingly perfectly designed and executed quilts in print or in quilt shows, and tend to forget the wonderful, often spontaneous or randomly pieced together quilts that were made in the past.
Laurette Carroll
Quilt historian, quilt collector, and quilt maker and designer from California.
Quilts used in this article are from the collection of Laurette Carroll.
Photos are by Laurette Carroll.
Copyright October 4, 2016
