Color in Antique Quilts part 1
It often seems that most antique quilts were made with brown fabrics, and it is true that brown and tan colors were popular for their practicality. While this may be true, quilters did have many other choices, and many quilters used colored fabrics with enthusiasm. There has always been vigorous competition in the dye industry and for several hundred years accomplished dyers and chemists had made just about every color available to fabric printers and manufacturers. Granted not every dye worked well on every fabric, cotton for example, but inventive dyers worked around these problems and even cottons were available in a wide range of colors. Following is a sample of colorful quilts and quilts with colorful fabrics demonstrating the wide range of colors available to quilters in the 1800's.
Yellow in Quilts
We don't usually think of yellow when we think of antique quilts, but earlier quilt makers were not shy in using bright colors for their quilts, perhaps they appreciated them as we do, because they can brighten and lighten up a room.
We don't usually think of yellow when we think of antique quilts, but earlier quilt makers were not shy in using bright colors for their quilts, perhaps they appreciated them as we do, because they can brighten and lighten up a room.
The Sawtooth Stars quilt here, c1830 uses a butterscotch fabric for the outer border, blue for the inner border, and pink, yellow and green within.
Another quilt in which a lot of yellow was used, this time in the alternate squares and a bit in the blocks themselves.
The combination of the yellow and the pink used in the border is very pleasing in this c1840's Snowflake quilt.
Yellow is used for the background fabric instead of the usual white in this Blazing Star quilt, c1840. Used throughout the large blocks it brings the fabrics together to form the star in these complicated blocks.
The yellow fabric here seems to set off the other colors in this Blazing Star quilt, c1840.
Pink in quilts.
Another color that we don't expect to see in antique quilts is pink, however pink was often used in quilts, especially in double pink prints.
Another color that we don't expect to see in antique quilts is pink, however pink was often used in quilts, especially in double pink prints.
A double pink print is used in the alternate squares in this quilt c1850.
This Maple Leaf quilt uses an early pink print for the alternate block. The leaves stand out in the sea of pink. c1840.
A double pink is also the main fabric used in this Star quilt c1875.
Indigo fabrics in Quilts
A favorite for quilts because it was a stable dye color, Indigo was often the choice of quiltmakers in the 1800's and is still a favorite today. Often used with white, this combination is a favorite of collectors.
A favorite for quilts because it was a stable dye color, Indigo was often the choice of quiltmakers in the 1800's and is still a favorite today. Often used with white, this combination is a favorite of collectors.
An interesting indigo and chrome yellow print was used in this Sawtooth patterned quilt, c1840.
A deep Indigo print with green was used in the alternate square in this early nine patch scrap quilt. The dark indigo sets off the vast array of prints. c1840.
This Honeycomb or Hexagon quilt c1830, is made from Indigo and white linen fabrics.
Indigo prints are used for the alternate squares of this c1880's star quilt top.
Prussian Blue in Quilts
One of the most vibrant colors in early quilts, Prussian blue appears as a vibrant bright blue as well as in deeper colors. Often used as a background for colorful prints, or in Ombre prints.
One of the most vibrant colors in early quilts, Prussian blue appears as a vibrant bright blue as well as in deeper colors. Often used as a background for colorful prints, or in Ombre prints.
A Prussian blue floral print on Delaine is still bright on this Chimney Sweep quilt. c1850
A Prussian Blue striped fabric is the main fabric in this Sawtooth Diamond quilt, c1840.
Striped fabric with Prussian blue is used in this Irish Chain quilt, c1840. Stars are pieced into the corners.
A Prussian Blue striped fabric is used in this Snowflake patterned quilt. c1840.
Two printed fabrics, one a floral stripe and the other a check, both with Prussian Blue, are used in this Strippy quilt c1850.
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