Civil War Quilt Patterns
From LoveToKnow Antiques
Recently LoveToKnow had the opportunity to talk to quilt expert Nancy Kirk about Civil War quilt patterns.
Specific Civil War Quilt Patterns
LTK: Were there any quilt patterns that were specific to the Civil War era for either the North or the South?
NK: Very few quilts were made in the south during the war. It would have been considered unpatriotic to cut perfectly good cloth up into little pieces and sew it back together, wasting all that cloth in seam allowances.
The South was blockaded; very little fabric, thread or needles got through. The fabric that already existed in the southern states went to clothing and bedding. The southern quilts that are called “Civil War quilt patterns” are usually quilts which survived the war but were made earlier.
Quilting continued in the North, with imported as well as domestically printed fabrics. Thousands of quilts were created for the Sanitary Commission, the precursor of The Red Cross.
LTK: What quilt patterns might have been used during this time period?
NK: Album quilts were particularly popular in the North. These usually had a white cross in the middle; many were inscribed in ink with signatures, dates, towns, and messages to the soldiers.
Quilt Fabrics and Patterns
LTK: Would there have been specific fabrics, fabric patterns, or colors that would be historically accurate?
NK: Red, green and white quilts which were popular in the 1850’s and 60’s were still in vogue during the war years, although usually for home use, not for soldiers’ quilts. Quilts made for the field tended to be in darker colors with lots of madder browns.
LTK: You said that in the North quilts were made to the specifications of the Sanitary Commission for use in hospitals. Can you expound on that?
NK: The Sanitary Commission requested quilts that were 56” x 72”, basically a small single bed size. Most men were smaller than today’s soldiers. Not everyone followed these specs, but many did.
LTK: You also said that there was no quilting going on in the south during this time. Had there been quilting before the war or had the art just not reached the southern states yet?
NK: Quilting was very popular in the South before the war. Some of the most stunning chintz quilts in existence today from the 1800 to 1850 period were made in the South.
LTK: Were quilts used as signals for the Underground Railroad?
NK: There is no evidence that quilts were used for signaling. People traveled on the Underground Railroad at night. Anyone hanging quilts out at night would arouse suspicion. Landmarks were given based on immovable objects; trees, houses.
Now, there were probably quilts made after the war, chronicling the journey someone made from South to North. Slaves used well documented music as signals and memory aids but there is no evidence that quilts were used in this way.
LTK: Are there any other myths about Civil War quilts?
NK: There is the myth of the thrifty housewife. Most quilts were not made with used clothing. Very poor people may have done this. Some quilts were made with scraps left over from sewing, but as you study antique quilts, it is clear that most were made from new cloth bought for the purpose.
Creating and Caring for Vintage Quilts
LTK: If someone was involved in historic re-enactment and wanted to make a quilt, what advice would you give to help them achieve historical accuracy?
NK: Use a simple patchwork pattern like an album quilt. Select your fabrics carefully. Most reproduction lines only have one original colorway of each print, so spend some time looking online at good sources. The International Quilt Study Center is a good resource for accurate colors for the period.
LTK: Is there a way to identify a Civil War quilt?
NK: The only definitive way would be to find a Sanitary Commission stamp on the back, or a date written on the front, or sewn into the quilting or embroidered. Sometimes, if the family letters were saved you might find a reference to a particular quilt which still exists in the family.
Otherwise, you make an estimate based on the history of the quilt if known, the fabrics used and the style. The easiest way to learn is to look at quilts. I ask my restoration students to look at 100 quilts per month.
LTK: How should an antique quilt be cared for, to ensure that it is beautiful for years to come?
NK: The greatest dangers to quilts are:
- Physical handling
- Light
- Contact with wood products (including cardboard boxes and shelves)
- Unintentional water
LTK: Should antique quilts be cleaned by the owner? If so, how would they go about cleaning it?
NK: Anyone can gently vacuum a quilt, using a fiberglass screen over the surface and a clean upholstery brush. Generally we don’t wash quilts from before 1900. If they are in good condition, hand washing more contemporary cotton quilts with Orvus is an option. We would need a lot more room than we have in this interview to go into detail. We have a book called “Taking Care of Grandma’s Quilt” available on our website which includes cleaning instructions
LTK: What is the best way to display an antique quilt?
NK: Flat display is best. If you have a spare bed and bedroom, you can dress the bed with your prized quilt(s) and keep the drapes drawn when you are not bringing visitors through. Cover each quilt in the pile with a white cotton sheet, and then you can move them easily on their “carriers”.
If you feel you must hang a quilt don’t hang it for more than three months at a time. For older or more fragile quilts one month is the maximum. Make one wall your quilt wall and rotate your collection. If you don’t have at least four it’s a good excuse to buy another one.
About Nancy Kirk
Nancy Kirk is the owner of The Kirk Collection and has written books, and produced DVDs, about antique quilts and quilt restoration. She teaches restoration twice a year in Omaha, NE. Check Quilt Restoration Workshops for details.
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