Quilt Styles

Some of the most notable quilt styles in North America and Europe include:

Whole Cloth Quilts, Counterpane, and Broderie Perse (Persian Embroidery) – These styles were popular from the 1700s to the early 1800s. Whole cloth quilts featured a single piece of fabric with intricate quilting stitches, while broderie perse involved cutting out printed motifs from fabric and appliquéing them onto a solid background.

Appliqué Quilts – Made by stitching cut fabric shapes onto a whole cloth background, this style gained popularity in the mid-1700s and peaked around 1850. These quilts were considered decorative showpieces, often made by wealthy women who could afford the expensive fabrics and time-consuming techniques.

Patchwork Quilts – Often referred to as “utility” quilts, patchwork quilts were practical and made from fabric scraps. As living conditions improved and textiles became more widely available, these quilts evolved into more intricate and artistic designs.

Medallion Quilts – Popular in the early days of quilting (through the early 1800s), medallion quilts feature a central motif surrounded by multiple borders. This style, brought to America by European colonists, often incorporated patchwork, appliqué, and embroidery, either individually or in combination.

Star Quilts (Lone Star Quilts) – Recognizable by a single, large star pattern, this style requires a high level of skill due to the precise piecing of hundreds or even thousands of diamond-shaped fabric pieces. Star quilts have been popular since the early 1800s.

Crazy Quilts – Emerging during the Victorian era, crazy quilts were made from irregularly shaped fabric scraps, often in luxurious materials like silk and velvet. These quilts were highly decorative, embellished with ribbons, beads, and elaborate embroidery.

Culturally Distinctive Quilt Styles – Many quilt styles reflect the traditions of different communities, including Native American Star quilts, Seminole patchwork, Hawaiian quilts, African textiles, Amish quilts, and Baltimore Album quilts. Each of these styles is recognizable by its distinct use of color, pattern, and technique.

Image Gallery:  Whole Cloth Quilt (Link to photo), Broderie Parse (Link to photo), Applique: Simple Gifts by B. Hall (Displayed at 2023 Quilt Festival), Patchwork: Floral Outburst by P. Aldridge (Displayed at 2023 Quilt Festival; Medallion: Family Tree by D. Johansen (Displayed at 2023 Quilt Festival); Star Quilt: Autumn Star by C. Daoust (Displayed at the 2023 Quilt Festival); Victorian Crazy quilt (link to photo)

Throughout history, quilts have served many purposes beyond warmth and decoration. They have been made for fundraising, as farewell or comfort gifts for soldiers, and even as political statements or commemorative pieces documenting events and friendships.

New quilt designs continued to emerge in the 20th century. Notable styles include the Double Wedding Ring quilt, which became popular in the 1930s, and Cathedral Window quilts, known for their intricate folded-fabric designs.