2016 Raffle Quilt
The newest raffle quilt offering by the Heritage Quilters’of the McHenry County Historical Society is reminiscent of the 1930s. The quilt, suitable for a queen/king bed, is constructed of original and reproduction fabrics of that period. It is comprised of three components – a simple nine-patch block with a consistent yellow center; a Jacob’s ladder block of white and pastel colors; and a center medallion of appliqued flowers.
This quilt, named “Pieceful Garden”, lives up to its name – it consists of a whopping 856 pieces with 72 blocks and an appliqued center. Early quilts often had many scraps of coordinating fabric, and this was the norm during the Depression and 1930s. While this is not a true charm quilt of the period, where every piece is of a different fabric, it gives the impression of great variety.
Many early 19th-century quilts were made with a special center panel surrounded by borders. By the early 20th century these were called framed quilts.
The ‘ladders’ of the Jacob’s ladder block are assembled so that they enclose the center garden with concentric squares of color. They could be called the trellises around the garden. They alternate with the nine patch, whose corner blocks tie into the trellis color. This alternating of blocks also economizes the use of fabric. Finally, the quilting is by hand and uses a quarter inch surround or echo quilting often used in the 1930s – true to the period.
Our annual raffle benefiting the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum is made possible through the Heritage Quilters and their supporters. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The drawing will be at around 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum in Union. The winner need not be present. For information, call 815-923-2267.
