The original antique quilt top was made with a large assortment of different fabrics you would expect in a top of this age — indigos, homespuns, shirtings, madders, double pinks and mourning prints. The individual 4″ squares were wonderful, but the mix of all the colors and patterns didn’t really appeal to me, and it was crudely stitched. If you read my blog, you know that I almost always take these tops apart for the fabric.
My favorite fabrics are these wild abstract floral designs, some with kind of lurid color schemes.
Those are just lovely! I especially like the last one on the right.
Love the fabrics!!
I agree, Martha. The fabrics are beautiful. I like the first one on the right and the third one on the right.Wish I had some yardage of either one.
I’m always amazed at how innovative these old fabrics seem!
Love these prints! Definitely 1890’s as this is when these black novelty or “neon” prints were available. Barbara Brackman lists the earliest print swatches were produced by the Merrimack Manufacturing Company in 1896 ” three years after sulfur black’s discovery” (Makiong History: Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970, page 30). Black fabrics, are a big indicator of the last quarter of 19th century. I love your examples!