What better way to
”
warm up
”
a room in autumn than with that wonderfully indigenous American
art form, the quilt? I’ve been a fervent fan of them since my
childhood when I inherited a worn but treasured crib quilt pieced
together by my great-grandmother from old dresses belonging to my
mother, which had been originally made for her by my
grandmother.
What better way to “warm up” a room in autumn than with that wonderfully indigenous American art form, the quilt? I’ve been a fervent fan of them since my childhood when I inherited a worn but treasured crib quilt pieced together by my great-grandmother from old dresses belonging to my mother, which had been originally made for her by my grandmother. Three generations are represented by that small quilt and now, with me, four generations, and I will, in turn, pass it on to my children.
I have collected quilts for years – from the craft fairs and antique stores in the Pennsylvania Amish country to flea markets in Manhattan and Vermont – and my enthusiasm for these lovely textiles has never diminished! I love the sense of personal pride and craftsmanship, and the family and regional history that are inherent in each unique piece. It’s also one of my greatest pleasures to take them out of the quilt chest at the first sign of frost and use them to add warmth and color to our home.
What is it that makes quilts objects of desire and so highly prized as collectibles? The answer is different for different people. I have a friend who has a collection of quilts that she has selected not just for their detailed stitches or level of workmanship. Rather, she collects ones that for her contain the elements of a fine painting – intricate color, balance and design. She hangs and displays quilts on walls in many rooms of her home because of the visual impact they make, the emotions they elicit for the viewer, or the story and sentiment they portray.
Her favorites are an Amish brown and tan, “Streak o’Lightening” patterned quilt in a diagonal zigzag pattern made in Pennsylvania around 1890 which she hangs on the wall behind the headboard of her black iron bed. Another favorite is a multi-colored, “Drunkard’s Path,” pieced at the turn-of-the-century in New Hampshire which hangs in her foyer.
Just as you might add another layer of clothing when the weather starts to get frosty, so I like to add another layer to my own home decor, and quilts are decorative and functional – the equivalent of the perfect “light wrap” for our rooms. Here are some ways to use them in the different rooms in your home, either as functional textiles or objects of art, to dress your rooms with cheery warmth and color and add your own personal style.
-Living room. To change the look of your sofa, throw a quilt over the back and seat and tuck it in for a smoother look – use the quilt as you would a slipcover, or use it as a table topper over an end table or behind-the-sofa. During the holidays, try a “redwork” or red and green patterned one as a Christmas tree skirt. Frame a quilt piece or a smaller crib quilt and hang it as art.
• Bedroom. Drape a decorative quilt over a blanket rack for a design element, or place a stack on the bench at the end of the bed for easily accessible extra warmth. Wrap your down comforter in a quilt and fold it at the end of the bed — use it as you would a duvet cover. If you have two twin beds in a room and they don’t match in style or design, unite the look by coordinating the bedding and folding a matching quilt at the end of each one. Or, use a quilt as a layering element to bring together all the different colors and styles of bedding as I did in my son, Nick’s bedroom.
• Foyer or hallway. Create a display by stacking your collection on the open shelves of a cupboard or armoire. Hang a quilt at the end of the hall wall as a visual showstopper or hang several down the length of a hallway. Protect your valuable pieces by framing in acrylic.
• Because quilts are valuable as fine art collectibles as well as for their historic, cultural and sentimental importance, these textiles, when you can afford them, are lovely and memorable as gifts for any special occasion. New ones are often less costly than old ones and can often be purchased directly from quilting circles which meet at local community and senior centers, churches and synagogues. Today many retail stores now carry a wide assortment that has the look and integrity of old quilts but at a fraction of the price and with the durability of the new.
• Now that the dark days of autumn are upon us, I think it’s the best time to pull your quilts out of storage – or start your own collection – so that they can shed their warmth on us this season.
