Quilts - Alphabetical Listing of Kinds of quilts

Album   quilts

Also known as Friendship quilt. These quilts are made by a group of friends and each one makes a block or two for the quilt. They then put them all together to make the quilt. Often friends at a distance from each other will do this through the mail. Historically Album quilts were given as gifts to the local preacher, or to a new bride.

Baltimore quilts are a well known type of Album quilt. They are beautifully done in the best materials. Historically high society women made these quilts and of course they lived in Baltimore.

Amish and Amish style quilts

The Amish made these quilts in America's heartland. They are made of solid (no prints) materials in dark and in bright colors. The quilting is very detailed on these quilts. They used left over material from every day projects such as family clothing and were and are as frugal as everyone else by using worn out clothing.

These quilts are quite "modern" looking -very abstract.

Many quilters try to emulate the Amish style of quilting but unless you are Amish or Mennonite, then it isn't an Amish quilt.

Baltimore quilts

See Album quilts above.

Cathedral Window quilts

One of my very favorite quilts. This is the type of quilt I usually make. It is another in the line of "not quite a quilt" since it is used as a coverlet rather than for warmth. They first became popular in the 1930's through the 1940s. Please check my other guides to see how to make these wonderful quilts. You might also like to look at my auctions as I usually have if not a queen sized cathedral quilt on auction, then at least a miniature one. :)

Crazy quilts -

One of my favorite styles of quilting. Hisgtorically these quilts were originally made of velvet and silk and pieced together in no particular design. The idea was to use the pieces of material, usually obtained by trading with friends, and then sewing them together. The seams of the various pieces then were often embroidered beautifully. This was an upper class preoccupation. These quilts served no real purpose other than to be draped across a piano or other piece of furniture.

It said to the visitor to the household that the family was affluent enough that the woman of the household could spend her time making a crazy quilt rather than doing laundry or cooking.

Hawaiian Quilts

To make a Hawaiian quilt only requires two colors of material - one for the background and one for the applique over it. The usual motifs are flowers and fruit, leaves and seed pods. Imagine a giant snowflake design and you will come close to the lood of Hawaiian quilts.

Log Cabin quilts

Log cabin quilts at one time were made with the center square in red to represnt the hearth of Lincoln's Log cabin. These quilts understandably at one time were not popular in the South!

The blocks are half light and half dark prints and plains strategically placed to give an overall pattern. There are various ways to set the blocks for a variety of patterns. I occasionally make this type of quilt.

Star quilts

Star quilts have been popular since the early 1800s. The first star quilts were called Lone Star quilts and as the name suggests, one large Star makes up the pattern on the quilt. Diamond shapes, often hundreds or thousands of them make up the quilt top. Star quilts can be a challenge to get finished.

Wedding Ring quilts

 As the name suggests these quilts were made at quilting bees for an engaged couple and presented to them as a wedding quilt. It was often a best quilt in the family and handed down through the years to family members.

Yo Yo quilts

Yo Yo quilts are not really a quilt but more of a topper for the bed. They have no layers, no padding and no backing. These quilts were good for using up all the little bits that couldn't be used elsewhere. An overall pattern could be used, usually a pattern of squares. Once the yo yo quilt is finished, it is layed over a contrasting sheet or blanket on the bed to show it off.

Check here to see some of my quilts