As March gives way to April, it finally becomes clear that spring will come again. But how do we reconcile the impending spring with the chill that still arrives at night? One time-honored way is to wrap up in a cozy quilt decorated with spring flowers.
Whole-cloth quilts were popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Between 1816 and 1821 the maker of a whitework whole-cloth quilt chose to feature an overflowing basket of flowers in the center, surrounded by rows of grapes and flowering vines. Quilts like this present a beautiful combination of cold-weather comfort with symbols of the hope of spring.
The names of quilt patterns often change over the years or from one area of the country to another. One popular pieced quilt pattern is Grandmother’s Flower Garden, also known as Honeycomb, in which colored hexagons evoke the flowers in a garden. Around 1835, a member of the Amos Platt family of Danbury created a beautiful silk quilt in this pattern. The bright golden-yellow border appliquéd with flowers and vines calls to mind a sunny field in spring.
Towards the end of the 19th century, crazy quilts became immensely popular. This type of quilt allows for the coexistence of various fabrics, embellishments, and needlework. Crazy quilt makers often embellished quilts with decorative embroidery. Flower embroidery proliferates on two quilts dating from the 1890s. A twin-sized quilt by Sarah Durand of Thomaston incorporates exquisitely embroidered flowers, such as pansies, into her design. A larger quilt made by the Ladies Aid Society of Winsted features embroidered blossoms and sprays and a central square with painted flowers.
To celebrate the coming of spring in Connecticut, The Connecticut Historical Society will present a hallway display of flowerpots from April 5th to June 10th. A related one-room display of eight quilts featuring floral motifs will be on view between April 5th and April 30th. Don’t miss this brief opportunity to see these two small spring shows.
