Northern Style Chintz/Cut-out Applique Quilts – New York

This past weekend I gave a presentation on these glorious applique quilts to the American Quilt Study Group. Every time I speak on the quilts, I ask for anyone to let me know if they are aware of a quilt that I haven’t talked about or shown. Huge thanks to Lorie Stubbs, Leah Zeiber, Peggy Norris, and Susan Morrison who contacted me with quilt images and information. Each one of these quilts that gets discovered, adds to the body of information and understanding of this particular style.

I’d already planned this week’s blog to write on whether there were area styles within this regional style. I’m still collecting data, but I have noticed the red setting strips in the mixed albums seem to be found in the New York area. Peggy Norris wrote to me that she thought the Northern New Jersey area quilts aligned with the New York style. (Yes, she sent me a photo of a quilt...with red setting strips.) I’ve included a few of the New York inscribed applique quilts from the period for you to peruse.

Even though I’ve already collected quite a bit of research on this group of quilts, there are still so many questions to be answered. Lorie Stubbs asked if I knew this was probably a lifetime research project. When I started on this journey, I didn’t think so, because it didn’t seem like there was a large number of these quilts. However, after learning about 4 new quilts to catalog…I think she may be right. It is a lifetime research project. Hope you’ll continue to join me in the hunt!