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Exquisite Amish quilts on view at Textile Museum

14 Mar '09
4 min read

Quilt-makers from each of these distinct Amish groups join the quilt layers-front, inner padding and back-together with intricate stitched designs. These designs include cables, fans, feathered wreaths, roses and other flowers, and are often used in conjunction with one another. The quilting adds both pattern and textual effects to the overall aesthetic.

Amish Culture
Amish groups began migrating to North America in the mid-18th century to escape the religious persecution and economic hardships of Europe. The Amish espoused a strict separation of church and state, practiced voluntary adult baptism rather than infant baptism, and refused to participate in the military as it ran counter to their view of Christ's teachings of nonviolence.

The first Amish settlement in the United States was founded in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Since their arrival in this country, Amish groups have continued to migrate and form new communities while abandoning unsuccessful settlements. At present, well over 200 Amish settlements exist in North America. Amish women have been creating quilts since their arrival in Pennsylvania and perhaps before. The quilts not only serve a practical purpose but also serve as a vehicle for relaxation and socialization when women gather for a “quilting bee” ? an occasion for sewing and conversation.

The International Quilt Study Center
All of the quilts in the exhibition are drawn from three collections held by the International Quilt Study Center (IQSC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: the Jonathan Holstein Collection, featuring quilts from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; the Ardis and Robert James Collection, focusing on quilts from Midwestern communities; and the Henry and Jill Barber collection, featuring quilts from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. The International Quilt Study Center, established in 1997, encourages the interdisciplinary study of aspects of quilt-making traditions and seeks to foster preservation of this tradition through the collection, conservation and exhibition of quilts and related materials.

The Textile Museum

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