Antique Quilt

I visited Mary's Quilt Shop in Bedford Pennsylvania this past weekend and saw this gorgeous President's Wreath Quilt. I think it was made around 1860. The 3 colours here are all solids and quite bright for being 154 years old. There are 9 of these blocks on a white ground. This shop is owned by the Mary Koval who travels the world showing her antique quilts and designs reproduction fabrics for Windham from her collection of quilts and antique fabrics. I did buy a fat quarter of each of the orange, green and red.

President'sWreath

The orange flower centers are reverse appliqued. Everything is done with white thread. Why have I spent so much buying coloured thread over the years?

Reverse appliqued flower centers

There is a simple curved stem around the border with buds and leaves and corner flowers. Now what really got my attention once I was allowed to touch the thing, is the binding treatment. The quilt is layered  over a very thin batting, maybe flannel I am told. Take a look at that binding. It is turned over from the back, turned under a mere 1/8th inch and stitched down and still holding after all these years.

Border

 There is a lot of hand quilting on it including circles along the border. I wish . . . sigh . . .

Circles quilted on border

Blessings
Chris