Appliqued eagles are a favorite of mine in antique quilts. Barb and I swapped eagle patterns/photos and have talked about making a sampler. What do you think about an eagle sampler?
This is what is written on the pattern about this block:
Eagle &
Shield
The
eagle, usually clutching either an olive branch (for peace) in one talon and
/or weapons in the other, not only is America’s national bird, but her
symbol of freedom as well. During the Civil War, eagles were a favorite design
feature on Northern-made quilts. This version was adapted from a quilt of the
period, and features an unusual twisted shield, symbolizing the broken state of
the country.
Palmetto
Tree
The
palmetto, with its graceful, drooping branches, was so endemic to South Carolina that its
image became a symbol for the state, including the State Seal. A palmetto flag
was even raised over Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861, when the Charleston outpost fell to the Confederates.
This version of the palmetto was inspired by a design found on a Civil War era
uniform button from South Carolina,
complete with warlike arrows.
Cotton Boll
Tiny
ridged whipstitches, placed tightly one after another, were the trademark of
early to mid-19th century appliqué. Contrary to our modern beliefs,
appliqué stitches were meant to stand out, not disappear under the edge of the
patch. This Cotton Boll design appeared in Southern quilts during the days
“when cotton was king.” Its many lobes took time and effort to appliqué evenly,
making it a choice for the more experienced quiltmaker.
The Arch
Baltimore Album-style appliqué
quilts were all the rage in New England during
the 1840s. Many of these elaborately appliquéd quilts featured buildings and
statues, often in honor of a minister or military hero. This block, done in Baltimore style, shows the arch, or gatehouse, of Evergreen Cemetery
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The arch stood during the
Battle of Gettysburg, and was used for cover by soldiers during battle; not far
behind it, Lincoln
gave his famous address in 1863.
The group of ladies that designed this (including myself) made 2 quilts. One for McCall's and one from Benartex fabric. When we were done showing the quilts we had a drawing to see who would be the owner of the quilts. I was not a winner, but I had made my own version, which is shown on my bed and in the close ups in this post. This magazine is dated 2002 and can still be found on ebay every now and then..
It is a beautiful quilt and I love the border. I hope you've enjoyed learning more about it.