About the Quilts

Ann's little quilts are small scale, or doll size quilts. The quilts range in size from about 8 inches square up to 24 inches square. The top, backing, and binding fabrics are all antique. The quilts are machine pieced and machine quilted, using tiny machine stitches reminiscent of old time treadle sewing machines. The first commercially successful sewing machine was produced by Singer in 1850 and many antique doll quilts were machine quilted. Ann's quilts contain very thin cotton batting, characteristic of fine antique Pennsylvania quilts.
 

Miniature quilts can be displayed in many ways. They can be hung on the wall, framed or unframed, tucked in a basket or antique doll cradle, displayed on a table or cupboard.

The quilts shown on this website represent original work of the artist. Please support all artisans by never reproducing original copyrighted work without permission.

 

The following are excellent reference books to identifying and dating antique fabrics:

1. Trestain, Eileen. Dating Fabrics: A Color Guide 1800-1960. Paducah, KY: American Quilter’s Society, 1998.
2. Brackman, Barbara. America’s Printed Fabrics 1770-1890. Lafayette, CA: C&T Publishing Incorporated, 2004.
3. Brick, Cindy.  Fabric Dating Kit:  A Pocket Guide to Identifying Quilts & Other Textiles by Color, Fabrics, and Style, Castle Rock, CO, Brickworks Press, 2000.

Pennsylvania quilts and art are discussed in the following references:

1. Lasansky, Jeannette. Bits and Pieces: Textile Traditions. Lewisburg, PA: Oral Traditions Project of the Union County Historical Society, 1991.
2. Richman, Irwin. Pennsylvania German Arts. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2001.
3. Roan, Nancy and Donald. Lest I Shall be Forgotten. Green Lane, PA: Goshenhoppen Historians, Inc, 1993.
4. Schorsch, Anita. Plain and Fancy: Country Quilts of the Pennsylvania Germans. New York: Sterling/Main Street Publication, 1992.

 

Copyright © 2005 Ann Hermes Quilts