Amish Quilts from the 1970s & '80s

This group of Amish quilts adhere to the established standards of Amish quilts: solid-colored fabrics, hand-quilted in familiar designs, such as feather and cable borders, and sober austerity. All of the quilts conform to a nearly identical format: repeated patchwork designs surrounded by two contrasting borders, with a binding that matches the interior border. 

Perhaps the most unique facet of some of the quilts: many of them use a nearly day-glo magenta chambray, which belongs to the time of the quilts’ creation—the last quarter of the twentieth century. The presence of such unusually vibrant fabrics can be attributed to the fact that Amish communities started crafting quilts for non-Amish customers in the later part of the 20th century. Using traditional patterns, but often infusing contemporary elements, Amish women produced many quilts for consumption, and the quilts in this exhibit are examples of this phenomenon. 

The quilts in this exhibit are attributed to “L. Miller”, and “the Miller Sisters”, but identifying these individuals has proven difficult; “Miller” is the most common surname in Amish communities. This quasi-anonymity is another aspect of these, and many other, Amish quilts that they share with a vast majority of historical quilts. Quilts with known makers are the exception rather than the rule, for a number of reasons.

Amish quilts continue to have a looming presence within quiltmaking past and present. Linear Amish designs have been used as inspiration by art quilters past and present, and seem to continue to inspire quiltmakers today. For instance, look no further than many current trends within the Modern Quilt movement. 

All of the quilts are a part of the Ardis and Robert James Collection. These quilts now belong to International Quilt Museum’s Education Collection, which serves an important facet of the museum’s mission: engaging and educating the public about global quiltmaking practices.