Sewing Patterns & Supplies

Those Small Antique Quilts

It's not unusual to have a collection of antique quilts. But doll quilts?

Yes, doll quilts. While charming in their own right, they are difficult to find because during the period they were made, they were considered unimportant and insignificant.

Many were made from leftovers and got hard use from the little girls who owned them. Quilts made by young girls are likely to reflect their lack of refined skills in hand stitching.

Girls in the early nineteenth century were trained from the time they were very young in what was thought to be their life's work. Before sewing machines were common in homes, hand sewing was important for girls to learn since they would likely be stitching all of the clothing, linens and bedding for her home.

It seemed natural, then, that doll quilts would be the perfect practice piece. Not only were they small, but a girl could start with something simple, like strips, and then work up to making a nine patch, and even sewing curves.

Beyond that, if she chose, a young girl could piece a more complex design, using triangles as well as squares in her doll quilt.

Both girls and boys were taught to sew by their mothers, often before they learned how to read. A very small child might begin sewing using an unknotted thread, and then gain even more practice by counting threads on a scrap of fabric.

It was not uncommon for girls to be expected to complete a nine-patch by the time she was nine years old. Amazingly, some mid-nineteenth century diaries record quilt tops being finished by girls as young as five.

One quilter, Edith Bell Sims, says she began a quilt at age three, with her mother cutting the fabric, marked the sewing lines, and pinning the pieces together. Edith then stitched the patches - initially by hand and later on her new treadle sewing machine. Edith finished her quilt top by the time she was six.

Sewing was (and probably still should be) believed to inspire virtues deemed necessary for every child: neatness, attentiveness, patience, perseverance, and acceptance of routine and repetition.

Girls in upper class families also learned to do needlework, although they used finer materials and more intricate designs. It's not unusual to find crazy quilts using velvets, wools and silks that were made by children in upper class families.

Unlike children today, children in the 1800s had little other than their imagination to play with. Only the upper class could afford to purchase dolls imported from Europe, so children created dolls from sticks, hankies, corncobs, or whatever else they could find.

It wasn't surprising that girls would want to create something just like they had for their dolls. Often, the girls would take pieces left from worn out quilts and make them into quilts for their dolls.

Sometimes, they would replicate a bed size quilt using smaller pieces, to be sure to re-create the pattern of the bed size quilt top. Other times, they would use patches left over from bed size quilts to make their doll quilts, even though the quilt top design would be lost.

Most of these quilts are pieced, not appliqu?and some have been made from children's handkerchiefs printed with holiday or religious themes.

Due to labor saving devices, and smaller families, twentieth century mothers had more time to include creative components in their doll quilts - nursery rhymes, animals, and even pastel colors.

Quilts today are made in all different sizes, each for a different purpose. Some large quilts have never seen the top of a bed, even though they are the size of a king size bed quilt.

Likewise, some small quilts were made to fill a spot on a wall, and were never intended even for a doll bed. I wonder if maybe some of those tiny quilts from the nineteenth century hung on a wall, and were never placed on a doll bed.

About the Author

Penny Halgren http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com Penny has been a quilter for more than 26 years and enjoys sharing her quilting knowledge quilters all around the world.

Burda Style 9643 Cow Pig Rug Robe Washcloth Toy Sewing Pattern Child Nursery $7.99

SIMP.7255~VINTAGE '91 "DAISY KINGDOM" BABY NURSERY ENSEMBLE PATTERN~NEW~FF $9.42

SIMP.4232~'06 ASST. BUCKET COVERS PATTERN-VANITY,NURSERY,CRAFTS,DESK,TOYS~NEW $9.42

Nursery Crib Bedding pattern Quilt diaper high chair cv $14.00

Simplicity 5130 Antique Toy Nursery Pattern Leslie Beck $8.99

Seams Apropos Pattern Applique Quilting Country Nursery $0.99

McCALL'S Pattern 3038 BABY ROOM Nursery Canopy Bag Comforter Bumper Curtains $5.49

Simplicity 7255 Daisy Kingdom Baby Nursery Pattern $16.99

s9311 Daisy Kingdom Nursery Pattern Quilt,Sheet,Bumpers $4.25

s9315 Shabby Chic Nursery Accessories pattern $4.75

Nursery Soft Sculpture Doll Craft Pattern Book $4.99

SIMPLICITY SEWING PATTERN #5130, ANTIQUE TOY NURSERY $5.49

Simplicity Pattern 9140 UNCUT Nursery Accessories Quilt $9.99

Simplicity Daisy Kingdom Baby Nursery Room Accessories Sewing Pattern Quilt $4.99

Lot= 2 Simplicity 6874 & 6875 Baby Nursery Mobile Patterns~UNCUT & Smoke-Free $2.00

McCall's 5900 Nursery Quilt Pillow Toy Bib Bear Pattern $9.99

TEDDY BEAR NURSERY ACCESSORIES PATTERN CRANSTON UC 1982 $3.67

Patch Press craft pattern Happy Hangings uncut sunshine cloud baby nursery decor $3.50

Butterick 5028 Baby Room Nursery Accessories Sewing Pattern $4.99

Simplicity 3798 Daisy Kingdom Baby Nursery Room Decor Sewing Pattern $7.55

5130 Simplicity Pattern, Nursery Accessories $3.95

Soft Stuff Complete Nursery Pattern Butterick 3930 Quilt Crib Sheet & more $4.99

Simplicity Daisy Kingdom Nursery Pattern 7674 $2.99

SIMPLICITY PATTERN 3795 NURSERY 34 PIECES, QUILT,PILLOW,CRIB SHEET,DUST RUFFLE $6.00

McCall's Baby Diaper Nursery Toiletry Bag Tote Car Organizer Sewing Patterns New $7.99

Baby Dot-To-Dot Pattern $8.99 42" x 42" baby quilts for girl or boy...

Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones $9.26 chronicle books amy butlers little stitches features 20 charming contemporary projects for the nursery and beyond there is a snuggly wrap blanket imaginative plush toys bright diaper bags handy travel bibs and more beautiful photos inspire while illustrations and simple instructions explain the techniques. this book also features tips on choosing baby friendly fabrics and includes a comprehensive ...

Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby $4.96 24 sewing projects that celebrate the joy of a new baby Come stitch alongside celebrated fabric designer Anna Maria Horner as she prepares for her own new baby. This stunning collection of nursery decor, keepsakes, maternity wear, baby's clothing, and more is all breathtakingly photographed as Anna Maria progresses through her pregnancy. Mothers-to-be, grandparents, family, and friends will tr...

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers $7.27 chronicle books simple sewing for baby. easy projects for newborns to toddlers simple styles with practicality resulting in sweet yet durable essentials for any rumble tumble baby. clear step by step instructions and how to illustrations ensure foolproof crafting. its a cinch to stitch up modern accessories for both baby and mom. this book features two dozen projects with full sized patterns. auth...