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A quilt consists of the top, a warm filling, called batting, and a backing piece of fabric. Quilts have been around for hundreds of years. A lucky medieval knight would have a set of quilted clothes to pad his heavy armor. A quilted petticoat was just the thing to keep a lady warm in the winter. The French made boutis. The Italians, trapunto. While America's first settler's didn't have the leisure to quilt, by 1836 quilting was in full swing. Early quilts were done on whole cloth. That is, either solid colors or printed lengths of cloth were used whole, without being cut. After the year 1800, pieced quilts became popular.

A scrap quilt would use up bits and pieces left over from other projects. Often, these could take years to complete and were handed down in families as a type of memorial. The pattern could be as simple as a four-patch or as elaborate as a Virginia star or grandmother's flower garden.

In the early 19th century, red and green quilts were popular. This color combination was as standard then as neutrals are now. These were considered best quilts, and not put to hard use. Geometric designs and elaborate appliquéd flowers were favorites.

Of course, ladies were as stubbornly individual then as now. By 1836 fabric printing dyes and processes had improved immensely from only thirty years before. Locally woven fabrics were available from Patterson, NJ mills. Beautiful turkey reds and butternut brown as well as indigoes were available, and more affordable than ever before. Ladies would buy lengths of their favorite colors and prints specifically for quilt making. Patterns and ideas were exchanged. Quilting could become quite competitive.

Ladies also worked together on quilts. If someone was getting married, or moving away, the community would get together to create a quilt as a present. Quilts were also sewn as fund-raisers for churches, charities and social causes such as temperance or abolition.

The Allaire Village Quilting Guild is a group of volunteers, dedicated to creating beautiful quilts, and teaching and demonstrating the process of quilt making. Each year we make a raffle quilt to raise funds to support the village. This year's quilt features a centerpiece of the Foreman's cottage, and has several flying geese borders. We like to call it a wild goose chase. It was done in patriotic red, white and blue historical reproductions of early 19th century fabrics. The quilting is being done entirely by hand. Come buy a ticket, and talk to any of us if you have questions, or are interested in volunteering. *3

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