Quilt Definitions - Old Quilt Company

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Wild Geese Chase vintage quilt

Quilt Definitions

Fabric Terms:

Feedsack Fabric (Chicken Linen, Textile Bags): In the 20's and 30's these "textile bags" were used when selling products such as grain, seed, flour, and feed. The fabric was then used for making clothing and quilts. Click here to view a quilt made with feedsack fabrics
Homespun Fabric: Originally, fabric that was woven on a hand loom with handspun yarns. Generally the weave is plain and loose made with uneven yarns.
Muslin: This is a plain cotton fabric usually not dyed which is often seen in vintage quilts as a background. This cotton fabric was considered a staple and is one of the oldest fabrics, first made in the city of Mosul (thus its name). In the 17th century India exported this fabric to Europe , mostly to France and it was later manufactured in England and Scotland.
Novelty (conversation) Print: A fabric printed with small designs with themes such as insects, toys, vegetables, everyday objects, etc. , popular in the 1870- 1900's.
Ombre (Rainbow, Fondue): This is a French term which means shaded. A dying process when a color gradually changed in shade from light to dark or changed hues. Click here to see an example of Ombre fabric.
White Work: A quilt which is white and the design is the quilting stitches. It is not pieced or appliqued but instead a "whole cloth" quilt.
Wool Challis: A soft, supple, and light weight weave often printed with small floral patterns. Click here to see an example of Wool Challis fabric.

Quilting Terms:
Echo Quilting: Repeated quilting stitches used with applique or pieced work that "echo" a shape and are spaced 1/4" apart. The results looks like ripples in water.
Clamshell Quilting: Quilting stitch pattern with overlapping circular shapes like fish scales. Click here to see a quilt with clam shell quilting pattern

More Coming!!!

HOME l SHOP FOR ANTIQUE QUILTS I RECOMMENDED VINTAGE QUILT BOOKS I ANTIQUE QUILT TERMINOLOGY I LINKS
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1800's ombre print antique quilt square

The Old Quilt Company
Woodstock, NY
debtankard@oldquiltcompany.com