The Quilters’ Guild Museum Collection features quilts and coverlets that have been created using any of the allied crafts of patchwork, quilting and appliqué. Appliqué pieces are often much more unusual than patchwork and quilting. Sometimes they can be found in combination with other techniques, providing additional decoration to the central square of a frame quilt. In other instances they form the main method of construction, such as Broderie Perse pieces, that use cut out motifs from floral fabrics which have then been collaged onto a foundation backing to create entirely new designs.

Appliqué Strippy, 1900-1920, Maker Unknown.

This appliqué strippy coverlet has eight stripes of red sashing, alternating with strips containing irregular shaped floral motifs cut out from furnishing fabrics and applied on with a decorative embroidery stitch to cover the edges. Although made much later, this style of appliqué is more reminiscent of Broderie Perse, which often used furnishing fabric motifs to create a new design applied to a plain background.

Don’t forget, The Quilters’ Guild Museum Collection can be explored online.