On Saturday, May 13, we’re traveling to Bedford, Pennsylvania to visit The National Museum of the American Coverlet. Registration coupon in the March newsletter.
The National Museum of the American Coverlet focuses on antique American woven coverlets. Coverlets are woven bedcovers, used as the topmost covering on a bed. The weaver worked on a loom to construct the textile itself one row at a time, and the pattern was woven in as part of the process. Dated coverlets in the collection range from 1771 to 1889.
Woven coverlets were popular in many states during the early-to-mid nineteenth century. The two main types are called geometric and figured and fancy. The pattern motifs in geometrics are based on circles and squares. The patterns in figured and fancy coverlets are curvilinear and realistic and can include floral, animal, architectural and other motifs. These are the coverlets that most often contain inscriptions. Inscriptions can include the weaver’s name, location, the year it was made, the name of the person it was made for, and sometimes a slogan of some sort.
Designs and motifs will be familiar to sampler enthusiasts.Here are several modern sampler patterns that are inspired by coverlet designs: “Coverlet Sampler” by Cricket Collection; “Harry Tyler’s Lion” by Long Dog Samplers; and “Coverlet Houses” and “Coverlet Candle Mat” by Scarlett House; and “Summertime Coverlet” by Heartstring Samplery.
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For more information about the Museum, go to http://www.coverletmuseum.org.
