Resources for Making Antique Inspired Doll Quilts

Discovering new worlds is fun.  If you'd like to see the other posts about doll quilts here on Maida Today, click here.  In this post, I'd like to focus on resources for making antique inspired doll quilts.  I love quilts, but making a large sized quilt is beyond my attention span.  But making a doll-sized quilt would be just right!

Visit Edyth O'Neill's blog, she's got a lot of doll quilt pictures up right now.  The pictures of Martha Rutledge's quilt reminded me of how I came to discover some resources about making doll quilts.   I oohed and ahed over a picture Edyth shared via email of a quilt that Martha Rutledge had made.  When I mentioned I would like to make a doll quilt, Martha recommended the joining Kathleen Tracy's quilt group.

Hexagon Quilt by Kathy Tracy

Kathleen Tracy has written many books, and leads some groups focused on her work on Facebook.    Kathy has written several books about making small quilts, and one book in particular is focused on American Doll Quilts.   You can learn a lot about making doll quilts from Kathy's group and books.   Also, visit Kathy's website Country Lane Quilts where she has a where she has some free antique inspired doll quilt patterns.  Kathy also has a blog here called A Sentimental Quilter.

In addition to Kathy's books and resources, there are some other wonderful blogs and resources.  First off, don't forget about antique doll quilts themselves as inspiration.  Here are some links to antique doll quilts available for purchase.

Other Books About Making Doll Quilts

In addition to Kathleen Tracy's books, doll quilters have specifically recommended these books to me:

Childhood Treasures: Doll Quilts by and for Children 

Great Little Quilts:  45 Antique Crib and Doll-size Quilts with Pattern and Directions

Twenty Little Patchwork Quilts: With Full-Size Templates

There are some great gems published in the past.  Amazon has a great list of books to try.

Some Quilt Blogs to Visit

There are a lot of wonderful sites on the web.  I picked a few here that are either focused on doll quilts, antique quilts or have great links lists related to our topic.   Visit these blogs and then look at the links they have on their blogs.  You'll find some great resources!


Barbara Brackman has a great post about the Ghormley collection of doll quilts here.

Dawn, of Collector with a Needle  (great name!) has a wonderful post on doll quilts with pictures of  a special exhibit of doll beds and quilts at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.   The Exhibit, called "Sleep Tight Doll Quilts" showcases a number of new doll quilts.  Visit Dawn's blog to see some wonderful doll quilts shown there with links to other sites on doll quilts.

Only Doll Quilts site is of interest for obvious reasons!

Marian Edwards Dreamsweaver has a great blog showcasing some quilts she has made.

Humble Quilts has a lovely post showing some antique doll quilts which inspired new doll quilts made as reproductions.

Study Antique Quilts

Inspiration for color and pattern can be found through studying antiques.  Of course, we always sign our work so as to not confuse any collectors. 

Stella Rubin Antiques 

Old Quilt Company  

Making Antique Inspired Doll Accessories: Studying Antique Doll Quilts

image via Edyth O'Neill

Izannah inspired doll in back and cloth doll front center by Edyth O'Neill

Small Izannah doll by Elaine McNally, blonde doll on right antique.

Edyth's blog has more images of doll quilts, so be sure to visit her!

Edyth O'Neill's pictures jogged one of my early memories: Once when I was young I visited an aunt's house across town.  A girl  lived two houses down from my aunt's house who had a wonderful wooden doll bed and a doll quilt. I was somewhere between six and eight years old.   I've forgotten the girl's name, but I sure can remember that bed and quilt.  I wanted it. There was something substantial and heartwarming in that hand-made  bed and textile bed covering that the pink plastic Barbie camper couldn't fill.  I'm not knocking Barbie, just relating a memory from childhood.  Isn't it funny how these memories can stay so sharp and clear?   And isn't it interesting how our likes and wants surface so early in life?

image via Edyth O'Neill, antique cradle, Martha Rutledge quilt

Charming small antique quilts made just for dolls are treasured collectibles in their own right. If you enjoy antique doll quilts you will want to visit some heartwarming examples at the following websites:

Stella Rubin Antiques 

Old Quilt Company  

Laura Fisher Quilts

Old ones are quite pricey, but some lovely ones are made today.  Our next post on quilts will focus on making our own antique inspired doll quilts and the books and patterns available.  

Above and below are shown a group of doll quilts from Three Texas Collections shared by Edyth, followed by some additional  quilts shared by internet friends.

image via Edyth O'Neill

image via Edyth O'Neill
quilt by Edyth, doll by Elaine McNally, rug by Martha Ruteldge

image via Edyth O'Neill

image via Edyth O'Neill

image via Edyth O'Neill
wonderful quilt by Martha Rutledge
dolls by Elaine McNally

Quilt images from other internet friends....

image courtesy Pam Fisher

image courtesy Pam Fisher

image courtesy Barb Whitehead
http://quilts-etc.blogspot.com/

image courtesy Barb Whitehead
http://quilts-etc.blogspot.com/

Viewing all these makes me want to make a doll quilt!  I've been saving pieces from the doll dresses I've made for just that purpose. Our next post on doll quilts will be about resources available for making them.   

Edyth's blog has more images of doll quilts, so be sure to visit. 

An Antique Doll Quilt from 1829

Tricia Langley, an internet friend I met through an antique doll collecting group online, shares this lovely vignette with us.  She says, 

"I was attracted to the very early doll bed because of it's vase shaped turnings. It looks to be walnut. It is a doll size rope bed. The dolls are German papier mache heads with kid leather bodies and wooden limbs, circa 1845-1855.  They are commonly (and in error) referred to as Milliner Models."

The doll quilt came with an old note that was hand sewn to the quilt.  It's faded lettering has the following written:   

There is a name (illegible)

June 18, 1829

Harper's Ferry

Virginia

Another name (also illegible)

fifty years ago 1882.

The quilt is backed with white cloth. 

Thank you, Tricia, for sharing this lovely old gem!

When I asked Tricia what website she would like to refer people to, she recommended Rabbit Goody's site, Thistle Hill Weavers, as one that would be interesting to those who love old textiles. 

Share A Doll Quilt You've Made

Source: weewonderfuls.typepad.com via Dixie on Pinterest

From the book  Collecting American Country.

After I saw this picture I bought a copy of the book at Amazon.

Have you made a doll quilt you'd like to share?  Please upload ONE image of a quilt you've made below and enter a link to your blog, website or online picture album.  It's fine if your item is for sale, but it doesn't have to be for sale.  Click the blue letters that say "click here to enter" and you choose a picture to upload and then have the opportunity to add a link to your site.

Please note -  If your picture doesn't upload please send it to me via email at northdixie AT gmail.com.   I'll load it on.   Thanks for sharing, everyone!