The topic for the day was two color quilts led by Linda Pumphrey. After handing out an outline and packet of printouts, we began with a discussion about the definition of two color. It was decided that the "purist" definition would be white with a second fabric that was either solid or read as a solid. If more than one fabric was used it was considered a two color multi-fabric quilt.

We learned the two most favored color combinations are blue and white followed by red and white. Reason being was indigo and Turkey red were both dyes that withstood repeated washing and still remained true to color. Also, both colors were readily available.

We started our study with blue and white quilts. Blue and white quilts were popular from the 1820s to 1860s and again in the early 1900s. It is thought these quilts may have been inspired by the woven coverlets, specifically the jacquard woven coverlets, because of their geometric centers and floral borders. The white spaces in these quilts gave quilters a chance to show off their needlework skills and are usually seen with heavy quilting using fancy motifs along with close background quilting. This would be a good clue to date an earlier blue and white quilt as the later ones had more utilitarian quilting. The earlier quilts usually had only one blue fabric where as the later ones included a wider assortment of prints. A side note, the West Virginia state documentation book contains a photo of the earliest example Linda could find (see pages 40-41).

After learning some characteristics of blue and white quilts we then looked at what we had brought. We saw a couple Irish chain quilts with the most unusual done with the "chain" in white and blue as the background.

Since we were fortunate enough for our leader to also be the "keeper" of the Mountain Mist quilt archive we were treated to several very nice examples. We saw an appliquéd 30s Spring Wreath, T square, and my favorite Snowbound pattern #46. Snowbound was considered a two fabric quilt because it was done in medium and light blue. Linda told us a lot of the Mountain Mist quilts were done using solid colors so as not to "date" them when they were sent out for display!

Although not part of the Mountain Mist archive but still a Mountain Mist pattern, we saw an appliquéd Friendship Plume done in 30s blue and white that was made by one of our members' mother-in-law in 1939. It was discovered between the mattress and springs on a bed in her home and promptly rescued!

After seeing the blue and white quilts, Linda talked about the red and white quilts. We learned that red and white quilts have many of the same design elements as the blue and white quilts. Turkey red fabric became available in the United States after the 1830s and took over blue and white quilts around 1860. Pink and white quilts are usually faded red and white quilts (but not always) and they can also be depression era versions of red and white quilts.

We looked at several drunkard's path quilts one in red and white and two in pink and white. We saw a couple Irish chains, one single and the other double. We saw a pair made by the same maker with the same rosy red and white fabrics one a pinwheel and the other a sugar loaf. Both had similar zig zag borders!

My favorite red and white was made by an Amish woman in Kalona, Iowa. The current owner said the maker called it Botch Handle. We would call it Devil's Claw! It was quilted with all over pumpkin seed quilting.

Next we moved on to other color combinations. We learned that the colors used were usually contrasting (think pink and yellow, blue and orange, green and yellow). We also learned that typically tree of life, pine tree, and leaf patterns are seen in green and white or brown and white. Also Hawaiian and Amish are two regionally influenced quilts that are typically done in two colors.

We saw a graphic 60s black and white multi-fabric drunkard's path, an orange and white Jacob's ladder, a purple and green hearts and gizzards, and a blue and orange Dutchman's puzzle.

There were two yellow and white quilts. One was a Mountain Mist Hawaiian and the other a 1960s floral appliqué. My favorite was a chrome orange and red double Irish chain from Bellville, Illinois c. 1880-90. We learned this color combination was favored by the German population in that area.

The "gasper" quilt of the day would have to be the orange and yellow sateen quilt made in North Umbria, England. The quilting in this quilt was just stunning and the best part was it is reversible! It has a wonderful tactile feel to it too.

We wound up the day looking at signature quilts with a focus on embroidery. Redwork was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century with bluework following mostly after the 1910s. The motifs were usually simple lines with diverse and varied themes (think children's motifs, flowers, buildings, and religious). An interesting note, redwork came back into favor again in the 1990s.

We saw two embroidered quilts with one being worked in red and white and the other pink and white. The redwork was a Mountain Mist pattern featuring basket and floral motifs with birds. The pinkwork was dated 1925-26 for the Talmo Primary Room. It featured cartoon like characters but nobody knew the name of the series.

We also saw two signature quilts one was donated to a church blanket drive. Someone there realized it was a significant quilt and contacted the current owner. It is a red and white diamond in a square where the red points of the squares form a secondary zig zag pattern with the signatures in the white center diamond. Preliminary research has found the quilt to be from somewhere around Philadelphia.

The second signature quilt was a yellow and white 30s-40s quilt. It had an ice cream cone border with yellow sashing. The blocks had a yellow circle appliquéd in the center with a white embroidered signature in the circle and yellow embroidered signatures radiating off of the center circle like sun's rays. This quilt was said to originate in Wayne County, Indiana the same area where our meeting was held!

We decided this was one of our better meetings for a number of reasons. From our great attendance to the subject matter being such that everyone could participate, we felt it was a successful and very inspiring meeting! Thanks to Linda for all her information she shared and to everyone who brought quilts and/or braved the weather.

Our next meeting will be May 6th in Columbus, Ohio, at Westminster Thurber Retirement Community. We will be having a quilt dating day for residents and visitors.