Victorian Quilts
1870–1900: Victorian
The Victorian era is defined in quilt history by the rise of the Crazy Quilt. Beginning around 1870, embellished lap quilts and throws made from silk, velvet, and wool scraps, heavily ornamented with embroidery, dominated fashionable needlework for roughly three decades. Pink and brown color combinations were also characteristic of the period.
Other notable developments:
- 1873: William Morris revives chintz and block printing techniques
- 1876: Centennial Album quilts are popular; plaid cotton flannel becomes a common quilt backing
- Around 1880: The Suffrage movement adopts the blue and white Drunkard’s Path pattern and introduces the raffle quilt as a fundraising tool
- Around 1885: Rusty brown tones gain popularity
- Around 1890: Feed sacks with printed fabrics are introduced; the Double Wedding Ring pattern appears; Bear’s Paw and Schoolhouse blocks are known
- 1851–1854: The sewing machine was patented and offered for home use, though its widespread quilting adoption came in the following decades
The use of wool and silk in quilts increased during this period and remained popular through about 1925.