Product Review

The German immigrants to Southeastern Pennsylvania developed a rich and very colorful quilting heritage after they arrived in America. This book focuses on a rare subset of that tradition--the patchwork pillowcase. If antique Pennsylvania quilts number in the thousands, patchwork pillowcases number in the hundreds. Gathered from private collectors and museums, the pillowcases presented here were made from about 1820 to 1920. Over 250 color photos showcase a huge assortment of nineteenth century printed fabrics used in both pieced and appliqué pillowcases. Quilt designs range from a simple four-patch to a complex carpenter's wheel, while color schemes range from reserved red and white to bold pink and cheddar. This book will delight the quilt historian and inspire the quilt-maker.