Mill Wheel Signature Quilt

This beautiful signature quilt was created in or around Chester County, Pennsylvania. It contains the names of twenty-two individuals and appears to have been embroidered by the same hand throughout most of the quilt. It also bears a date of 1844, Chester County, embroidered within one of the squares. Signature quilts were very popular beginning about 1840 or so, and were often given as gifts to mark a special occasion such as a marriage, or as a presentation to a valued member of a church or other organization.

Who were these individuals and what inspired them to make the quilt? After much searching, there is still little known for sure. Their surnames appear in early records of Chester County, but we have only one full name and one name recognized as a probable local physician of the area at the time. The beautiful embroidery of the names in this quilt reflects the admiration these people held for the recipient. Its beauty and mystery bring together people who will never know each other, yet entices us to search on.

Techniques: Hand pieced and quilted
Credit Line: Gift of Lea Russo and Bruce Berman