I grew and lived near a number of Amish communities. I love the simple way of life that the Amish live by – always putting God, family and those in their Amish community first and foremost in their lives.
Per Wikipedia,
“Amish quilts are reflections of the Amish way of life. As a part of their religious commitment, Amish people have chosen to reject “worldly” elements in their dress and lifestyle, and their quilts reflect this. Traditionally, they use only solid colors in their clothing and the quilts they intend for their own use, in colors that were approved by their local religious leaders. Early Amish quilts were typically made of light weight wool fabric, off the same bolts of fabric used for family clothing items. Black is a dominant color, in the oldest Amish quilt styles, particularly in quilts made in Eastern Pennsylvania. Although classic Amish quilts appear austere from a distance, the craftsmanship is often of the highest quality and feature lush quilting patterns that contrast with the plain background. Antique Amish quilts are among the most highly prized among collectors and quilting enthusiasts. The quilts created by Amish people in the early period reflect their strong, internal cultural influences, that were to some degree separate from the non-Amish culture around them. The color combinations can help experts determine the community in which the quilt was produced. Many consider these quilts the “art” of the Amish.”
By understanding the history and purpose of an Amish quilt, their hand quilting outshines the patterns they choose to quilt. Historically, single blocks are used for basic quilts – and the quilting is hand-completed with precision and that lovely homemade feel.
So, this week, I would like to focus on traditional Amish quilt designs with tradition “plain” fabrics. Here is a very simple block that would be used by the Amish to make a large quilt:
