Vintage Quilt Star Garden

Bright, cheerful, and filled with an irresistible assortment of Depression-era fabrics, this vintage Star Garden quilt is a wonderful example of the resourcefulness and artistry of American quiltmakers. While this pattern was published as "Star Garden" in the Kansas City Star on January 27, 1954 (Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, #251a), the block itself predates that publication by many years. It appeared under several names throughout the first half of the twentieth century, including "Dolly Madison Pattern" in the Kansas City Star in 1937. The lively six-point stars, set among off white diamonds, beautifully showcase an array of colorful florals, plaids, shirtings, and novelty prints that are characteristic of the late Depression and early wartime years. Measuring 66" x 80", this quilt has a lovely medium-weight batting that gives it a soft, cozy feel while still allowing the beautiful hand quilting to stand out.

The quilt is entirely hand quilted and finished with an applied purple calico binding that has been hand stitched. At some point in its life, the binding along the head of the quilt was thoughtfully replaced with a solid aqua fabric, which is also hand applied and blends nicely with the quilt's vintage character. The striped backing adds another charming design element rarely seen from the front. Overall, the quilt remains in excellent vintage condition, with only a few small spots on the front that appear consistent with the rogue dye transfer often seen from brown fabrics of this era. With its exceptional collection of period fabrics, beautiful quilting, and documented pattern history, this is a wonderful quilt for collectors and decorators alike.

This quilt has been gently laundered by Janj Threads using quilt-safe methods. While every effort has been made to preserve the quilt's original character, signs of age and use may still be present. The quilt is clean, fresh, and ready to enjoy.