Amish Quilts are works of art.
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Amish quilts are one of the things that immediately come to mind when you think about Lancaster. And for good reason since they are one of the things for which the area is widely known. However, I must admit that although Joan and I delight in and admire them, we knew little about them until we found Lisa Allen’s website Quilting In America. I am indebted to her for permitting me to use the information below from her site.

“In the world of quilts, the Amish style is unique. Like many things, they are a product of the time, place, and people that make them. The Amish have always lived their lives unlike other Americans. Many of the differences that set them apart from their neighbors also set their products apart from those made by others.

"Quilting seems to have started in Amish communities around the mid-1800s. The early Amish used natural fibers - flax and hemp grown on their farms, spun into yarn, then woven into linen and cloth, and dyed with natural pigments. This produced colors with a warm vibrancy impossible to attain in modern commercial fabrics. The sewing machine, patented in 1846, was readily accepted by the Amish and many early quilt tops were sewn together on treadle sewing machines.

"The Amish culture, both then and now, was distinct from the 'worldly' culture of their non-Amish neighbors. Their 'plain and simple' life-style has always been based on Christian values, focusing on the principles of obedience, humility, self-denial, submission, thrift, and simplicity. These values are also present in the motifs, colors and designs in their bed covers, which were created primarily as warm, aesthetically pleasing bed covers.

"For Amish quilters, inspiration came from their life and surroundings. Their religion restricts the colors allowed for clothing, but is more lenient about the use of color in textiles for other uses. Since realism is not permitted in pieced quilt tops, images are generally suggested rather than being constructed precisely. Amish women combine bold, vibrant colors and geometric shapes to create quilts that are characteristically Amish: maintaining a balance between the joy of work and humility, between simplicity and more complex 'worldly' choices.

"Elements from their surroundings, barns, pastures, neatly planted rows of corn or crops, stars in the night sky, sunshine, and shadows may have all contributed to the patterns used. Fences may have inspired the patterns known as ‘Bars’ and ‘Rail Fence’. Buggy wheels look remarkably like ‘Fan’ patterns and the ‘Pinwheel’ pattern is reminiscent of the windmills used to pump water.”

Although the Amish are famous for the beauty and craftsmanship of their quilts, make no mistake, many in their style are made by others, and in places far from Lancaster or by we "English".

Whether you're interested in just learning more about this handicraft, or thinking about making a purchase, you may want to visit one of the two museums specializing in them. The larger one with a broader selection of styles is the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum in downtown Lancaster; it has an entrance fee. The smaller one, with changing exhibits, generally focuses more on contemporary styles; it's free and is attached to a retail establishment also selling them. Either place is a good choice. the People's Place Quilt Museum in Intercourse.


Click on the link below for information about buying your own heirloom.

Click here for tips about buying an Amish quilt

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