Blue Hill Fabrics™ is pleased to present the first series of new fabric collections born from our alliance with the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. The Ohio Star collection is based on a true gem from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum archives, from the original collection of Lydia Skinner.
Lydia Mitchell was born in Maine, somewhere around 1820, and became the second wife of William Skinner, a mariner who ferried timber harvested in Maine to New Jersey. William was prosperous at the time of their marriage and went on to become quite wealthy. The couple moved to New Jersey and had 12 children. Lydia was an ardent abolitionist, and she was known to have made several quilts that were sold to raise money for the anti-slavery movement and later for the Union Army.
William’s wealth enabled Lydia to purchase the finest chintz fabrics to combine with dressmaking scraps for her quilts. Most likely, she had a large fabric stash and was able to buy fabric specifically for quilts - a luxury afforded only to the most affluent. It is typical to see chintz cut into large squares and set alternately with patchwork, as Lydia did for her Ohio Star. The large-scale chintz and paisley are pre 1830 and European imports (probably from England). The smaller scale red and black print also dates back to this time period. The backing print (tossed oval with flower). The fine lines in the background are known as “machine ground” and were created by roller printing. Fabrics with machine ground went out of production in the 1880s.
Sadly, the Skinner’s family’s fortune was lost during the Depression. It was at this time that Lydia’s Ohio Star, clearly one of her favorite quilts she had never used, was sold to a collector who eventually bequeathed them to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.
Free Projects:
SKUs:
7678-16, 7678-2, 7678-8, 7679-16, 7679-2, 7679-8, 7680-16, 7680-2, 7680-8, 7681-16, 7681-2, 7681-8, 7682-16, 7682-2, 7682-8, 7683-13, 7683-2, 7683-8
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and educate the public about quilts; honor quiltmaking traditions; and embrace the evolution of the art and craft of quilting.
When you visit the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, you will explore the scope of quilting, from bedcoverings of the 1800’s to contemporary art pieces. The museum hosts quarterly exhibits, tailored tours, and programs for adults and youth. For the researcher and quilt enthusiast, the Sandra Dallas Library contains over 3000 volumes featuring out-of-print literature, technique resources, historic patterns and research documents.
Founder Eugenia Mitchell, an 80-year-old Golden, CO resident of humble means, had a generous spirit and a passion for quilts. Her vision for a quilt museum was accomplished in 1990. Since then, the museum continues to serve as a trusted repository for treasured family heirlooms, historically significant quilts and cutting-edge contemporary quilts.
www.rmqm.org
