Skip to main content
Gift of John T. Whitman, 1963.8.2  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Histor…
Quilted Petticoat
Gift of John T. Whitman, 1963.8.2 Photograph by Gavin Ashworth. © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Quilted Petticoat

Quiltmaker (American, 1750 - 1828)
Date1730-1760
MediumHand-stitched, calendared satin-woven worsted, or calamanco; twill-woven wool, plain-woven wool; wool yarn
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width): 74 1/4 x 60in. (188.6 x 152.4cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of John T. Whitman
DescriptionWholecloth quilt constructed of a quilted petticoat that has been altered into a rectangular bed covering. The wholecloth quilt consists of a calendared satin-woven red glazed worsted, or calamanco, top, batting, and a backing; these layers have been hand-stitched together in an elaborate quilted pattern. The quilted pattern at each short side of the quilt consists of a border of flowers on a vine over a background of dense, diagonal, quilted lines; the border has a quilted edge shaped with S-curves and semi-circular curves. The remainder of the quilt has diamonds formed of widely-spaced, parallel groups of three diagonal quilted lines. Three of the four sides of the quilt have a white wool fringe.

The wholecloth quilt was constructed of a quilted petticoat that was removed from its waistband, divided into two equal sections, and assembled with the quilted hem along the short sides. A slit, once cut into the side of the petticoat near the waist to allow the wearer to access a hanging pocket, was sewn up. The top is formed of eight panels of calamanco. The backing is constructed of five panels, each of twill-woven plaid wool, plain-woven undyed wool, or red calamanco. The wool fringe was added at the time the petticoat was turned into a quilt.

Condition: The borders at the short ends of the quilt, or the hem of the petticoat, are well worn, faded and stained. Additional holes in the top and backing are scattered through the center of the quilt. A rectangular strip of cotton is added to the back of the quilt, at one short side.
Object number1963.8.2
On View
Not on view
Gift of the Lyman Allyn Museum, 1959.54.3  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.   © 2009 The Connectic…
Unknown
1750-1770
Museum purchase, 1985.45.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical So…
Betsey Payne
1808
Wholecloth Quilt
Asenath King
about 1787
1966.49.0 on a bed.
Lucy Arnold
1815
Gift of Mrs. J. Chandlee Ergood, 1980.9.1  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticu…
Sylvia Punderson
1800-1825
Wholecloth Quilt
Clarissa Dunham
about 1820
Museum purchase, 1982.58.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical So…
Unknown
1750-1825
Wholecloth Quilt
Phelps family
1825-1840
Gift of Marion F. Leeds, 1975.24.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Connecticut Histor…
Esther Lockwood
1817
Wholecloth Quilt
Mercy Copp
embroidered 1775-1800, quilted 1800-1825
The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund, 2001.48.1  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Conne…
Lucy Foote
about 1816-1821