Skip to main content
Gift of Mrs. Edward Ingraham, 1966.11.1  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Crazy Quilt
Gift of Mrs. Edward Ingraham, 1966.11.1 © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.

Crazy Quilt

Date1885
MediumHand-stitched plain-woven, twill-woven and compound weave wool and cotton; wool yarn and thread
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width): 64 1/2 x 63 1/2in. (163.8 x 161.3cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Edward Ingraham
DescriptionCrazy quilt with a foundation-pieced top of plain-woven, twill-woven and compound weave wool and cotton. The quilt is decorated with embroidered borders at the edge of each piece and block of fabric. In the center of the quilt are the hand-stitched initials "SAA" and the date "1885". Many pieces of fabric are also decorated with figures of a man and children, a horse, a frog, a pig, an owl, a cow, a heron, a rooster and chickens, a fan, a cat and an elephant. The elephant wears a blanket that is labeled "BABY"; below the elephant is stitched "CANT FIND MAMA". Below the figure of a little girl and a cow is stitched "WHY DONT [Y]OU SAY THANKS". The backing consists of red, white, blue and brown plaid wool with regularly-spaced tufts of wool yarn. Each edge of the quilt is finished with bias-cut blue fabric binding.

Condition: There are splits and tears to the fabric pieces, especially at each edge of the quilt.
Object number1966.11.1
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Crazy Quilt
    Diantha Thompson
    1890-1910
    1966.49.0 on a bed.
    Lucy Arnold
    1815
    Crazy Quilt
    Sarah M. Durand
    1890-1900
    Crazy Quilt
    Ellen Rebecca Smyth
    1880-1890
    Gift of Mrs. J. Chandlee Ergood, 1980.9.1  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticu…
    Sylvia Punderson
    1800-1825
    Wholecloth Quilt
    Mercy Copp
    embroidered 1775-1800, quilted 1800-1825
    Museum purchase, 1985.45.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical So…
    Betsey Payne
    1808
    Gift of John T. Whitman, 1963.8.2  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Histor…
    Esther Lyman
    1730-1760
    Crazy Quilt
    Mrs. Lillian Clifford Burdick
    1887-1890
    Museum purchase, 1982.58.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical So…
    Unknown
    1750-1825