100 Objects: Ginny’s Quilt
Ginny’s Quilt
Ginny’s Quilt
Ginny was a 7-year-old girl living in Cherry Valley when she made this red, green and white eight-pointed star crib quilt. The LeMoyne Star is one of the earliest quilt blocks. The stars represent faith in God. She likely made and remade many stars to achieve the expert cutting and piecing skill needed to make this block.
The quilt dates to the early 1800s as evidenced by the faded blue (originally green) star points. Green was an unstable color made by over dying yellow with blue, which eventually would fade to blue or tan. Stable green dyes were not available until the mid-1800s.
Young girls learned to sew beginning at 5 or 6 years of age. Their education focused on preparation for marriage, having children and caring for a home. To earn money widows or spinsters would conduct “dame schools” in their home to teach girls sewing, elementary reading and writing, and religion. A girl’s formal training ended here unless she was from a wealthy family that valued further education.
Linda Zelch is a volunteer for the Washington County Historical Society and a member of the antiquities committee.