Signature Quilts

by Steffani McChesney

Our esteemed fellow member Lois Regan will be giving a talk on signature quilts to the Simi Valley quilt guild on May 17, 2003. Now I have never found signature quilts particularly interesting so I wondered what Lois could find to talk about for any length of time. Turns out that there is lots to talk about, especially if you can find the story behind them.

As with most human endeavors signature quilts came into widespread popularity because of a couple of technical innovations, the steel nib pen invented in 1803 and the mass-production of permanent ink in 1830. Funny how that works. Like there are home computers because of the space program. Anyway, quilts had been signed with embroidery in the past but were not true signature quilts. The signatures usually belonged to the makers. With the availability of pen and ink real signature quilts were born.

Signature quilts were, and still are, usually created to present to a departing friend or colleague as a token of remembrance. Called friendship quilts, these were given to family members departing on the westward migration and missionaries leaving to convert the heathen in far-flung Africa or Asia or Hawaii. Quilts were presented to pastors and their wives who were being transferred to another pastoral post. These quilts symbolized the ties between people who very probably would never see each other again and could be a great comfort for the recipients when they were far from home. The practice is still common among the Amish who make signature quilts for young married couples who are moving to another community. The quilt is embroidered with names, messages, and even addresses so the recipients can write home. Sometimes women living on the frontier would write home asking family and friends to send signed blocks so they could make their own signature quilts as an antidote to loneliness. We quilters know that the outgoing presidents of our guilds are presented with a quilt, which is often a signature quilt.

Another form of signature quilt is the subscription quilt. These quilts were usually used to raise funds for worthwhile charitable projects. Subscribers would pay 10¢ for the privilege to sign the quilt, hence the name “dime quilts”.  Often the quilt was auctioned off or raffle tickets were sold to raise even more money. Signature quilts often appear on the market because the owners have passed away and the emotional meaning of it is lost. Because they were not often used as bed coverings they are usually in excellent shape.

Quilters are a sentimental bunch as represented by these interesting quilts. But, then, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

P.S. Don’t forget to get your blocks made for Lois to use in her talk. Personally, I think we should encourage her to give Cotton Patch Quilters the same talk. She has my interest peaked.