A to Z Quilt Challenge: A = Amish Quilt

For the month of April, I have taken up Frédérique's Quilting Patchwork and Applique challenge to blog daily (except Sundays) on a quilt topic related to a letter of the alphabet.  

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Amish Quilt and Cake

Just recently found this cake recipe here.

In the summer of 2001 when I learned that quilting was still "a big thing", the style of Amish Quilts were a big attraction.  I went to my first quilt exhibit in December of 2001, a month before I started actually putting fabric and thread together myself.  

Fortunately one section of that exhibit was entitled "Ecstatic Geometrics" and contained a few antique (pre-1920) Amish quilts as well as some Mennonite quilts that were of a similar style. 

I've only made two quilts in the Amish style, one is a wall hanging for my home, made using the strip set method and machine quilted in 2006.  The other was a doll quilt for my Aunt who collects dolls.  Her quilt was started from the leftover strip sets from the wall hanging and was hand quilted in 2010.  

The same year I made the wall hanging, I also made a couple of pillow covers for my couch to coordinate with it.  

I continue to be inspired by the Amish quilt esthetic as my quilt library would attest.

I also have a pattern and solids stashed for another Amish quilt (a sampler) that I look forward to making up in the future.  

Photo Courtesy of Connecting Threads

Pattern available for download from Connecting Threads.

Check out the beautiful quilting on this  finished version.

Another great Amish Sampler Quilt design can be found here. 

Cross Stitch fan?  You'll love this one!

Do you like Amish style quilts?  Is there an antique or contemporary one that has inspired you?