Rolling Stone
Martha Durkee Blakeslee
Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan
c.1890
74" x 80"
Cotton with cotton filling
MSU Museum Accession 7410.2
Photo by KEVA, all rights reserved Michigan State University Museum

Betty Quarton Hoard remembers the blue plaid fabric used in this quilt, one of her favorites, was also used in other family quilts. Called "Rolling Stone" by the family, this quilt was made with Bow Tie pattern blocks in a Snowball setting. Simple patterns were popular as the 19th century drew to a close and this tied, utilitarian quilt with fabrics in a wide array of colors and styles is representative of the time.

Excerpted from Great Lakes, Great Quilts.