Log Cabin Quilt
Date made: mid 19th century
Description: A log cabin patchwork quilt with overall cross pattern. Predominantly brown with a brown cotton square at the centre of each of the log cabin blocks. Cotton dress and blouse fabrics of browns, blues and purples dominate the dark side of the squares whilst pale pinks, purples and pastels are used on the lighter side. Floral, geometric, sprig pattern and striped fabrics are used. A brown sprig patterned cotton fabric is used as binding around the edge. The quilt is a Manx log cabin design owing to the fact that the stripes of fabric are folded back with a small pleat making the squares thicker, rather than being pulled back flat.
As it is a log cabin quilt there is no wadding or central layer. Instead the backing of each individual white cotton square has been sewn together to produce the overall backing.
Although a utilitarian patchwork design, the quilt is made of fabrics which would have been very fashionable. The quilt was made by Mary Ann Mylrea (1822-1901) who was the daughter of Philip Mylrea, a stone mason who built the Tower of Refuge, Douglas Bay (1832). She married a James Graham, from England (near Carlisle). The quilt has been on display on the bed in Harry Kelly's cottage at Cregneash Folk Museum for several years and was the basis for the new replica 'Harry Kelly's Quilt' made in 1999.
Measurements: overall: 204 cm x 200 cm
Materials: cotton
Object name: quilt
Collection: Costume & Textiles Collection
ID Number: 1954-4151
Subject tags : quilt