Come Sail Away ...

Adorable child-themed quilts like these have been called "crib" or "baby" quilts. They were often made in small sizes for infant or toddler use, as demonstrated by the two sailboat quilts above and the scalloped-edge Southern Belle crib quilt shown here. In the early to mid 1900s, children's quilts were made in slightly larger sizes for use on single-size children's beds, like the puppy and Overall Bill quilts pictured here. The evolution in style and size of baby quilts correlates interestingly with the history of children's roles in society.

The first mention of baby or crib coverlets was at the end of the 17th Century in the New England archives - diaries, inventories stored in museums, libraries and historical societies. The appearance of these small quilts seems to have coincided with the existence of small beds made specifically for children. While children's beds are commonplace today, until the middle of the 19th century, children very often slept in their parents’ beds or even in servants' beds. When they got a little older, children slept in beds that were pushed under the parents’ bed during the daytime, so that there was more space in the room. The nursery as a room designated for children did not appear until Victorian times (1875). Baby quilts may have been made to wrap babies to protect them from the cold. Many of them were square (approximately 40") and some were rectangular (approximately 50 x 30 inches). They were also presented to newborns for baptism.

Very early baby quilts are rare because they were often used for several babies in a family and were thrown out after they became badly worn. In addition, in Victorian times, when the infant mortality rate was high, some small quilts were used to wrap the baby before being placed in the coffin. Antique baby quilts surviving today may have been from wealthy families who owned several of these quilts and, thus, didn't overuse any of them. Alternatively, some of these quilts may not have been made for actual use, but for a sample before attempting a larger quilt.

The styles of crib or small quilts through the centuries reflected the place that a child occupied within his/her family. For example, in the 18th century and during the three quarters of the 19th century, children were considered "small adults" soon after they were no longer infants, and were quickly given responsibilities within the family based on age. Children also dressed like adults, so it made sense to make their baby quilts with the same fabrics and patterns as adult quilts, just smaller in size. As the attitude of adults towards children gradually began to change, so did baby quilt styles. Flowers, animals, boats and toys were incorporated into children's portraits, and nursery rhymes, fairy tales and other children's books became popular. Children were no longer considered miniature adults, but, rather, as children, and small quilts began to appear decorated with interests specific to children, including animals, blocks with letters, circus characters and puppets. In addition to decoration, these quilts sometimes served an educational function by stimulating a child's imagination or teaching the child letters, numbers and identification of animals. Around 1910, patterns for children's quilts became available, including the well-known Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Bill patterns.

Surviving vintage children's quilts from the early and mid 1900s are often in excellent condition and can be used today. In addition, many of the smaller vintage quilts with adorable appliqué patterns or embroidery are used as wallhangings in children's rooms. Please visit our products page for more specific information on the adorable quilts shown here.

(Some of the information above is from the article, "New Pathways into Quilt History," by Kimberly Wulfert, and "Memoires d'Enfance," by Christiane Billard, translated from the French version in the magazine "Les Nouvelles du Patchwork.")