Acorn & Oak Leaves Quilt

One of nine quilts in this collection created from a pattern provided by the Leeward Creative Craft Company, whose home base was Elgin Illinois. The Leeward Company was formed in 1976 as a result of the US Bicentennial, when people showed an interest in traditional crafts.

This cross-stitch quilt is sewn on a cream-colored top and back with matching binding.  The pattern of the quilt imitates applique quilts which became popular in the Civil War era featuring stylized acorns and oak leaves. Those were often sewn in the vibrant reds and greens of the era. This quilt’s colors are a subtle interplay of naturalistic colors of green and brown.

A ribbon-like border carries small oak leaf decorations at regular intervals. Large oak leaves with an acorn on either side of their base anchor the corners. The central motif of the quilt is a rectangle of twelve blocks, three across and four down. Each block holds an acorn and oak motif, four oak leaves in diagonal corner forming an X.  In the interstices of the X are two acorns held on a C shaped stem.  Stitching in the cream background includes numerous shapes:  rosettes, acorns, squares and diamonds.