Country Sampler Quilt, 1991
The counted cross-stitch on this quilt is so tight it appears almost like an applique quilt at first glance. It was called Country Sampler by the Leeward Company which sold the pattern. In the early 1990s, the term ‘country’ was used to connote simple and rustic design. In keeping with that implication, and by using the term ‘sampler’, a reference to the colonial (and later) practice of showing off needlework talents by young women, this design harkens back to what was perceived to be a simpler, more wholesome era.
The quilt has a border of pink rosettes with yellow centers centered in two sets of three leaves. At the corners of the quilt are larger blue rosettes encompassed by half-wreaths of greenery. Twelve squares, outlined in blue stitching, mark the center of the quilt. A separate pattern is featured in each square in the following order, left to right, top to bottom. 1) A yellow cross embedded in pink hearts set at the corners 2) A yellow rosette encircled by a blue wreath with yellow tulips at the corner of the block 3) Three pink tulip heads springing from a single stem, stylized and created from triangular shapes 4) A blue central rosette topped with a pink tulip, and enclosed beneath by a half wreath 5) the alphabet spelled out in four lines of pink thread with four yellow hearts at the bottom of the block 6) a highly stylized oak and acorn block in green and blue with a yellow diamond center 7) A cross inscribed on an X creates an elaborate 8 pointed figure. The arms of the cross are terminated by blue flowers, the arms of the x are terminated by pink flowers 8) a traditional flower basket. The base is formed by triangular pieces; three yellow flowers sit within the brown basket shape. 9) A green wreath decorated with 12 pieces of pink/red fruit 10) A simple wreath with four pink flowers 11) an X shape with blue tulips at the termini, leaves at the midsection of each stem 12) a single pink blossom with a bud to its right.
This quilt is signed by Dorothy Rankin, DJR, 1991.