Leaves Quilt

Leaves have been a popular motif throughout quilt history—witness the acorn and oak quilt in this collection. However, this quilt is a very original interpretation of that tried-and-true theme. Stan Rankin suggested to his mother that she make a quilt with all the leaves of trees commonly found in Champaign County. Mr. Rankin, being a Boy Scout leader had often taught the shapes of leaves to his charges in their nature study. 

Nineteenth century acorn and oak quilts are often rendered in bright red and green.  Dorothy may have chosen these colors for her leaf quilt purposefully. Red is used in a grid pattern to frame each of the blocks of this appliqued quilt. There are 42 blocks, six across and seven down.  Green leaves are sewn on a blue backing. Mimicking the acorn and oak pattern, four leaves are arranged diagonally within each block to form an x. The leaves are green but framed in a blue field. A center block is cream-colored, and the stylized acorn is red. There are seven rows of six blocks each. Each row features a different leaf:  poplar, sweet gum, sassafras, linden, oak, maple and elm are all included on this quilt. 

This quilt was completed in 1976. It was registered with the Illinois Quilt Research Project, CU-340.