Ohio Rose Quilt

Any quilter knows that some projects may sit for years. This quilt was begun by Dorothy in the early 1980s and not finished until 1993, but it was from an older pattern or kit.

The kit came from the Boag Company, a quilt company begun in 1932 by George Roak Boag. He sold his work through the Mary McElwain Quilt Shop of Walworth, Wisconsin. She did the merchandising; he provided the supplies. As with many of the Boag designs, these were traditional applique patterns.

The Ohio Rose, Whig Rose, and/or Rose of Sharon pattern are all very similar and were a common applique type in the mid-19th century. The Ohio Rose survives here. Fifteen roses (five rows of three) form the central motif of the quilt. The roses have four heart shaped petals and form an X shape. The X-shape is completed by green rose stems terminated in dark pink buds. A dark pink binding blends into a top and bottom border of dark pink. The white top of the quilt forms merges with the white border on the long sides. Five dark pink scallop shapes frame the right and left side of the central motif.