Have You Always Wanted A Quilt?
A quilt is a unique piece of functional art. Many quilts have significant life events tied to them, such as a wedding or the birth of a baby. The Amish are known for making stunning quilts. You may be wondering, what makes a quilt Amish? The simple answer is: that it was made by an Amish woman.
What Makes a Quilt Amish?
Historically, “the primary characteristic of an antique Amish quilt is that it’s made with fabric scraps from Amish garments. A true Amish quilt is easily recognized by its solid colors, as printed fabrics are never used.” from The History of the Amish Patchwork
While that was historically true, Lancaster County Amish use quilting cotton in solids, prints, and occasionally metallics in their quilts. Except for applique, the quilt blocks are made with a sewing machine. The finished quilt tops are then layered with batting and backing and hand-quilted.
Where Can I Buy a Quilt?
There are many shops both small and large where you can purchase an Amish Quilt. However, our favorite place to ‘shop’ for quilts is at auctions. You can attend a mud sale and find many lovely quilts that are being auctioned off. But, if you aren’t interested in everything else that happens at a mud sale, then attend one of Hometowne Quilt Auctions. These auctions are exclusively for quilts – new, vintage, and tops. Hometowne holds its quilt auctions six times a year, in odd months at the Garden Spot Fire Hall. Hometown Auctions are always on Tuesdays, from 9:00a until approximately 2:00p. The firehall will have some food available for purchase. Here’s the schedule for the remainder of 2024:
- March 26
- May 21
- July 16
- September 17
- November 20
Some Tips
For the best experience, follow these tips:
- Stop by the Garden Spot Fire Hall on Monday afternoon before the auction to preview the quilts;
- Get your bidder number before the start of the auction;
- Book your favorite room at Carriage Corner and let us know you’re attending the auction, we’ll make sure you have a good breakfast to keep you going;
- Plan to arrive early, around 8:30a so you can get a good seat;
- Bring your checkbook or cash and avoid paying extra fees;
- Have a budget; and
- Enjoy the event!