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This quilt
came from Louise Harding's attic. Click
here to read more about Louise's family.
The Goose In The Pond quilt is one of my favorites from
Louise's collection. I can only imagine why the Harding women chose
particular patterns for their quilts; however, my imagination doesn't have
to go very far to guess the significance of this block. Over the years the small farm was home to literally
thousands of fowl - chickens, guineas, ducks and geese. I imagine this
quilt was at least partially inspired by the birds.
The quilt is approximately
72"x72" and is made of 16, 12" Goose In The Pond blocks set on point on a
background of plain muslin setting blocks.
The piecing is precise with corners and points meeting perfectly. The
quilting stitches are even and tiny. The careful piecing and
quilting stitches match the older quilts in this collection, one of which
dates back to the 1860s. However, this quilt has less overall quilting which leads me to believe it was made a bit later.
 The small print cranberry red and shirting fabrics used in this quilt were popular in the 1880-1910 time period. 
Simple straight lines were used
to quilt the blocks. A quilted wreath of hearts filled with a
center design similar to Grandmothers Flower Garden fill the setting blocks.
A cheerful quilt for a family
that obviously enjoyed tending the flock. Click the start button
below for a little slideshow from the Harding album.
Click here to read more about the Harding family and other quilts from this collection. I hope you enjoyed the story. Please send comments to - charlena@doveinthewindow.com
*reference books: Eileen Jahnke Trestain, Dating Fabrics, a Color Guide 1800-1960 Ruby McKim, 101 Patchwork Patterns Jinny Beyer, Patchwork Patterns Maggie Malone, 5500 Quilt Block Designs |
To view additional quilts or stories about the women who made them click on the links at the top of this page.