QUILT
Geography
Prince Edward Island
DimensionsOther (.A): 187 x 127 cm (73 5/8 x 50 in.)
Other (.B): 20 cm (7 7/8 in.)
Other (.C): 20 cm (7 7/8 in.)
Other (.D): 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in.)
Object numberHF.12.12.02A-D
DescriptionMulticoloured, rectangular shaped "yo-yo" style quilt (A) with pale blue backing. Surface is made-up of hand sewn circles or yo-yo's, in various colours and fabrics. The outer edge of each circle is folded inwards and gathered, then connected to the surrounding circles. The backing is pieced together from 6 sections of blue fabric. One large rectangle is slightly darker in tone and one small square is lighter in colour. Five rows of red thread run the width of the quilt's backing on the right end. Three scrap pieces (B-D) of quilt sections detached from the quilt. .B has 30 circular pieces of fabric, .C has 30 circular pieces of fabric and .D has 23 pieces and is missing a circle on the bottom edge. All sections are made up of various colours and patterns, attached together to form rectangles.Narrative
"Yo-yo" quilts came into fashion in the 1920s through 1940s. The term "yo-yo" refers to a round piece of fabric that is basted so that pulling the thread creates a flower-like embellishment. These yo-yos are then sewn together. Yo-yo quilts were practical as women could easily take the small sections of fabric with them to work on when they had a spare moment. During the Great Depression, this style of quilt was economical since any available scraps of material were used to create the yo-yos.
This style of quilt was not typically used as a warm covering but more as home decor like a tablecloth or centrepiece. The addition of a fabric backing on this particular quilt would make it possible to use as a bed cover. It is unclear when the backing was added.
