Collections Menu
QUILT
QUILT

QUILT

Geography Prince Edward Island
DimensionsOther (.A): 221 x 164 cm (87 x 64 9/16 in.) Other (.B): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.) Other (.C): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.) Other (.D): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.) Other (.E): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.) Other (.F): 8 x 8 cm (3 1/8 x 3 1/8 in.) Other (.G): 8 x 8 cm (3 1/8 x 3 1/8 in.) Other (.H): 8 x 8 cm (3 1/8 x 3 1/8 in.) Other (.I): 10.5 x 4 cm (4 1/8 x 1 9/16 in.)
Object numberHF.12.12.01A-I
DescriptionA roughly square shaped, multicolour "yoyo" style quilt (A) with a pale green fabric backing. The quilt is made up of small circles or yo-yo's which are hand sewn together. The outer edge of each circle is folded inward and is gather in place, then sewn to the surrounding circles. The circles are made of up various fabrics, in various colours. .B-.I are fragment circles/sections. .B) is a single red circle. .C) is a single circle in white fabric with small floral pattern. .D-E) are both a single pale green circle. .F-H) are each a trio of circles, one pale green and two beige attached in the shape of a triangle. .I) is a section of three circles, one white, one pink, and one blue with floral pattern, all connected horizontally.
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.