Quilts Gone Wild

Quilts are products of their society, influenced by the environment of the people who made them. The names of quilt patterns depended on the wildlife in the environment in which the quilts were made. In Virginia, the “Bear Paw” pattern was popular. Alternatively, the same pattern in New York might have a different name based on the animals present. While some quilt patterns resembled animals, other quilts simply depicted animals directly. This exhibit explores Virginia wildlife and the various approaches to representing local wildlife in quilts. Come take a step on the wild side and see how many different animals can you track down at the Virginia Quilt Museum.