The Jane Stickle "Dear Jane" Quilt
In the realm of historical pieced quilts, the "most famous" title belongs to the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt (often called the "Dear Jane" quilt). The quilt that inspires quilters all over the world was made during the American Civil War, this masterpiece consists of 5,602 individual fabric pieces sewn into 169 unique five-inch blocks.
The quilt is incredibly fragile and permanently resides at the Bennington Museum in Shaftsbury, Vermont. Brought to the museum over 80 years ago, the Jane Stickle Quilt is only shown for a short time each year due to the fragility of the fabric. Quilters from around the country, and world, plan trips to the region during that time to see the 1863 quilt.
The Jane Stickle Quilt is comprised of 169 five-inch blocks, each in different patterns, containing a remarkable total of 5,602 pieces surrounded by a unique scalloped border.
Jane A. Blakeley Stickle (1817-1896)
Jane Stickle was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont in 1817 and later married Walter Stickle sometime before 1850. Stickle did not have any children of her own, but she looked after at least three children in her neighbourhood. In the 1860’s Jane Stickle was 43 and living on a farm alone. In this time Jane was creating the Dear Jane Quilt.
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| In War Time 1863 5602 Pieces |
She lovingly created the quilt as a ‘reminder of the turbulent times the country was going through at the time, Jane Stickle carefully embroidered the words “In War Time 1863 Pieces 5602" into the quilt’.
Although there is little information found on Jane Stickle the only information people have found is through census at the time. Jane was well educated which is proved by her impressive needlework and creativity using geometry. Jane also won an award for her quilt at the Bennington County Fair in late September 1863 “Mrs. W.P. Stickles for Best Patched Quilt”. Its no wonder Jane won the award with her unique design with each patch being unique.
150 years later and people are still recreating the historic quilt with their own adaptions and creations using bold, bright and exciting colours and layouts.
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