The National Museum of American History has this incredible Solar System Quilt on display.
This Solar System quilt was made by Ellen Harding Baker of Cedar County, Iowa, in 1876. It is 89″ long and 106″ wide. The wool top of this applique quilt is embellished with wool-fabric applique, wool braid, and wool and silk embroidery.
The design of Ellen’s striking and unusual quilt resembles illustrations in astronomy books of the period. Ellen used the quilt as a visual aid for lectures she gave on astronomy.
One day, I’m going to make a quilt using the classic alchemical imagery depicting the origins of the universe. My fingers will be very sore. Here are some of the basic stages of universal origin that would comprise the embroidered quilt panels (excuse the way I clumsily pasted them together).
My fingers will be very sore…but what an heirloom!











