Quilting is usually denser and more finely worked in the early rather than late 19th century, when hand-sewing skills had generally diminished thanks the the increasing availability of sewing machines for home use. The maker of this  c. 1820-1840 chintz applique quilt not only filled the background with stitched parallel lines as close as ¼” apart, she also used a stuffed work technique to add dimension to her quilting.