This quilt exemplifies how quiltmaking may have spread within Amish settlements. Mary Stoltzfus Lapp (1875-1955) made quilt tops in this pattern for each for her and her husband Daniel’s “namesakes”—the grandchildren named after each of them. Family members regarded this pattern as novel and special. Around 1940 neighbor Amanda Stoltzfus saw one of the Basket quilts belonging to a “namesake” and asked to borrow the pattern, having her daughter Sarah piece quilts for herself and four younger siblings. Fewer than ten similar Baskets quilts from this church district have been identified, each originating within one of these two families.
Pattern:
Cake Stand
Maker:
Maker unknown
Circa
1920
Probably made in
Pennsylvania
United States
79
78.5
IQM, Jonathan Holstein/Gail van der Hoof Collection