05.01.08
Princess Feather
The “Prince’s Feather,” sometimes called “Princess Feather” appliqué design has captured quilters’ imaginations for quite a long time. Recently, I had reason to find out more about its history. After exploring book after book in my personal library, I happened across the research paper, “The Princess Feather: Exploring a Quilt Design” by Carol Williams Gebel in Uncoverings 2007, a publication of the American Quilt Study Group. I was happy to find an extensive article that answered all my questions, and more!
Coincidentally, I found this beautiful example in an eBay auction:
1860s “Princess Feather,” 86″ x 86″, eBay auction 360006141983.
Quilts of this type are often set in a four block format. The colors of this particular quilt strike me as unusual. The only antique quilt I have seen in this style was rendered in red on a white background … and was so decrepit, I left it in the antiques store.
A certain amount of skill in appliqué is needed to work any variation of this design. The radial extensions or “plumes” are representative of the hat of the Prince of Wales. If you are at all interested, I’d suggest that you read the thorough treatment of the topic in Uncoverings. Only two of the hundreds of quilts studied by the author had a yellow background.
To make your own, smaller version of a Princess Feather design, download the free instructions offered by Windham Fabrics, with Debby Kratovil’s design, and Gerald Roy’s beautiful line of “Regency Dandy” Fabrics.
Do something fun today!
Patricia Cummings
