Cheater Cloth: Imitation Patchwork

by Patricia L. Cummings

photos by James Cummings

For more than a century and a half, cheater cloth has been manufactured in America. What exactly is cheater cloth? Simply described, it is fabric that imitates pieced patchwork. This kind of cloth has always been a quick fix for those who do not want to spend the time piecing, but prefer the look of piecework. Although cheater cloth has been consistently used, its very existence seems to have been neglected in print.

Types of Simulated Pieced Quilts

Quilt Style, a book by Lucy Fazeley (Philadelphia/London: Courage Books, 2002), page 62, mentions that “Log Cabin” and “Charm” Quilt cheater prints were available during the early 1900s. A charm quilt is one in which every piece is a different print. Although I have not yet seen any extant examples of these, as finished quilts in museums, or in stores that sell antiques, from now on, I will look for them.

cheater-cloth-double-wedding-ring-1930s

Double Wedding Ring Cheater Cloth with Rose Centers, 1930s?

Fazeley reveals that the department store "Sears" offered cheater cloth during the 1930s that simulated “Grandmother's Flower Garden,” “Dresden Plate,” and “Double Wedding Ring” quilt designs. At that particular time, those quilt patterns were very popular, and inasmuch as those patterns are time-consuming to piece, the manufacture of cheater cloth of that kind would make sense.

Cheater Cloth with Hexagons

A charming example of cheater cloth with dainty, yet colorful, hexagons, is an antique feedsack print that previously belonged to an Amish farmer. The cloth, which may be from the 1930s, has been preserved in top notch condition.

cheater-feedsack example

The still visible holes where a string was previously threaded and used to tighten the bag shut are proof that cloth once held “feed” or grain. Opened out, this piece of cloth would have yielded enough fabric for an apron, a child's dress, or kitchen towels. This “piece of the past” is cheerful and serves well as “eye candy”!

Cheater Cloth Examples

A multi-generational collection of textiles, made by a family of New Hampshire women, include cheater cloth used as the back of a bed quilt. Intense hues of yellow and red, mixed with indigo prints, color the fabric that possesses a design configuration of interlocking circles.

cheater-cloth-1970s

Part of the cheater cloth backing of a 1970s quilt made in NH

An additional three yards of a similarly-configured cheater cloth that resembles the American, “Cathedral Window” pattern is present as loose yardage in the collection, in colors of white, turquoise, lime green, and magenta.

cheater-cloth-interlocking-circles

Piece of cheater cloth fabric from the Lewis collection. The interlocking circles design is similar to the example above.

Twenty-first Century Cheater Cloth

Recently-designed cheater cloth in my collection includes configurations with “pieced” triangles; stars; and a crazy quilt print. Some cloth features “pieced” diamonds.

cheater-cloth-country-lily

Cheater Cloth: Country Lily

While researching this article, I checked the offerings on eBay to see what types of cheater cloth were being sold there. As a result, I added a few pieces of cloth to my collection that would make a twin size bed quilt in the pattern of “Dresden Plate,” “Grandmother's Flower Garden,” or else, a lovely, simulated appliqué pattern that the seller called “Country Lily” in violet hues. Other listings featured Sunbonnet Sue designs.

Time Saved, or Not?

Whether you feel you are saving time by using cheater cloth prints, or not, the fact of the matter remains that women have found them appealing ever since they were first printed. The fact that cheater cloth prints are mentioned very little is deceiving. Over the years, many quilters have enjoyed cheater prints and they have not yet lost their allure in the marketplace. We could safely assume that they will be around for as long as quilters find them handy.

~~~~~~

The Quilter magazine

2/16/08: The cheater cloth examples seen here are from my personal collection. This article is a much abbreviated version of a comprehensive one, with many more photos and more historic information, written for publication in The Quilter magazine, a bi-monthly publication that is available via subscription. Back issues may be available by visiting: www.thequiltermag.com. In some locations, copies of this particular current issue may still be found on the newsstands. The issue will go off-sale, momentarily, to be replaced with the May 2008 issue. If you missed this one, consider securing a subscription, a more cost-effective and convenient way to buy the magazine. We have other exciting history articles planned and we have contributed articles and photos to the magazine since 1999.

MORE PHOTOS

To see additional examples of cheater cloth, please visit the file, Miniature Quilts, and Potholders from One Family.

Note: Recently, the Marcus Brothers fabric company manufactured a print that simulated reproduction fabrics and could be cut up to make “Tumbling Blocks” or “Stars.” The May 2007 Edition of their online newsletter showed various other cheater prints that could be cut up and combined with other fabrics to make wall quilts.