By: Teri Klassen
This study of a rare southern Indiana quilt pattern that dates to the Mexican War (1846-1848) gives insight into how quiltmaking acquired its longstanding associations with patriotism and with the refined yet industrious American homemaker ideal. Analysis of the five known occurrences of this pattern, Polk’s Fancy, shows how English, Scotch-Irish, and German influences contributed to development of a distinctive American quilt style. This study examines women’s use of needlework as a means of participating in the Mexican War and their use of commemorative quiltmaking as a way to present themselves publicly as citizens.