The Friendship Quilt Blocks

Brief History Of Friendship Quilts

A friendship quilt is one which contains blocks with the signatures of family and friends.   Many methods were used to create these quilts.  They gained initial popularity in the 1800s when young pioneering brides often left their homes and friends never to be seen again.  These signatures were treasured keepsakes.  The quilt blocks were handmade and the signatures were applied by indelible ink or sometimes embroidered.  Sometimes the signatures were lettered by the woman with the best handwriting, other times each individual lettered their own names.  The blocks were typically made with readily available fabrics or scraps of old clothing.  A woman might choose a pattern she liked, or the blocks could be random combinations left to the creativity of each block maker.  

History Of The Blocks Displayed On This Page  

 As a new bride in 1929, my Grandmother, Edna Lorena Hanson Karnes, chose a pattern and her family and friends made friendship quilt blocks for her.  The ladies hand-embroidered their signatures, each one replicating their own signature.  Like so many of us with unfinished projects, she never made them into a quilt, but fortunately for us, she kept them.  There are 13 quilt blocks.  Of those, I know who made 10 of them.  The other 3 are names I remember my Grandmother using often, but am not sure if they were relatives or friends.  If anyone has the answer, please let me know!  The blocks are displayed below along with the names and relationship to my Grandmother. 

<-Blanche May Karnes       Rogers,                                  

Sister-in-law

Clara Dodd Nichols,

Aunt ->

<-Mrs. Jacob Karnes, Martha Elizabeth Alice Foster Karnes,  mother-in-law                   

 E. J. D., Emily Jane Dodd, her Grandmother ->

<-Fannie Valeria Dodd Herman, Aunt

Winnie Lee Karnes Wilson, sister-in-law ->                                                 

<-Mrs. Clyde Heifner (Ruby Lee Rogers, daughter of Blanche Karnes), neice

Mrs. Nedom Muns Jr., (Lillian Aleen Rogers, daughter of Blanche Karnes)->

<-Vivian Cooksey (Vivian Lee Karnes), step-daughter

Mrs. L. L. King (Annie Laurie Karnes), sister-in-law->

<-Agnes Baker, relationship unknown

Vesta Cate, relationship unknown->

<-Louise Herman, relationship unknown.  Her Aunt, Fannie Valeria Dodd married Emil Charles Herman, but I do not know who this Louise was.  Could be Emil's sister, mother, or sister-in-law.