The Laura Ingalls Wilder Crazy Quilt

​Laura Ingalls Wilder is known as the writer of the “Little House” books, and I only recently discovered that she also was a quilter. A quilt was sent to Museum Textile Services by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, Missouri. It is one of two crazy quilts made by the author in the early 1900’s. Unlike other quilts she made, mention of this one does not appear in any of Laura's writings. However we know that this particular quilt was made not too long after she moved with her husband Almanzo and their daughter Rose to Mansfield, where they purchased a plot of land, and began building their homestead. 

The 1928 Rock House, where the first four Little House books were written. Image courtesy of Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic home & Museum.

​Their home would become known as Rocky Ridge Farm, which is now the site of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum. The 1913 farmhouse was home to the family until 1928, when Laura’s daughter Rose built the Rock House. Laura and Almanzo lived in the newer home until 1936, when they returned to their farmhouse to live out the rest of their lives. It was during their time in the Rock House that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the first four of her “Little House on the Prairie” books, the series for which she is best known.

Laura Ingalls Wilder (l) and Rose Wilder Lane (r). Images courtesy of The National Archives Pieces of History Blog.

Laura Ingalls Wilder is believed to have created this crazy quilt is toward the end of the peak of popularity of crazy quilting in America. The fascination began in 1876 at the Philadelphia Exposition where the crazed pottery of the Japanese Pavilion inspired American women to incorporate similar patterns into their quilting. ​​​​The top layer of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s crazy quilt was comprised of many differently patterned silk, cotton, and velvet pieces. Crazy quilts are typically assembled out of any spare fabric present in a household, and this quilt is no exception. In particular, many of the pieces of silk Laura used were badly worn and in need of support before the quilt could be safely displayed. 

We determined that a net overlay on the front of the quilt was the best solution for its long-term preservation. The entire front was covered in one piece of brown nylon net that matched most of the fabrics, and is only minimally visible on a few of the lightest areas. I pinned the net out, being careful to not leave too much excess or pull the net too tightly over the surface of the quilt. Intern Sarah Stebulis and I then stitched the net down along the lines between the blocks and along strategic seams within each block to ensure the net did not sag. At the edges of the quilt, the net was turned under and stitched to the backing fabric one half inch from the edge. This encapsulated the edges, protecting them from further wear and loss. A twill tape header was attached along the top of the quilt for future display with a magnetic hanging system. 

Stabilizing worn silks with a nylon net overlay. Photo by MTS.

While ​the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic House & Museum does sell quilt patterns in their online store, you’ll have to look elsewhere for a crazy quilt pattern. Or better yet, create your very own.

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​Courtney Jason has worked with MTS since 2010. She completed her ALM in Museum Studies at Harvard Extension School in 2017.