Both appliquéd and pieced quilts rose in popularity in North America in the mid-nineteenth century, with the advent of inexpensive cotton cloth, among other factors. In general, appliquéd quilts allow for more curvilinear, organic forms than piecework. There are numerous known appliquéd patterns, which were passed from one quilter to another and published in popular periodicals. Quilters might also embellish or combine designs, selecting their own fabrics and colours to express themselves creatively. Often the motifs had symbolic meanings that were known to the quilter and chosen for that reason. The pattern of this appliquéd quilt, however, continues to elude us, and may even be idiosyncratic, drawn from the maker’s imagination and observation. The red fabric has now faded to brown, but there is still a piece that remains vibrant, a scrap with a more stable dye than the others.