Amish Settlers

The Amish settled in the area that would become Kalona, Iowa in 1846, before the town was officially formed or named. For the Amish, community is of central importance as are strong group and family relationships. Amish are traditionally known for their plain dress, their use of horse and buggy and their focus on the natural world, including alternative farming practices. To the “English,” or outside observer, the Amish seem to be a homogeneous society, but there do exist importance differences between church districts and groups. The Amish people who settled in Johnson County migrated to Iowa from established communities in Ohio, and were, in part, searching for added land for their typically large families. Families were often motivated to move because of differences in religious beliefs or church policy. The biggest challenge for many migrating Amish was finding a balance in whether a community was strict enough or too liberal. One subject that was often a source of unhappiness or disagreement was the use of color in dress and in decoration for the home.
Amish Quilting
As Amish families traveled to their new homes they brought textiles and items to use for comfort and warmth while remaining obedient to the rules of their faith. History asserts that the Amish did not bring the tradition of quilting with them from Europe. Instead, they learned the craft of quilting watching their “English” neighbors, still observing the rules of the “Ordnung,” the set of religious doctrines of the Amish. Followers are admonished to shun brightly colored clothing and designs as well as decorative objects. Quilts are made in many patterns, such as stars, diagonal stars, and wedding rings. Patterns are handed down from generation to generation and are usually made with plain materials or from pieces of old clothing.
The first step of piecing an Amish quilt together is selecting an overall quilt pattern that often follows family tradition. A major preference is a diamond or a variable star. Cutting and piecing a quilt is a home activity where generations of Amish women (grandmothers, mothers, and daughters) come together to help in the process. Sometimes the piecing is done by hand or a foot-powered treadle machine is used.
Some Amish women piece their bars or wide borders with strips of different sizes to extend the usefulness of a remnant. This economical use of material, often on the bias, creates some appealing monochromatic effects. When the quilt top has been pieced, the filling is added for warmth and sturdiness. In the past, Amish women chose a coarse, uncombed wool filling; however, today the women prefer synthetic fillings manufactured specifically for quilts because they are warmer than wool and wash and dry more easily. The tiny quilting stitches hold the filling securely so that it does not slide around or accumulate in one part of the quilt. The backing material of a quilt is frequently pieced with strips of various sizes. The backing may appear more worn out and faded than the front because it is often composed of parts of old clothing or quilts. When the top and the backing are secured, the quilt is set into a quilting frame, that allows the quilt to be turned while it is stitched. Templates are used to mark the quilt with the motifs that are going to be stitched. Amish women use pencil, chalk, or the point of a pin to trace around these patterns once the patterns are drawn, the women begin filling in the design with tiny running stitches, creating a unique design.