Ohio Quilt

This quilt is literally made out of Ohio - and it is both a love letter and documentation of this state I call home.

I began this project by traveling to each of Ohio's 88 counties. In each one, I collected a piece of fabric that I thought best represented that county, based on its history or what I was experiencing around me. I used the Ohio Star quilt block design to create a square for each one, and laid them out in a grid as close to their real position in the state as possible. Then, to quilt the layers, I used the lines of Ohio's topography and rivers in brown and blue.

Locate a square to learn about the county + fabric choice

Williams

The blue watery pattern on the tank top reminded me of the beautiful fountains in the town center of Bryan.

Fulton

This square was made out of fabric cut from work gloves. I really struggled to find anything open on this day I was in Archbold, so I had to make do with this gas station purchase.

Lucas

This really pretty fabric was from a vintage handkerchief. The secondary blue and white fabric was chosen for this county's position on Lake Erie.

Ottawa

I thought this pattern found on a pair of leggings was perfect for this county's long stretch of lake, islands, and Lake Erie tourism and recreation industry.

Erie

This fabric came from an apron. The designs reminded me of a Cedar Point map and the diamond shapes appear to be moving!

lorain

This gorgeous print was on what used to be a handmade skirt apron, and the embroidered piece accompanying it was a handmade table runner. I was so lucky to find these pieces at an unmarked antique shop I was driving by on the way to a different stop!

Cuyahoga

The tweed fabric was reminiscent for me of Cleveland's business side, with the colors reminiscent of the manufacturing side. The accompanying white was chosen to represent snow!

Lake

These fabric bundles were found at a flea market and were appropriate dark, rolling water tones.

Ashtabula

This vintage upholstery fabric featuring ducks and loons on the water was a perfect find. A friend and I were camping at Pymantuning State Park, and got the chance to see the phenomenon of the ducks walking on the fish!

Defiance

These two pieces, a scarf and a pillowcase, were purchased to be symbolic of Defiance's metal production in contrast with its natural side and history of the Great Swamp and as the site of a fort.

Henry

This wheat patterned fabric is exactly what I was hoping to find, since Henry county is known for its wheat production.

Wood

This fabric came from a bulky winter scarf and was certainly a challenge to stretch and turn into quilt blocks. I chose this though because of the cold temperatures this region reaches in the winter, and the chilly fall day it was while I was there.

Sandusky

Again I ran into the problem of being in town on the wrong day of the week - everything was closed. This fabric came from the hat of a scarecrow decoration purchased at a florist.

Huron

Purchased in New London at a Dollar General, I wanted to make sure that Ohio's strong tradition of supporting high school football was represented in this quilt.

Ashland

This fabric came from a very cool antique bank bag purchased at an antique store in town.

medina

One of the cutest fabric finds by far, this green apple print came from a vintage apron with green frilly pockets.

Geauga

This scarf was purchased at a thrift store that supports women survivors. One of my favorite parts of this adventure was finding so many incredible small local business that support their community!

Trumbull

This vintage fabric was found in Warren and the pattern reminded me of the central town green surrounded by so many pretty businesses and homes.

Paulding

These Christmas table napkins' plaid pattern seemed to be a good representative for Paulding's tile industry.

Putnam

This beautiful bird print was also a difficult fabric to work with, coming from a very stretchy skirt, but it fit the vibe of the area.

hancock

The yellow stripes came from a butterfly hand towel. This was purchased in Findlay on a beautiful sunny day while visiting friends in school there, and this yellow was everywhere!

seneca

Found in an antique store in Tiffin, this tablecloth was shiny and silky to be symbolic of Secenca's glass manufacturing past.

Crawford

This ridiculously cute illustrated fabric comes from a vintage linen year calendar. I picked up a few of these from a friendly antique seller in Bucyrus. Deer, squirrels, and raccoons are found abundantly throughout Ohio and had to be included on this quilt.

Richland

Found in an antique store outside of Mansfield, this lumber-branded work apron showed signs of years of use and its thick, durable fabric added an interesting texture element to the square.

Wayne

This grocery sack was one of my favorite finds... and I may have paid a little extra for it in an antique shop outside Wooster.

Portage

I happened to pick up this scarf before even realizing that it is Kent State's college colors! This was purchased during such a pretty drive near Aurora.

Mahoning

Everywhere my friend and I went in Mahoning county around Youngstown, there were apples. We had lunch at a gorgeous farm market with a Johnny Appleseed statue and bought apple butter. In town, we had amazing desserts from a local bakery and I couldn't believe we found a bag made out of this apple print at an antique store!

Van Wert

Van Wert was the very last county I visited; here I am with the last piece of fabric, purchased from the antique shop in the background! This adorable birdhouse print was from an apron.

Allen

I wanted Lima's industrial background to be the focus of this quilt block, and I could not believe it when I found this skirt that looks just like corrugated metal! It was so difficult to cut and piece, but so worth it.

Hardin

This amazing 1930s handkerchief was so cool I nearly decided to keep it rather than using it for the quilt... but it was too perfect for this block. My husband and I drive through this county frequently to visit family, and we found this piece in Mount Victory.

Wyandot

Another incredibly cool early 20th century handkerchief design. The hand-embroidered fern fabric accompanying it was from a tablecloth. The colors and designs of this were reminiscent to me of the National Shrine located there.

Morrow

This neck buff was picked up in a local hardware shop outside Marengo. I thought it was a good representation of the sporty, high-energy side of so many Ohio activities.

Knox

This exceptional hand-embroidered placemat and nearly matching printed calico fabric, I thought, were a great representation of this county's vibrant arts + entertainment scene.

Holmes

I found this simple gingham long skirt and felt the colors and pattern were a good representation of the large Amish community that live in this county. It was paired with another vintage tea towel found elsewhere depicting a scene of Amish life.

Summit

Found at the amazing Bomb Shelter antique shop outside of Akron, I thought these colors and bold geometric stripes were a great representation of the city's manufacturing legacy.

Columbiana

This tea towel was found in the sunniest, quaintest boutique in Salem. Everyone I encountered was so friendly, and I thought this fabric was symbolic of all this places' sunniness.

Mercer

In Celina, I was so delighted to find an actual quilt shop! I stocked up here on some extra fabrics to fill in as a second color for other blocks. Lunch on the lake here was such a great time!

Auglaize

This great vintage tea towel depicting pioneer life was found in an Antique Mall in Wapakoneta. Of course, my husband and I had to check out the Temple of Tolerance as well while we were in town, and this piece's theme went along perfectly with that, too.

Logan

This fabric is extra special because it came from my husband's family home in East Liberty. He said the colors remind him of the flowers that would grow out front each summer.

Marion

Since I was in Marion in the winter, I may have subconsciously chosen this warm, woven placemat in a color that the city of Marion features abundantly.

Delaware

I am frequently in Delaware since it is not far from Columbus, and I picked up these fabrics at an antique store during a festival on William Street. It reminded me of the city's colors and vibrancy.

licking

On a trip to Newark for a celebration dinner, I spent time at the flea market and picked up these quilt squares from a mall just outside of the Earthworks. This fabric reminded me of the colors of the dry autumn grass on the mounds I visited earlier.

coshocton

These fabrics I had to pick up just for being so fun. They also resemble some of the colors and designs I found in Roscoe Village and the interesting museum there.

stark

No visit to Stark county would be complete without a visit to the Football Hall of Fame... or the Troll Hole Museum in Alliance! This t-shirt combines both!

Carroll

I was so impressed by the gorgeous rolling hills of this county, and the colors and floral motifs found on this silk scarf reminded me of that spring scenery.

Darke

I was in Greenville unexpectedly during a festival on Main Street and was excited to find this piece from an antique seller! It is a well-woven, durable hand towel.

SHelby

As I drove in to Sidney, I noticed this color over and over again, and could not have been more lucky to find a secondhand shirt in this shade!

Champaign

After a morning of picking berries at the Champaign Berry Farm, I found this cardigan; a good reminder of the brambles and wildflowers of my morning.

Union

At a shop in Marysville I found this scarf, and thought it was a good representation of that area's growing, vibrant activity!

Franklin

Of course, as my home county, this one would be hardest to choose. Columbus as a city is very gray, so I chose this for the accent color. The other piece of colorful rectangles represent how diverse and energetic the people of Columbus are.

Fairfield

This was my very first piece of fabric start started this project! It was given to me in a bag full of other fabrics from a shop in Baltimore that was closing. Trying to determine what to do with it all led me to this idea!

Muskingum

These two pretty vintage handkerchiefs I found in an antique store outside of Zanesville. I thought the patterns and colors were quirky, bold, and artistic, like the area.

Tuscarawas

This incredible hand-embroidered fabric was stained and torn, seeking a new life, and I couldn't pass it up. I was also looking for a piece of fabric with natural elements on it, since this area is known for its forests.

Jefferson

Purchased in a shop along the river, I could not believe my eyes when I walked out with this waffle-weave fabric and looked around. The colors in this piece were the only colors around me - train tracks, trees and shrubs along the river, and dusty street in the sunny summer day.

Preble

These fabrics were found at a very cool restaurant/ antique store recommended by a friend that lives in the area. I thought they worked well to represent the important historical and natural aspects of the county.

Miami

I had to chose this fabric because it, itself, featured an Ohio Star in the design! Also an important historic area, I though the other antique motifs worked well.

Clark

Found in one of my favorite antique shops outside of Springfield, this vintage fabric was again too cool to pass up. One of my favorite spots in this county is Springfield's history museum, and the cool and quirky assortment of items found in there remind me of this.

Madison

Another special fabric for me, this one was chosen by an aunt who lives in this county and has her a fabric stash for creative projects of her own. She said this one reminds her most of Mount Sterling.

Pickaway

Though I was looking for a fabric with pumpkins, this burlap sack I found at a shop in Circleville was so great, I decided to try and make the difficult fabric work in a quilt.

Perry

This was one of my most fun finds because, while I was on my way to somewhere else, I passed a yard sale in Junction City, where I picked up this shirt!

Morgan

I picked up this utility apron at a hardware store in McConnelsville. It is only pink now because of washing it with a laundry load that had a secret piece of red fabric in it that I didn't discover until later...

Harrison

This fabric is from gloves I purchased at a gas station outside Cadiz. The thrift store I was planning on going to was closed and then the sign in the window said to text a number to shop, and on a Sunday night, I didn't want to bother anyone!

Belmont

This is a very green, forested, natural county, and so I made sure the fabric I chose was green. I found this in a shop in St. Clairsville, and its an interestingly thick, soft fabric I had not worked with before.

Butler

I found this hat and fabric at a thrift store outside Middletown. While it was incredibly difficult to cut it apart and sew such a stiff, reinforced piece of fabric, I am so glad I could find something like this and include it in the project.

Montgomery

This very cool placemat fabric found in Dayton is paired with a fabric found elsewhere that features mechanical drawings that I thought would be perfect for Dayton's history with the Wright brothers.

Greene

This funky bandana found in Yellow Springs sums up the area perfectly - beautiful nature, a laid back vibe, and a focus on the Arts.

Fayette

Washington Courthouse has always been one of my thrifting and antiquing destinations, so finding this fabric was easy. I reminds me of all the colorful, sunny, vintage items they have to offer.

Ross

This hand-embroidered pillow case needed a new life, and looked so much to me like Spring in Chillicothe. The free weekend trolley downtown let me view so many pretty homes and flowers!

Hocking

Another Ohio High School tradition that needed representation - this fabric comes from a band t-shirt. In addition, Hocking Hills and Hocking County are known for their history involving Indigenous residents, as are many areas of Ohio; representation of them as mascots and naming locations after words similar to theirs, however, either offensively or in honor, is also integral to the state of Ohio.

Athens

This scarf was bought in a funky Athens campus shop, and paired with a green fabric for Ohio University. In addition, the green and houndstooth pattern are reminiscent of the national forest in the county.

Guernsey

Only the second fabric I picked up for this project, I found this in Cambridge after a weekend at Salt Fork State Park, and it reminded me of the park and area. It used to be an apron.

Monroe

Another very cool feed sack I found at a local general store in Lewisville. I'm sure I raised a few eyebrows coming in to buy just this!

Hamilton

The vintage ads on this tea towel are perfect for Cincinnati because of its history of being an absolute powerhouse of business, trade, and inventions in the 1800s. The secondary silk fabric is reminiscent to me of steamboats.

Warren

This fabric comes from yet another handmade apron. It was found at an antique shop in Lebanon and the quaint decoration reminded me of the town.

Clinton

This faux cross stitch pattern came from what I believe was a tablecloth, found at a very cute barn antique store in Wilmington. The shabby chic decor and country aesthetics there are encapsulated in this fabric design.

Highland

This county, historically known for a temperance movement, I thought was represented well by a scarf resembling sashes that campaigners would wear. Another difficult material to use, this was found in Hillsboro.

Pike

Found at a flea market off the freeway, the seller of this booth of "primitive" style items had the most beautiful fabrics. Because this aesthetic is found throughout the state, I wanted to represent it in this piece.

Jackson

Since this county has such a well-known, quirky water tower resembling an apple, I could not believe my luck when I found seasonal printed towels in an apple theme!

Vinton

My husband and I were married at Lake Hope State Park in this county, and I picked up this decorative towel in the park gift shop during one of our planning visits. It is warm and sunny, just like all my memories there.

Noble

This silk scarf was chosen for its deep greens like the scenery in this county, and the chain motif represents the site of the wreck of the USS Shenandoah. The fabric sparkles like morning dew on the grass did when I visited.

Washington

Due to family obligations, for several years I have been visiting Marietta each spring, and falling in love with it. This handkerchief reminded me of the blue water, sun-baked historic town, and overall lush wildlife.

Clermont

Cardinals, another important symbol of Ohio as the state bird, also had to be included on the quilt somehow, and I was able to find this vintage linen calendar with the prettiest design.

Brown

Of all things, this fabric actually comes from pajama pants! Hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures are all called to mind by a camouflage print, and this is another big part of Ohio's overall culture.

Adams

Home to so many remnants of the past such as petroglyphs, the Serpent Mound, and fossils, I chose a fabric for this county that to me resembles a modern denim run through with ghosts of something else.

Scioto

I thought this fun fabric was a good representation of this county's focus on nature, history of both the Indigenous people and pioneers, and importance of the Ohio River, which is symbolized by the other blue fabric. These colors were all over town.

Lawrence

I believe I have never seen more trees than I did in Lawrence county, and so I chose these green washcloths to represent them. The rolling hills were gorgeous.

Gallia

Named for and by the early French settlers of this area, I was so pleased to find a fabric featuring fleur de lis - the symbol of France.

Meigs

So amazed and excited to find a shop here dedicated to quilting, situated right along the river during a summer farmer's market, I chose a stack of quilt squares that reminded me most of this river town of Pomeroy.

Process photos - organizing and arranging fabric (and my cat not helping)

MY BUSINESS CARDS, NOTES, RECEIPTS, AND MAP