Weave Pattern: Catalpa Flower variation

The use of both natural and commercially dyed yarns makes this a striking nineteenth century coverlet. Made by an unidentified weaver, the coverlet pattern is a variation of Catalpa Flower, a name likely derived from its resemblance, real or imagined, to the flower of the Catalpa, or Catawba, tree that is native to the southern region of the United States. Another name for this pattern is Work Complete or The London Beauty Susann Allison. Coverlet pattern names were never standardized thus a variation in pattern name is quite common from state to state and region to region. Constructed of two 34-inch panels, the strips are hand sewn together so that the pattern matches closely at one end but not the other. The warp is a natural cotton thread. Warp threads are in groups of two indicating a double sleying of the reed, a technique that increased the strength of the warp or lengthwise threads. The pattern weft is in two colors; a blue indigo dyed wool thread and a brilliant red thread likely produced from a commercial dye. In one corner of the coverlet, a stitched "T" is worked in gold yarn perhaps to identify an owner