prince's feather

This four-bladed version of the Prince's Feather is a keeper - the many innies and outies were a challenge but proved not as difficult as first envisioned.   I particularly like the central pieced junction of the four plumes. The original from which this pattern is based is a quilt in Bill Volckening's collection.

Many Prince's or Princess Feather quilts were made with the first being seen c. 1840. The majority have an 8 point star as the centre motif with four, six or eight plumes. Some postulate the pattern honoured English Queen Victoria and her husband Albert while others attribute the pattern to have come from Northumberland, England, inspired by the sweeping plumes of the Cavaliers. Another interpretation gives the  design origins from the time when "ladies in waiting" were presented to the Prince of England as it was custom for the ladies upon presentation to be wearing a feather hat.

Interestingly, Linda Carlson hypothesises there could be a link between this pattern and the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales - the Prince of Wales Feather and Crown which bears three ostrich plumes.

Although the pattern origins are now blurred by time, the pattern is a perennial favourite!