Subject of Square: Butter Churn

Quilter’s Name: Diana Clifford

Background on subject: Home butter making took time and energy, but only needed simple equipment. After the milking was finished the whole milk is set aside until the cream rises to the top. At that time, it is skimmed off and butter making can commence. One can make butter using only a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Other churns consist of a jar with hand crank paddles attached to the lid. One only needs to keep the cream moving until the fat separates and becomes butter.

Why you chose this subject: This churn is different from the crank one I used as a child. This particular churn employs a plunger which when moved up and down rapidly would keep the cream moving until the butter forms.

Thoughts on your representation/design/color choices/etc.: I decided to show the churn in its probably setting with a sunny window in the background and a bowl of freshly churned butter waiting for a warm biscuit.

What you hope this quilt will mean for the people who see it: I hope this quilt helps to enlighten people about the early days of Hampton and some of the challenges faced by the settlers who had to work hard for their everyday sustenance.