Flashback Minis: Summer & Winter Coverlet

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — In the 19th century, hand-loom woven coverlets were common bed coverings in the United States, and many were made by women at home. 

While professional weavers traveled around selling coverlets and sometimes woven carpets, home weavers also made woven household goods. Some families had small looms, and girls were taught to spin linen and wool into weaving thread. Home-woven coverlets followed simple patterns and often had seams where lengths were sewn together.

The home-woven coverlet featured in this video is attributed to a member of the Miner family of Brookfield. It features a chariot wheel pattern and fringed edge. It’s called a “Summer and Winter” coverlet, featuring a single layer with one side being the reverse of the other, creating a light side and a dark side.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.