Walkthrough the "American Pride" Antique Quilt Exhibit

During the 2026 Lancaster-Lebanon Quilt Show, join Pat & Arlan Christ for this one hour walkthrough and talk about their Antique Quilt Exhibit "American Pride". These talks will take you through the exhibit and give you a chance to hear about the quilts directly from the curators. Walk-throughs will happen at 11 am daily and will begin in the exhibit which is located in the front hall. While this is a free event, we ask that folks reserve a ticket so we can keep the crowds a manageable size.

American Pride

Patriotism is a devotion to one’s country. Throughout the centuries patriotism remained strong as the people in America united and stood strong for the love of their country. Songs were written to proclaim the support and love for America. Women shared their support throughout the years by creating heirloom quilts reflecting their religious, political and social beliefs.

The national emblem of our country is the American bald eagle and represents freedom, authority and power. Eagles were represented in quilts showcasing the patriotism felt by the maker. Women were aware of the importance of freedom and shared their support through fabric and a needle.

Star quilts were popular designs due to the fact units in a block were made using same size triangles or diamonds. A quilter with a skilled needle often chose this pattern using diamond shapes with bias edges and inset seams. The flag of our country is one of the most recognized symbols of patriotism.

Quilts continue to honor this great country with symbolic designs representing freedom and the love of this nation. The word patriotism began in the early 1700’s when America was young. It gives us great pride to present a portion of our collection that supports the strength of this country as we look to the future.

We want to dedicate this exhibit to the men and women of the military that choose to defend this country so we can enjoy our freedom. Please join us in honoring those heroes and experience the “American Pride” we have brought to you today.

Arlan and Pat Christ live in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Arlan is a tax accountant with his office located in Kutztown, PA. When Pat is not working for Arlan, she can be found in her sewing studio or tending their country gardens. They enjoy traveling to quilt shows and museums which provide the opportunity to examine quilts. Retrieving knowledge to secure the heritage of antique quilts has become the prime objective of The Christ Collection.

The Christs further explore their passion of antique quilts while attending quilt study groups. Pat and Arlan are members of the Lehigh Valley Quilt Study Group, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Study Group, American Quilt Study Group, Quilter's Hall of Fame, Midwest Fabric Study Group and Baltimore Appliqué Society.

The Christs have three publications representing quilts in their collection. The first catalog was published May 2009 entitled "Pennsylvania Quilt Treasures: The Art of the Needle." Their second catalog "America's Appliquéd Quilts: A Treasured Pennsylvania Tradition" was published June of 2010.  "American Pride: Eagles & Stars" was published in June of 2014.  They also published various applique patterns representing quilts in their collection.

Arlan and Pat Christ want to preserve the legacy of quilts from past generations by sharing the history that surrounds the art of quilting.