Every ralli quilt tells a story. It tells of the natural creativity and love of color and design of the women who create them. Every ralli tells the story of the strength of tradition. The basic designs and motifs have been passed down from mother to daughter and woman to woman for maybe thousands of years.

Examining a ralli closer can give clues to the life of the woman who made it. Was the back made with an old shawl that perhaps indicates she was from a farming group? Did she use the favorite colors of her community, thus helping to preserve her community identity. Did she use embroidery, sequins, beads, and tassels to make a special ralli for an important person or event such as a wedding.

The ralli is a humble craft. It is not usually bought or sold but made by women for use in their families. Rallis have never had much attention other than from people who used and needed a quilt to make life more comfortable and colorful. Yet to those people, the ralli is extremely important as a way to stay warm at night and make their string cot more comfortable, and also as a symbol of their culture and community identity.

For those not of the community of ralli makers, ralli can be windows to help understand a little more of their lives, thoughts, and creativity. Besides creating amazing designs with color and shapes and movement, they have developed a craft with universal appeal, touching the senses of those beyond their community and culture.

– an excerpt from the book, “Ralli Quilts” by Patricia Ormsby Stoddard.

Single bed.

80 x 66 inches.

Due to the handmade nature of the products, sizes may differ slightly.