Native American Quilts: Jennifer Emerson Tsosie

A brilliant selection of Native American quilts was displayed at the 2025 Modern Quilt Guild show.* From a collection at Michigan State University, their bold colors and graphic designs feel like a precursor to many of the elements we see in modern quilts today.  Today's quilts feature designs inspired by Navajo rugs.

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Ganado Red by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (Navajo) c. 1989 

This beautiful quilt, resembling a Navajo rug, was featured in the 1997 book titled To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions.  

As the book describes, "Ganado-style Navajo rugs, highly regarded for their stark graphic designs, were originally made for sale at the trading post in Ganado, New Mexico. Jennifer Emerson-Tsosie uses crosses or plus designs in her Ganado Red Quilt to convey the conflict in her life between Christianity and the Native American religion."  This red-on-black quilt was made from polyester & cotton, machine pieced and quilted.

Chief's Blanket by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (1998) (Flagstaff, Arizona)  

In Navajo arts, a Chief's Blanket is a type of woven textile known for its intricate patterns and cultural significance. These blankets feature bold geometric designsusing natural dyes in colors like red, black, white, and indigo. These beautiful deep hues and geometric designs of this quilt echo the Navajo rug-weaving tradition. 

Navajo Designs Quilt by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (1996)  

In this one-of-a-kind black and white quilt, Tsosie replicates a different Navajo rug design in each block.  Stunning and graphic in its black-and-white simplicity, this quilt is pieced, machine appliqued, and hand quilted.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.