Pakistani Ralli or Patchwork Quilt

Black crosses, marching in rows on white.

Makers in Pakistan stitched this ralli, or patchwork quilt, in cotton in the mid to late 20th century. Rallis are commonly made as bedding and household covers, often from pieces of cloth pieced together. The center is a field of white with black stepped diamonds set in tidy rows, each joined by small red marks. A bold red border and a strip of purple frame the whole. The cloth is soft and slightly puckered.

About 76 by 48 inches. Graphic enough to hang as art.