Beauty in the outhouse
Augustinus, 28 August 2026
From the 1960s through the 1980s, crocheters were just mad about toilet paper toppers. I think we’ve all seen them, perhaps cringing at the kitsch or perhaps waxing sentimental at retro design.
Toilet paper toppers from Aunt Lydia’s Heavy Rug Yarn magazine
Covering up toilet paper seems to be a natural reflex — and the Pennsylvania Dutch were at the vanguard of this trend.
As quilting got off the ground among the Pennsylvania Dutch, several very natural outgrowths of that movement occurred. Beginner quilters, not ready for a bed-sized project, needed to practice block-making on a small scale. A large project sometimes resulted in some extra (orphan) blocks or fabric scraps that needed using. And new design experiments, without the aid of ready patterns and online pictures, needed testing. So what did the Pennsylvania Dutch do with those blocks that never made it into an actual quilt? You guessed it. They covered up the toilet paper.
Beginning in the 1820s, fabric “privy bags” for holding paper for the outhouse start appearing. Clarke Hess, the expert on them, found some early examples that were quilted, but most were just pieced or appliquéd.
I’m sure the everyday ones were just simple pieces of fabric sewn like a bag with either the top or side open to access the paper inside. Decorated ones were likely just reserved when company was coming. And they became popular ways to beautify the outhouse, mostly centered in Lancaster County.
My own bathroom lacks decor and needs some TLC. I could have sourced some run-of-the-mill, mass-produced painting from a Home Goods or TJ Maxx. But that’s not me. I decided instead to piece and sew up a reproduction Pennsylvania Dutch privy bag — not for actual use, but as a decorative wall hanging.
My reproduction Pennsylvania Dutch privy bag
I used some reproduction 19th century fabric and it was a great way to practice my growing sewing skills. I was able to pick a block that included some half-square triangles and flying geese which added some good practice. I’m happy with the result and even happier that I wasn’t persuaded to break out my crochet hooks and make one of those tacky toilet paper cozies.