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Seven Stars (LAC 8); Seven Sisters

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quilt

QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-54

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Illinois Quilt Research Project Registry Number:

QU257

Alternate inventory control number:

1992.19

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

James, Mary Ellen McLain

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1847 IL

Date and place of quiltmaker's death:

1934 IL

Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?

Quilter's husband cut out all the pieces for this quilt. He was a disabled Civil War veteran.

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Meredosia

Where the quilt was made, county:

Morgan

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Anything else we should know about this quilt? (i.e. customs, stories):

Quilt was given to maker's sister, Alice McLain Wade, and passed down in her family.

Date owner signed the form:

1992

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Seven Stars (LAC 8)

Pattern name; reference name:

Seven Sisters

Source of pattern name and number. Include if it is a variation.

241

Date provided by maker/owner:

ca. 1870

Date estimated by IQRP:

ca. 1870

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1850-1875

Length:

82

Width:

68

Block size:

4

Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?

7

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Construction (top):

Block pattern

Block style (top):

Hexagons

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of full blocks; pieced, appliqued, and plain:

210

Fabric; fibers:

Cotton

Fabric print:

Solid/plain; Multiple scrap

Predominant colors (top):

Brown; White

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Describe the quilting designs used:

All-over diamond grid.

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

What color was the quilting thread?

white

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the quilt setting:

alternating with plain triangles

Describe the borders:

3 narrow borders, butted, hand sewn.

Binding and edge treatment:

Back turned to front

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

Cotton

Thickness:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

3

Backing; fiber content:

Cotton

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Backing; width of pieces (in inches):

33

Backing; color:

Cream

Condition:

Good/moderate use

Describe specific damage to the quilt:

Disintegration of fabric; Stains

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

McLain, Mary Ellen

Cite this Quilt

James, Mary Ellen McLai. Seven Stars (LAC 8). 1850-1875. From Illinois State Museum, Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=5-2-54. Accessed: 03/28/24