QUILT INDEX RECORD
5-2-56
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Illinois State Museum
Who documented this quilt?
Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection
Alternate inventory control number:
1992.51.3
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public Museum, Library or Institution
Quilt owner's name:
Illinois State Museum
Quiltmaker's Name (top):
Small, Albert
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?
1885 England
What is/was the occupation of the quiltmaker?
explosives handler at quarry
Date and place of quiltmaker's death:
1955 IL
Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?
2
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
1
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
1
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Small, Sarah
Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:
England
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Small, William
Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:
England
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Self-Taught
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 50 or over
Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?
Grace Snyder's attempt to copy Albert's Mosaic 2 inspired him to create a quilt he thought no one could match for the most number of pieces. He trimmed another 1/4 inch from his tin template and nearly double the number of pieces. Becuase it was during the war and fabric was scare he walked to the town daily to check incoming bolts of cotton at the dry-good store. He estimated that he could cut 6000 pieces from each yard of fabric. It took 4 years to piece (6,000 hours) and his wife and daughter-in-law quilted the top for him.
How did the owner get the quilt?
Gift
How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?
Made entire quilt top
If you know of other people who worked on this quilt, please give names and what role they played:
Small, Marion; Small, Eva Clements
Where the quilt was made, city:
Ottawa
Where the quilt was made, county:
LaSalle
Where the quilt was made, state:
Illinois (IL)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Date owner signed the form:
1992
Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:
Mosaic 3
Date provided by maker/owner:
1941-45
Date estimated by IQRP:
1941-45
Who estimated the quilt's date?
Jan Wass, Curator
Time period:
1930-1949
Length:
98
Width:
84
Block size:
1/4" hexagons
Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?
6
Quilting stitches per inch (in a second spot on the quilt):
5
Format:
Finished quilt
Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing; English template Piecing
Construction (top):
One patch or allover
Block style (top):
Hexagons
Number of full blocks; pieced, appliqued, and plain:
123,200
Fabric; fibers:
Cotton
Fabric print:
Solid/plain
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Describe the quilting designs used:
All-over parallel lines.
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
Binding and edge treatment:
Bias grain
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?)
Backing; fiber content:
Cotton
Backing; fabric:
Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
Backing; color:
Pink
Condition:
Excellent/like new
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Illinois State Museum
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Small, Albert
Cite this Quilt
Small, Alber. Mosaic 3. 1930-1949. From Illinois State Museum, Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=5-2-56. Accessed: 04/18/24
-
Lesson Plan
Hexagon Quilt Top Design (Keeping Us i...
Courtesy of the Illinois State Museum.
-
Lesson Plan
Interviewing a Quilter (Keeping Us in ...
Courtesy of the Illinois State Museum.
-
Small, Albert Quiltmaker
Illinois State Museum