QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-279

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:

SP723

Alternate inventory control number:

1953.17 (701951)

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):

Ferguson, Sarah Irvin

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

ca. 1804

Spouse's occupation:

builder

Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?

Two other quilts in Museum's collection. All three are silk, one is crazy and the other is another diamond hexagon pattern.

How did the owner get the quilt?

Inheritance

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

Made entire quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Springfield

Where the quilt was made, county:

Sangamon

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):

Quilter's husband was a builder who died in 1842 leaving her with three children. Her oldest son, Benjamin H., became an attorney and friend of Abraham Lincoln. In 1880 she was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Jacob Bunn, who was the President of the Illinois Watch Company.

Date owner signed the form:

1953

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Hexagonal Star

Pattern name; reference name:

Rising Star

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

142d

Date provided by maker/owner:

ca. 1880

Date estimated by IQRP:

ca. 1880

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, curator

Time period:

1876-1900

Length:

75

Width:

62

Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?

6

Width between quilting lines:

4

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Foundation Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Top was pieced independent of foundation. Border was quilted to batting and then handsewn to top.

Construction (top):

One patch or allover

Block style (top):

Diamonds

Fabric; fibers:

Silk

Fabric print:

Striped; Plaid; Solid/plain; Multiple scrap

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

satin, rep, and brocade

Predominant colors (top):

Black; Beige or Tan

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch

Describe the quilting designs used:

Border machine quilted with singel diagonal parallel lines that meet in middle to form diamond grid. Wide grid through back, batting and muslin foundation.

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting; Machine quilting

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton?

What color was the quilting thread?

tan

Describe the borders:

Sinngle border of a striped fabric, carefully mitered to use stripe as border.

Binding and edge treatment:

Straight grain; Hand sewn

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Silk

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

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

half inch - one 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?

Many small pieces sewn together carefully to mat stripes and look like one piece.

Backing; fiber content:

Silk

Description of the back:

pink, tan and grey stripe print--probably remnants from an 1850s dress.

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Print

Backing; color:

Beige or Tan

Condition:

Fair/worn

Describe specific damage to the quilt:

Disintegration of fabric; Fading; Wear to edge or binding

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Irwin, Sarah

The quilt was made to be used for:

Decorative throw