QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-280

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:

SP726

Alternate inventory control number:

1953.17 (701952)

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 Irwin

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

ca. 1804

Was the quiltmaker married? If yes, when?

ca. 1825

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Ferguson, Benjamin

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. Sarah was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Jacob Bunn, when this quilt was made.

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:

Springfield

Where the quilt was made, county:

Sangamon

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Date owner signed the form:

1953

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Crazy

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:

64"

Width:

53"

Block size:

10" x 10"

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Many decorative stitches as well as pictorial and floral embroidery.

Construction (top):

Block pattern

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

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

20

Fabric; fibers:

Silk

Fabric print:

Striped; Plaid; Solid/plain; Floral; Multiple scrap

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

satin, velvet, and brocade

Predominant colors (top):

Red

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch

Describe the quilting designs used:

Small diagonal grid machine quilted independent of of back in border. Large diamond grid quilted in backing, not attached to front.

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

What color was the quilting thread?

purple on front, black and brown on back

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

Single border of red satin, machine quilted, mitered corners.

Binding and edge treatment:

Straight grain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Silk

Fabric structure of the binding:

Satin/sateen

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?)

Surface decoration:

Embroidery

What items were used to embellish the quilt?

Silk thread

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

1

Backing; fiber content:

Silk

Description of the back:

Black dress silk with narrow green stripe and mall purple flower woven in.

Backing; color:

Black

Condition:

Very good/almost new

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

Only a few areas of backing are beginning to break away.

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