QUILT INDEX RECORD
5-2-316
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:
SP759
Alternate inventory control number:
1975.5 (746943)
Person filling out this form is:
Relative of quiltmaker
Source of the information on this quilt:
grandmother
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public Museum, Library or Institution
Quilt owner's name:
Illinois State Museum
Quiltmaker's Name (top):
Fortenbaugh, Mary E. Byrod
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?
1838 PA
Date and place of quiltmaker's death:
1929
Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?
4
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
2
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
2
Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:
PA
Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:
PA
Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?
See other 4 quilts by Mary in Museum's collection.
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:
Halifax
Where the quilt was made, county:
Dauphin
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):
Of Mary's 5 quilts in the Museum, this is the only one with any machine stitching (used on binding) and therefore could be later than others.
Date owner signed the form:
1975
Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:
Blazing Star
Date provided by maker/owner:
ca. 1855-62
Date estimated by IQRP:
ca. 1855-65
Who estimated the quilt's date?
Jan Wass, Curator
Time period:
1850-1875
Length:
96
Width:
92
Block size:
22
Binding width:
machine used only on binding--nowhere else on quilt
Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?
8
Quilting stitches per inch (in a second spot on the quilt):
9
Format:
Finished quilt
Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Applique techinques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique
Stitches used to apply motifs:
Circular block set in white background. Points are appliqued.
Construction (top):
Block pattern
Block style (top):
Same block throughout
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Number of full blocks; pieced, appliqued, and plain:
4
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
Fabric; fibers:
Cotton
Fabric print:
Solid/plain
Predominant colors (top):
Red; Green; Cream
Overall color scheme:
Two color
Describe the quilting designs used:
Outline with echo fill quilting in pieced circles, feathered wreaths around pieced circles, feathered ovals in center and in corners, diagonal grid in background, parallel lines in red border and 3-line classic cable inside red border, pineapples in borders on 2 adjacent sides and feathered domes along other 2 sides.
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
Describe the borders:
Narrow red inner border, pieced border of red, green and white triangles and wide white outer border, butted, hand pieced.
Binding and edge treatment:
Machine sewn
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):
32", 33", 30"
Backing; color:
Cream
Condition:
Very good/almost new
Details
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Illinois State Museum
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Byrod, Mary Elizabeth
Cite this Quilt
Fortenbaugh, Mary E. Byro. Blazing Star. 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=5-2-316. Accessed: 03/29/24