QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-1685

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

02.0253

Quilt's title:

Dresden Never Was So Beautiful

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Dresden Plate

Quilt top made by:

Antilla, Elizabeth

Quilted by:

Antilla, Elizabeth

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Made the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Lexington

Where the quilt was made, county:

Sanilac

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

April 1992

When was the quilt finished?

7/18/1995

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Port Huron

Quiltmaker's county:

St. Clair

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Beverly

Quiltmaker's birth date:

6/13/1923

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

white

Quiltmaker's educational background:

High school

Quiltmaker's occupation:

retired - accountant

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Beverly, Wm Ed

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Beverly, Mabel

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Class

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 50 or over

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

MQN; Thumb Thimble Quilt Guild, Kingston, MI; Greater Blue Water Quilt Guild, Port Huron, MI

What are the main activities of the group?

Educate and promote the art of quiltmaking

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

85"

How long is the quilt?

103"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Elizabeth A. Antilla

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1992-1995

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

20

Size of quilt blocks:

13 1/2"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Sashing width:

3", 3 1" strips with 9 patch corners

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

straight 7 3/4"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

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

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

7

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

8

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Echo

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Public domain/traditional pattern

Contests entered:

MQN Showcase, , September 1995, Viewer's Choice; September 1995 MQN Showcase, Viewer's Choice; September 1996 St. Paul's Episcopal Church Viewer's Choice; April 1997 Quilt Guild of Metro Detroit, Viewers Choice, 3rd Place traditional; May 1997 Mary Maxim Quilt Show, Viewers Choice

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

April 1997 Published in Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Photos of quilter; Interview with quilter.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Elizabeth A. Antilla

Quilt owner's city:

Port Huron

Quilt owner's county:

St. Clair

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

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

Made entire quilt

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

This quilt has been my pride and joy. It had a very slow start. A group of us gals went to the AQS Show in Paducah, KY in April 1992. While browsing through the venders we found this unique template. It was made of medal with a quarter frame, leaving the center open. You could make several pieces the same just by aligning the template with the pattern on your fabric. What was more amazing was the display sample. It was the traditional Dresden Plate pattern made with large flowered prints and dark colors. "WOW" STARTLING!!! If you look at Q#11 you will readily see what I am talking about. A traditional Dresden Plate quilt was made with a white or muslin background, with pastel pink or green solid colored centers and used (worn clothing) or scrap fabric for the pedals. Everyone bought the templates, thinking they were the latest discovery, only to find them advertised in a quilt magazine much later-made in England in the early 1900s. I had made a Mor-Mor quilt and had about four yards of fabric left over. I figured it would be perfect for a Dresden Plate quilt. After making three blocks and I decided I didn't have enough fabric. Every quilt shop I went to, I looked for this fabric. I had a map of Michigan pasted to a piece of cardboard with pins representing quilt shops. White heads meant I had been to that shop, dark heads meant I had not been to that shop. So one day Wayne asked me to go with him to Holland, MI so I quick checked my map and there were several shops I needed to see, so I agreed to go with him. Wayne said he had an appointment, so we had to drive straight there, but we could stop anywhere I wanted on the way home. Little did he know what he was in for, I think we stopped at about twenty quilt shops. At one small corner shop the fabric I was looking for reached out and grabbed me. "Lord Have Mercy" I was oh so excited, I was ready to go home and tear into the quilt I had started in 1992. I now have 12 yards of this fabric with a million holes because there are sixteen pedals to each plate and I cut each pedal individually, every plate has a different design. The quilt won "VIEWER'S CHOICE" at Michigan Quilt Network SHOWCASE 1995. The editor (Terry Diamond) from the Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilt Magazine was at the Showcase with a photographer and they took several photos, one of which was mine. It was featured in their April 1997 issue, #117, needless to say, I was ecstatic. When showing this quilt I always display a portion of the fabric with the holes.

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Hand drafting, rotary cutter, traditional

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum