QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5252

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Cuesta Benberry Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0072

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2008:119.12

Object label:

Super Strawberry Quilt
Frances Noack
St. Louis, Missouri
1979
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.12

Essay:

Here is what Mrs. Benberry wrote regarding this quilt:
Super Strawberry Quilt" was made by Frances Noack of St. Louis, Missouri. Frances, a sweet and generous person, was my pal and we traveled all over everywhere to Fairs, to exhibits to see quilts. Frances would and did share her large pattern collection with anyone. So, when she saw a quilt similar to "Super Strawberry" she asked the friend for the pattern as Frances loved strawberries in any form. The friend refused. I had a large strawberry quilt pattern that Frances could easily adapt, which she did. You can guess the surprise when the uncooperative friend saw the quilt. She even exclaimed, "That's my quilt!" Frances quietly replied, "No, it isn't. It's Cuesta's quilt." We laughingly called it, "The Spite Quilt."

Quilt's title:

Super Strawberry Quilt

Owner's name for the quilt:

The Spite Quilt

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Noack, Frances

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

St. Louis

Where the quilt was made, state:

Missouri (MO)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1979

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

St. Louis

Quiltmaker's state:

Missouri (MO)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Mrs. Noack loved to make quilts but gave most of them away, many to Cuesta Benberry. She was an expert quiltmaker who tried many methods and patterns. She preferred applique. Frances Noack loved to applique and mastered that art form. She and Mrs. Benberry traveled together and began the Thimble & Thread Quilt Guild library in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1980. Mrs. Noack gave many quilts to Mrs. Benberry; she enjoyed the making of various designs and learning many techniques.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

80 1/2"

How long is the quilt?

96"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Date

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1979

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

16

Size of quilt blocks:

17" x 21"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

2

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

3 1/2" solid green

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Machine Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

White

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

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

half inch - one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

red, white and green

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

6

Width between quilting lines:

3"

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Single parallel lines

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Eight of the blocks feature a unique strawberry applique made of solid red cotton. Each strawberry applique has three green print leaves (the print includes yelow and blue flowers and red strawberries), two solid medium green leaves, and a 1/2" applique solid green stem. Eight of the blocks alternating with the strawberry applique blocks, are a trellis in 1" medium green strips with two strawberry blossoms appliqued in the center. Each blossom is embroidered with pastel French knots and includes a 1/4" stem in dark green and three solid green leaves.

Source of the information on this quilt:

MSU Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.

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:

From Cuesta, "Made by Frances Noack, St. Louis, MO. Frances, a sweet and generous person, was my pal and we traveled all over everywhere to fairs, to exhibits to see quilts. Frances would and did share her large pattern collection with anyone. So when she saw a quilt similar to "Super Strawberry" she asked the friend for the pattern as Frances loved strawberries in any form. The friend refused Frances. I had a large strawberry quilt pattern that Frances could easliy adapt, which she did. You can guess the surprise when the uncooperative friend saw the quilt. She even exclaimed at first, "That's my quilt!" Frances quietly replied, "No, it isn't. It's Cuesta's quilt." We laughingly called it, "The Spite Quilt."

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees