QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5280

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:

08.0098

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

2008:119.38

Object label:

Embroidered Wild Flowers
Maker of the top unknown; Barbara Bannister, quilter
Alanson, Michigan
1930-1970
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.38

Essay:

This is a kit quilt. There is a central embroidered floral medallion 29" x 29". Four 36" floral swags surround the center. Top and bottom of quilt are two 18" floral swags creating a center that is a 20 sided polygon with a white background. It is borderd by another 20 sided polygon in pink. The next border addition includes 12, 7 1/2" squares on a white background which brings the quilt back to a rectangle. The next border is white with a final border of pink. The edges are turned in. It is quilted in two colors, white thread in white areas and pink thread in pink areas. Quilting motifs include: outline, parallel lines 1 1/2", a diamond grid 1/2" and feathered wreath.

Quilt's title:

Embroidered Wild Flower Quilt

Biography of the quiltmaker?

Barbara Bannister was a well-known quilt bookseller (she also specialized in British needlework books out of print), quiltmaker, quilt teacher, skilled needlewoman, author and quilt collector in Lansing, MI. She contributed to Georgia William's magazine.

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Bannister, Barbara

Quilted by:

Bannister, Barbara

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Alanson

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1950-1975

When was the quilt started?

c1930

When was the quilt finished?

1970

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

Alanson

Quiltmaker's county:

Emmet

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Vintage quilt book dealer, quiltmaker, quilt teacher, skilled needlewoman, author and quilt collector.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

85"

How long is the quilt?

102 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Green; Pink; White

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Damage:

Stains

Describe the damage:

Burn mark on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Medallion size:

29" x 29"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Describe the borders:

Four 36" floral swags surround the center. Top and bottom of quilt are two 18" floral swags. 3 7 1/2" squares attached to each corner.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

Pearl cotton

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Yellow

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

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:

white thread in white areas, pink thread in pink areas

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

6

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7

Width between quilting lines:

1/2"

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid diamond; Single parallel lines

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Kit

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

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees