QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5294

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0060

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

2008:124.1

Object label:

Sheep Ribbon Quilt
Maker unknown
Okemos, Michigan
1907
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:124.1

Essay:

The ribbons were won by Edwin Moore in 1907 at various State Fairs where he showed his sheep. He lived in the Okemos, Michigan area. The quilt was made by either his wife or his mother.

The quilt contains more than 250 silk fair ribbons from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Michigan. Each ribbon is ~2" wide and from 9-13" long. The ribbon colors represent the rating of the sheep: purple, grand champion; green, champion; blue, first place; red, second place; gold or white, third place. The ribbons are stitched on cotton fabrics, then stitched together and backed with a black and white checked cotton fabric. Some of the ribbons have feather stitching between them that sometimes goes through all the layers. The edges are turned and feather stitched. The edges are straight and the corners are cut at an angle. The center of the quilt is a ring of ribbons stitched to a red silk rectangle, 22" x 26". Each of these ribbons has a button at the end with the seal of the state of Michigan on it.

Quilt's title:

Sheep Ribbon Quilt

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Okemos

Where the quilt was made, county:

Ingham

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1901-1929

When was the quilt finished?

1907

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

52 3/4"

How long is the quilt?

138 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Gold; Green; Purple; Red; White

Quilt's condition:

Poor/very worn

Damage:

Tears or holes

Describe the damage:

Many ribbons have shredded.

Type of inscription:

Date

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1907

Method used to make the inscription:

Printed in the fabric

Location of inscription:

multiple locations

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

24

Size of quilt blocks:

various sizes

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Silk

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Premium type

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Black; White

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

many

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Print

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

No filling

How are the layers held together?

Not quilted

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

The quilt contains more than 250 silk fair ribbons from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Michigan. Each ribbon is ~2" wide and from 9-13" long. The ribbon colors represent the rating of the sheep: purple, grand champion; green, champion; blue, first place; red, second place; gold or white, third place. The ribbons are stitched on cotton fabrics, then stitched together and backed with a black and white checked cotton fabric. Some of the ribbons have feather stitching between them that sometimes goes through all the layers. The edges are turned and feather stitched. The edges are straight and the corners are cut at an angle. The center of the quilt is a ring of ribbons stitched to a red silk rectangle, 22" x 26". Each of these ribbons has a button at the end with the seal of the state of Michigan on it.

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

The ribbons were won by Edwin Moore in 1907 at various State Fairs where he showed his sheep. He lived in the Okemos, Michigan area. The quilt was made by either his wife or his mother.

Source of the information on this quilt:

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:

Tricia Stoddard, author and researcher, 4/18/2008

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees