QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-5963
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Quilts and Health
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
12.0002
Quilt's title:
Mom’s Alzheimer’s Quilt
Quilt top made by:
Koeppe, Madeleine
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Inherited
Where the quilt was made, city:
DeWitt
Where the quilt was made, county:
Clinton
Where the quilt was made, state:
Michigan (MI)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt started?
2003
When was the quilt finished?
2004
Why was the quilt made?
Art or personal expression
Quilt is presently used as:
Keepsake/memento
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Myers
Quiltmaker's birth date:
2/16/1922
Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:
Perriton
Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:
Michigan
Quiltmaker's date and place of death:
5/7/2005
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
German
Quiltmaker's educational background:
Nursing School at St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing, MI
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Prodestant
Quiltmaker's occupation:
Registered Nurse
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Myers, Eno
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Myers, Blanche
Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):
8/13/1945
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):
Koeppe, Kenneth Richard
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Farmer and salesman
Number of children:
4
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
3
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
1
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
From Relative
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 50 or over
Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:
From daughter Carolyn
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
no
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
no
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
61 1/2"
How long is the quilt?
97"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Type of inscription:
Signature
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Madeleine Koeppe
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
Feb. 1, 2004
Method used to make the inscription:
Ink
Describe the quilt's layout:
Crazy
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
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
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Straight grain; Front turned to back
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
No filling
How are the layers held together?
Tied or tufted
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
This is the last quilt made by my Mother while she had Alzheimer’s disease. The quilt starts in the center of the bed sheet and she worked her way to the bottom. Then started back at the center again and worked her way up until her disease overtook her completely. She would fold under the raw edges of a piece of fabric, whip stitches the edges in place on the sheet and then add feather stitch embroidery over the fold. The progression of her disease can start to be seen on the bottom third of the Quilt. She was now cutting out circles from the larger pieces of fabric and then inserting a different fabric. Also the length and quality of her stitches began to change and the pieces of fabric became larger. The top portion of the quilt shows the quick progression of Alzheimer’s. The pieces are scattered, many different shapes & sizes, and the switch to American flag fabrics was one of her favorite ideas for her quilt. The last thing she did on this quilt was to put on the red bows. They are made of paper/velvet material that is often used in Christmas decorations. She made red tails for the bows from cotton fabric and sewed the tails down with her feather stitch. Once the tails were stitched down she used a safety pin to pin the bows in place. As you can see from the photo, she was very proud of this quilt when it was displayed at the Lansing Area Patchers Quilt Show, Haslett, Michigan 2004. It is interesting to look at this quilt and actually see the progression of her disease. Memories of her struggle fade with time, but looking at this quilt is a visual diary of Alzheimer’s.
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker
Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:
Lansing Area Patchers Show, 2004
Person filling out this form is:
Daughter of quiltmaker
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Quilt owner's name:
Carolyn Babcock
Quilt owner's city:
Lansing
Quilt owner's county:
Ingham
Quilt owner's state:
Michigan (MI)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Gift
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
After ‘helping’ Mom with this quilt, she gave it to me when she moved into adult foster care for Alzheimer’s patients.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Koeppe, Madelein. Mom’s Alzheimer’s Quilt. 2004. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Quilts and Health. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5963. Accessed: 04/26/24
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Essay
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
MacDowell, Marsha