QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-7549

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:

99.0212

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

1998:53.9

Object label:

Boxes
Unknown
Top unknown, finishing, Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan
Top, c1875-1910; finishing, ca 1970-1980
Great Lakes Quilt Center/Michigan State University Museum, acc.#1998:53.9

Essay:

Interpretative Commentary:
As Mary collected antiqe fabrics, blocks, and tops, her knowledge of quilt history grew. She often turned unfinished pieces into completed quilts. She added borders and origianl quilting designs to the top to achieve a completed quilt. In this case, Mary took an unfinished quilt top from circa1900 in the "Boxes" or "Baby Blocks" pattern, added a wide border to it, and then designed the quilting motif of a cable and channels. When she discovered the name of the top's maker, Mary applied that name to the finished quilt. -- Mary Worrall from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

Additional Commentary:
This quilt was included in the exhibit American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, which toured in Japan from January-December 2003 and is illustrated on pg. 109 in the exhibit's catalogue, American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum. It is also illustrated in the publication Mary Schafer and Her Quilts. For more information about Betty Harriman, see Quilter's Journal, vol. IV, no. 4. -- Beth Donaldson

Quilt's title:

Boxes

Owner's name for the quilt:

Boxes

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Baby Blocks

Brackman # or other source & #:

144

Quilt top made by:

Unknown, purchased from Betty Harriman

Quilted by:

Schafer, Mary

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

Purchased the quilt

Why was the quilt made?

Teaching or learning sample

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

86

How long is the quilt?

97

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Burgundy; Gray; Maroon; Red

Antique colors:

Chocolate Brown or Hershey Brown; Claret or Wine; Indigo Blue

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

about 391

Size of quilt blocks:

2 1/2

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Diamonds; Same block throughout

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Plain white border, 6 1/2" wide.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

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 thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

cream

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

6

Width between quilting lines:

1

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Cables

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

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

This quilt top was bought from Betty Harriman by Mary Schafer. The top is ca. 1900, it was finished later by Mary Schafer, probably in the 1970s.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Traditional pattern variation

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

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

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Who photographed this quilt?

KEVA

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees