QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-9301

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

86.0911

Owner's name for the quilt:

Snail's Trail

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Virginia Reel

When was the form filled out?

8/25/1986

Quilt top made by:

Merritt, Donna

Quilted by:

Merritt, Donna

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Quilt owner

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Houghton

Where the quilt was made, county:

Houghton

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

5/1986

When was the quilt finished?

6/1986

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Details about why the quilt was made:

It was made for my nephew's 10th birthday.

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Hancock

Quiltmaker's county:

Houghton

Quiltmaker's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker's birth date:

7/10/1947

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Celtic German French

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Cerified Respitory Therapist, Registered Radiologic technologist

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Jewish

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Quilter

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Merritt, Harry

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Celtic German French English

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Merritt, Doris Travis

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Celtic English Pennsylvania Dutch

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 20-29

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Pleasure

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

I quilt to fulfill a need within myself. I have tried every art form and yet always return to textiles. For me quilting is an expression of myself. So much of myself goes into my quilts. I want to leave a legace a little of myself in every quilt I make a quilt for art, history and warmth.

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

81"

How long is the quilt?

84"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

10 7/8"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

6

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Floral

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

Fabric purchased at local fabric stores.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Newspaper

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Kansas City Star Newspaper, 1930s

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Stawberry Festival Quilt Show, Chassel, MI, July 1986

Contests entered:

Houghton County Fair , Hancock, MI, Aug. 1986, 2nd Place, 11 yrs and over hand quilting competition

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Nathaniel Volz

Quilt owner's city:

Gilbert

Quilt owner's state:

Arizona (AZ)

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

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:

It was made to give him a sense of art, history and family and to keep him warm. A design to please the eye as a child and take him through the years to an adult. The quilt belongs to a small boy he wanted something bold something "manly". This quilt is reversible with each side being a different pattern.

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Turkey tracks, pidgeon toes. Such a difficult question! I feel each quilt I make is my favorite pattern until the next quilt comes along.

Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs or rhymes used by the quiltmaker:

Making 12 quilts and then an all white quilt for marriage. Leave in mistakes. Using an imperfect piece in some area of the quilt. I have done this on each of the 20 quilts I made beign either different shade of colour reversed print (back to front)

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum