QUILT INDEX RECORD
13-9-6
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Mountain Heritage Center
Who documented this quilt?
Mountain Heritage Center; Southern Appalachian Quilts
Mountain Heritage Center's Accession Number:
MHC99.02.001
Person filling out this form is:
Quilt owner
When was the form filled out?
1999; 2004
Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:
Quilt owner
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Inherited
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Bowtie
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Necktie; Friendship; Album
Brackman # or other source & #:
1376; pattern variation
How wide is the quilt?
74 3/4"
How long is the quilt?
65 1/4"
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Turquoise or Teal; Red; Pink; Orange; Lavender; Green; Blue or Navy; Black; Beige or Tan; White; Yellow
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Very good/almost new
Type of inscription:
Signature; Multiple Names; Date
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Row 1: no names Row 2: Eva T. Sarah Gibson 1937 Mr. & Mrs. Marshall. M Floy L Marshal M Maggie Roland John R Myrtle Mathews Row 3: Davio Matis Ethal Mathis Maudie Dowdle Gennie Cunningham. April, 1937 Clara Beck April. 1937 Belle Brown April. 1937 Maxine Beck April. 1937 Nelson Addie Lilian. M Row 4: Elsie Rowland 1937 L&R Bessie Beck Tilson Beck Mr. and Mrs. J.E.R Florance B Flora P Ben P Row5: L.A.P. Laura Mathis Winnie Mathis Edna Beck Jarvis Beck Ruth Beck
What is the date inscribed on the quilt?
1937
Method used to make the inscription:
Embroidery
Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:
pencil
Location of inscription:
on block
Time period:
1930-1949
Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:
1930-1950
Who estimated the quilt's date?
Merikay Waldvogel
Further information concerning dates:
Quilt top has date of April 1937, however, owners great aunt completed the quilt by stitching it to a single-piece back at a later date.
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Subject of the quilt:
Friendship
Number of quilt blocks:
25 full blocks; 5 half blocks on one side
Size of quilt blocks:
13" x 13"
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Print; Plaid; Novelty; Multiple scrap; Floral; Dotted; Checked; Solid/plain; Striped
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Embroidery
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Embellishments used:
Cotton thread
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
4
Width of pieces on the back:
38 3/4"; 35; 38 3/4"; 35
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout; Print
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
Describe the binding:
bias tape
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?
Cannot tell
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Thread type used for the quilting:
cotton
Color of thread used in the quilting:
white
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
9
Width between quilting lines:
1 1/4
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Single parallel lines
Quilting designs used, background fills:
Parallel lines
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Backing is red floral print in a loosely woven yardage, but is not a printed feed sack.
Name of the group that made the quilt:
Tow String Church
Quilt top made by:
Tow String Church, Women
Quilted by:
Great Aunt, of donor
Where the quilt was made, county:
Swain
Where the quilt was made, state:
North Carolina (NC)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Inheritance
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
Inherited from father
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Donor’s father grew up on land that is now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When the government dispossessed those folks, donor’s grandfather helped negotiate the agreement involving the relocation of the Tow String Church. This church was "unbuilt" and moved, then rebuilt board-by-board in its newly designated location. As a going away present for the pastor, the women of the church pieced him a quilt top, including embroidering names of their family members onto their patches. At least one patch carries the date of April 1937. The church was no longer allowed to be used by members except for a once-a-year homecoming in August. When the pastor later died, his widow sent the quilt top to donor’s father, feeling it would mean more to a Tow String descendant than to her family. One of donor’s great aunts completed the quilt by stitching it to a single-piece back.
Why was the quilt made?
Gift or presentation
Quilt is presently used as:
Study or teaching aid; Museum collection; Exhibit
Where did the maker get their materials?
Unknown
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Unknown
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public Museum, Library or Institution
Quilt owner's name:
Mountain Heritage Center Western Carolina University
Quilt owner's city:
Cullowhee
Quilt owner's county:
Jackson
Quilt owner's state:
North Carolina (NC)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's gender:
Group
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
United States
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Rural
Who photographed this quilt?
Tim Barnwell
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Mountain Heritage Center
Cite this Quilt
Tow String Church, Wome. Bowtie. 1930-1949. From Mountain Heritage Center, Mountain Heritage Center; Southern Appalachian Quilts. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=13-9-6. Accessed: 03/28/24