QUILT INDEX RECORD
15-11-992
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Wisconsin Quilt History Project
Who documented this quilt?
Wisconsin Quilt History Project
Wisconsin Quilt History Project Number:
139
Person filling out this form is:
Blood relative of quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Other
Source of the information on this quilt:
Great- granddaughter of quilt maker
When was the form filled out?
10-15-1988
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
Interviewer:
Mac Quee, N.
Where was the quilt documentation day held?
Cedarburg Cultural Center
This is a:
Finished quilt
Owner's name for quilt:
Double Wedding Ring
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Wedding Ring
Brackman # or other source & #:
303
How wide is the quilt?
55 in.
How long is the quilt?
83 in.
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Blue or Navy; Orange; White
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor; Light or pastel colors
Quilt's condition:
Good/moderate use
Damage:
Stains
Time period:
1930-1949
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1930's
Further information concerning dates:
Mrs. Aaron was approximately 70 years of age when she made the quilt.
Describe the quilt's layout:
Wholecloth
Number of quilt blocks:
15
Size of quilt blocks:
approx. 17 x 17 in.
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Other
Describe the quilt setting:
Interlocking
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric types used to make the quilt top:
Broadcloth
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Checked; Dotted; Floral; Geometric; Multiple scrap; Novelty; Print; Solid/plain; Striped; Other
Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:
Chambray
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Other embellishment technique
Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:
Top stitching of binding is done with blue cotton embroidery thread.
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
What color is the back of the quilt?
White
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Hand sewn; Home cut; Machine sewn; Separate binding applied
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
half inch - one inch
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Blanket or flannel
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16
Describe the quilt filling:
Flannel Sheet
How are the layers held together?
Machine quilting
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Other
Describe the quilting designs used:
Machine outline stitching follows the design of the top. Two crossed ellipses are machine stitched with single lines in the white solid/plain field. A single ellipse is machine stitched with single lines in the white solid/plain melon areas of the design.
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
The Wedding Rings were constructed first and then hand appliqued to the white/solid plain whole cloth top. The separate applied binding was machine sewn to the back first and then top stitched to the front with blue cotton embroidery thread by hand.
Quilt top made by:
Aaron, Emily Dobratz
Quilted by:
Aaron, Emily Dobratz
Where the quilt was made, city:
Milwaukee
Where the quilt was made, county:
Milwaukee
Where the quilt was made, state:
Wisconsin (WI)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Inheritance
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
The owner inherited the quilt from her great-grandmother.
The quilt was made to be used for:
Bedding, daily use
Quilt is presently used as:
Keepsake/memento
Where did the maker get their materials?
Purchased new; Sewing scraps
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Public domain/traditional pattern
Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?
Public domain
Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
May have gotten materials from her husband (Louis Aaron) or her son-in-law (Maurice Van Engel). Mr. Aaron eventually managed a dry goods store and Mr. Van Engel was a salesman of general merchandise.
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Dobratz
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's birth date:
1861
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
Germany
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
German
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Urban
Quiltmaker's county:
Milwaukee
Quiltmaker's city:
Wauwatosa
Quiltmaker's state:
Wisconsin (WI)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Dobratz, John
Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:
German
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Dobratz, Ema
Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:
German
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):
Aaron, Louis
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:
German
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Retail merchant who eventually managed a dry goods store.
Number of children:
4
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
3
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
1
Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:
On her 90th birthday she gathered all of the women in the family and divided up her jewelry. The family always played the card game Hearts at her birthday parties. Mrs. Aaron emigrated from Germany to America in 1871. In 1883 she married her husband, Louis, who also was came from Germany. Together they raised four children. He died in 1922. She lived in Wauwatosa for a while as a widow. The 1930 census shows she eventually moved in with her daughter Frieda Van Engel and her son-in-law Maurice Van Engel. They lived in Milwaukee on N. 37th St. She lived to at least 96 years of age. Her daughter Freida died in Milwaukee in 1973. Additional information on Mrs. Aaron and her family was found on Ancestry.com and other online genealogy sites. Mrs. Aaron has other quilts documented in the Quilt Index under her name at #136, #137, #138, #140, #141 and #142.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
Details
Cite this Quilt
Aaron, Emily Dobrat. Double Wedding Ring. 1930-1949. From Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Wisconsin Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=15-11-992. Accessed: 04/25/24