BACK TO QUILTS
Cosmos in Basket Embroidery and Applique Quilt; Cosmos in Basket Kit, #184 Rainbow Quilt Block Company
CITE THIS QUILT
QUILT INDEX RECORD
15-11-1007
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:
172
Person filling out this form is:
Blood relative of quiltmaker; Daughter of quiltmaker; Quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Sister of quiltmaker
When was the form filled out?
10-15-1988
Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:
Quiltmaker; Quilt owner
How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?
Other
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Other
Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:
Quilt owner appliqued and embroidered the quilt top with her sister. Their mother did the quilting.
Interviewer:
Doss, Luella
Where was the quilt documentation day held?
Cedarburg Cultural Center
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Cosmos in Basket Embroidery and Applique Quilt
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Cosmos in Basket Kit, #184 Rainbow Quilt Block Company
How wide is the quilt?
80 in.
How long is the quilt?
61 in.
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Pink; White
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Good/moderate use
Time period:
1930-1949
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1938-1939
Further information concerning dates:
Louis Moldenhauer was 19 years of age and Ruth Moldenhauer Mueller was 14 years of age when the quilt top was made. Erna Moldenahauer (their mother) was 46 - 47 years of age when she quilted the quilt. She lived from 1892-1982.
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
12
Size of quilt blocks:
approx. 12.5 x 12.5 in.
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Separated by cornerstones or connecting blocks sashing (different fabric in intersection); Separated by inner only sashing (no sashing along outer edge of outer blocks)
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
Sashing width:
6 in.
Number of borders:
1
Describe the borders:
Pink solid/plain outer border measures 6 in. 4 light pink solid/plain set-in corner blocks measure 6 x 6 in.
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:
Solid/plain; Stamped
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch; Hand Applique
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Embroidery
Embellishments used:
Cotton thread
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton; Other
Description of the back:
Feed sack
What color is the back of the quilt?
White
Describe the back:
Solid/plain
How is the binding made?
Edges turned in/ no separate binding
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Other
Describe the quilt filling:
Cotton flannel sheet
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline; Patches outlined/in the ditch
Describe the quilting designs used:
Basket motif is outline quilted with single lines. The pieced patches are outline quilted in the ditch. Stitches are medium size.
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Applique pieces are hand embroidered around the edges. The basket design was stamped onto the background fabric. The outline of the basket was hand embroidered with French knots and green cotton embroidery floss. The stems and veins of the leaves are stem stitched.
Quilt top made by:
Moldenhauer, Lois (sister); Mueller, Ruth Moldenhauer (sister)
Quilted by:
Moldenhauer, Erna Gilow (mother)
Where the quilt was made, city:
Historic Hamilton/Cedarburg
Where the quilt was made, county:
Ozaukee
Where the quilt was made, state:
Wisconsin (WI)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Other
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Quilt top was appliqued and embroidered by two sisters. Their mother did the quilting. They made another quilt top together, Ruth Mueller owns it.
Why was the quilt made?
Gift or presentation; Other
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; Other
Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:
Herschner's
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Commercial/Published source: Kit
Commercial name of the pattern for the top:
"Cosmos in Basket Kit" #184 by Rainbow Quilt Block Company- Clevland, Ohio William Pinch
Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?
Kit
Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
This pattern was designed and distributed by the Rainbow Quilt Block Company of Cleveland, Ohio from the 1920's through the 1960's. The company was owned by Pinch, William.
Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:
The family history in Historic Hamilton/Cedarburg goes back to 1856-1857.
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Moldenhauer & Gilow
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female; Group
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Lutheran-Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedarburg/Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Rural
Quiltmaker's county:
Ozaukee
Quiltmaker's city:
Historic Hamilton/Cedarburg
Quiltmaker's state:
Wisconsin (WI)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Moldenhauer, Fred
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Moldenhauer, Erna Gilow
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Air Force Technician-Flight Simulater
Number of children:
2
Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs or rhymes used by the quiltmaker:
Opa (Mr. Gilow) made a quilting frame that is still being used by the family.
Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:
The Moldenhauer family of quilters were born in Historic Hamilton-Cedarburg/Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Lois Moldenhauer became a career woman and remained single. She made another quilt with her mother. It has been documented in the Quilt Index at #173.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
Cite this Quilt
Moldenhauer, Lois (sister); Mueller, Ruth Moldenhauer (sister. Cosmos in Basket Embroidery and Applique Quilt. 1930-1949. From Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Wisconsin Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=15-11-1007. Accessed: 03/29/24
-
Ephemera
William Pinch and the Rainbow Quilt Bl...
Pinka, Sharon Fulton