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Cosmos in Basket Embroidery and Applique Quilt; Cosmos in Basket Kit, #184 Rainbow Quilt Block Company

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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

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