QUILT INDEX RECORD

15-11-1109

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:

217

Person filling out this form is:

Niece of quiltmaker; Quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Relative of quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

04-08-1989

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Bound the quilt; Marked the quilt top for quilting; Quilted or tied the top; Other

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

Received as a gift

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Stitched blocks for top together

Interviewer:

Johnson, Elrid

Where was the quilt documentation day held?

Country Inn-Pewaukee/Waukesha County

This is a:

Finished quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Rail Fence

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Log Cabin, Modern Design, Colt's Corral (variation)

Brackman # or other source & #:

1112a & 1114

How wide is the quilt?

74 in.

How long is the quilt?

83.25 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Brown; Gold; Green; Orange; Red

Antique colors:

Turkey Red

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Time period:

Timespan

When was the quilt started?

Before 1898

When was the quilt finished?

Early 1940's

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1897 & early 1940's

Further information concerning dates:

Clara Lean Altwise died in 1898. She was about 25 years of age when she started making the quilt top blocks.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

56 with 4 pieced squares per block.

Size of quilt blocks:

approx. 10.5 x 10.5 in.

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Silk; Wool

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth; Flannel; Handwoven; Velvet

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Checked; Conversation Prints; Dotted; Multiple scrap; Plaid; Print; Solid/plain; Striped

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Brown; Green

Describe the back:

Print; Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

How is the binding made?

Back turned to front; Machine sewn

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 are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

Thread type used for the quilting:

Wool

Color of thread used in the quilting:

Red

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

All-over-design; Grid square

Describe the quilting designs used:

Quilt is hand tied approximately every 5 in. creating a grid square design.

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

The squares consist of 6 strips of fabric. This differs from the typical 5 strips for the Rail Fence pattern. The quilt was backed with a large scale green and brown paisley print.

Quilt top made by:

Altwise, Clara Lean

Quilted by:

Pierce, Clara Howell

Where the quilt was made, city:

Sullivan Township

Where the quilt was made, county:

Jefferson

Where the quilt was made, state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

An aunt gave Clara Howell Pierce the completed quilt squares for her wedding gift in 1931. Her aunt and namesake Clara Lean Altwise made the squares before 1898. Clara Howell Pierce stitched 1/3 of the top together. She also quilted and bound the quilt in the early 1940's.

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?

Old clothes; 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

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Lean

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

01-08-1872

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Sullivan Township/Jefferson County

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's date and place of death:

05-24-1898

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

English

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Lean, John

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

England

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

English

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Lean, Hannah

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

England

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

English

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Farmer

Number of children:

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1 (died at birth)

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Clara Lean Altwise and her baby son died during childbirth in 1898. She was 26 years of age. Three completed quilts by Clara Howell Pierce have been documented in the Quilt Index at 216, 217 & 218.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Details

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