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Star of Bethlehem; Grandma's Star Quilt; Lone Star & Blazing Star

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

15-11-1138

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:

A1154

Person filling out this form is:

Blood relative of quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

Granddaughter of quilt maker

When was the form filled out?

11-14-2015

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

Where was the quilt documentation day held?

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Star of Bethlehem

Owner's name for quilt:

Grandma's Star Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Lone Star & Blazing Star

Brackman # or other source & #:

4005

How wide is the quilt?

78.5 in.

How long is the quilt?

85.5 in.

Shape of edge:

Other

Describe the edge:

Prairie Points

Shape of corners:

Other

Describe the corners:

Prairie Points

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Brown; Gray; Green; Red

Antique colors:

Butterscotch; Chocolate Brown or Hershey Brown; Madder Brown; Madder Red or Cinnamon Red; Nile Green

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Disintegration of fabric; Open seams; Stains; Tears or holes

Type of inscription:

Date

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"1889" & "1934"

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1889 & 1934

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

other

Describe where the inscription was found:

On front, two separate prairie points

Time period:

Timespan

When was the quilt started?

1889

When was the quilt finished?

1934

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1889 & 1934

Further information concerning dates:

The quilt was begun in 1889 at the time of the quilt maker's marriage. She completed the quilt in 1934 at the time of her husbands death.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Medallion size:

60.25 x 61 in.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Other blends

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Checked; Dotted; Floral; Multiple scrap; Plaid; Print; Solid/plain; Striped

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine 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

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

4

Width of pieces on the back:

13.25, 26.75, 13 & 33.5 in.

Describe the back:

Machine sewn; 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?

Prairie Points

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

greater than one inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

2 in. high & 3 in. per side

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

Cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

Green

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5 spi

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7 spi

Width between quilting lines:

1 in.

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid diamond; Outline

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Grid/crosshatch

Describe the quilting designs used:

Grid diamonds are quilted on the diamond patches of the medallion. The medallion is shadow outline quilted. Grid diamond/crosshatch quilting fills in the background.

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

392 diamond patches are sewn together to make the medallion.

Quilt top made by:

Moon, Emma S. Tucker

Quilted by:

Moon, Emma S. Tucker

How was this quilt acquired?

Inheritance

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

The owner's sister-in-law had been storing the quilt for 50 years. In the summer of 2014 she gave the quilt to the owner, the quilt maker's granddaughter. Mrs. Moon was the owner's maternal grandmother.

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

The owner has many documents and photos in reference to Mrs. Moon.

Why was the quilt made?

Wedding

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, daily use

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

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:

Smith/Tucker

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

10-27-1869

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Tabor/Fremont County

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Iowa

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's date and place of death:

06-21-1949

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

English/American

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Middle School

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Congregational

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Homemaker, Insurance Broker, Midwife and Farm Manager

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's county:

Fremont

Quiltmaker's city:

Tabor

Quiltmaker's state:

Iowa (IA)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Smith, Emmanuel (biological)/ Tucker (foster)

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Massachusetts

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

English

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Tucker, Mary

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Massachusetts

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

English

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

English

Number of children:

8

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

4

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

4

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Income; Necessity

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

only informally

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Moon sold some of her quilt tops. Her family came to America on the Mayflower.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Details

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Cite this Quilt

Moon, Emma S. Tucke. Star of Bethlehem. 1934. From Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Wisconsin Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=15-11-1138. Accessed: 03/28/24