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
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