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Birds of a feather; The Blackbirds Quilt

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quilt

QUILT INDEX RECORD

16-12-247

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

DAR Museum

Who documented this quilt?

DAR Museum; Permanent Collection

DAR Number:

2003.8

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Birds of a feather

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

The Blackbirds Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

64 inches

How long is the quilt?

80 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Red; Black; White

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

c. 1940

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Number of quilt blocks:

9

Size of quilt blocks:

varies

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Squares

Sashing width:

varies

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Solid red 3 1/2 inches wide

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Cream

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Width of pieces on the back:

30, 31

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

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

greater than one inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thick (More than 3/16?)

Thread type used for the quilting:

cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

4

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Elbow/fan

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

All pieces cut in irregular shapes.

Quilted by:

Parker, Blanche Ransom

Where the quilt was made, city:

Huntington

Where the quilt was made, county:

Carrol

Where the quilt was made, state:

Tennessee (TN)

Where the quilt was made, country:

USA

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

Previously part of Esprit Collection. Blanche Ransome Parker was a Jeanes Supervisor of Black Schools, Huntington, Carrol County, Tennessee. Image of quilt published in 1990 Quilt Engagement calendar.

Why was the quilt made?

Unknown

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

American Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA, 1997.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public-Other

Quilt owner's name:

DAR Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Washington, DC

Quilt owner's state:

Washington D.C.

Quilt owner's country:

USA

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

DAR Museum

Cite this Quilt

Parker, Blanche Ranso. Birds of a feather. c. 1940. From DAR Museum, DAR Museum; Permanent Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=16-12-247. Accessed: 03/19/24