QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-72

Who documented this quilt?

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

Texas Quilt Search Number:

tqs_0105

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

This quilt was reviewed and documented during the Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association's Texas Quilt Search, 1983-1986, and/or during the Association's Phase II of the Texas Quilt Search, 1986-1989. Karey Bresenhan served as quilt historian.

When was the form filled out?

1986-1989

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

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

Made entire quilt

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

Made the quilt

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed quilt motif; Designed the pattern

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

This quilt is currently owned by the quiltmaker.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

My Blue Jean Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

My Blue Jean Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

83 in.

How long is the quilt?

103 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; Red; White; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor; Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1975

When was the quilt finished?

1980

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1980

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Subject of the quilt:

pictorial depiction of quiltmaker's family history for three generations

Number of quilt blocks:

20

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by cornerstones or connecting blocks sashing (different fabric in intersection); Separated by inner and outer sashing (sashing surrounds all sides of all blocks)

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

20

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Sampler; Squares

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

outer sashing serves as border on each side. This quilt's border blocks are made up of pieced blue denim patches with embroidered decorative motifs on each piece.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Other

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Other

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

used blue jean demin

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

heavily embroidered in each of 20 Nine Patch blocks

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

no

Embellishment materials used in quilt top:

Other Embroidery

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

cotton embroidery floss; embroidery on appliqued pieces

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Description of the back:

used blue jean denim

What color is the back of the quilt?

Blue or Navy

Describe the back:

Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Describe the binding:

separate blue bias binding

How is the binding made?

Bias grain; Hand 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?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

blue

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

10

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

12

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline; Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

stab quilt stitch outlining on the inside of each patch in each block and sash and around appliqued or embroidered motifs

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

This amazing folk art-like quilt was made from blue jeans worn by the quiltermaker's three sons. It features 20 Nine Patch blocks (180 patches) depicting three generations of family life through applique and embroidery. The 20th block, in the lower right hand corner, remains blank so that, says the quiltmaker, "it is ready for more family history." The quilt's sashing is made up of pieced patches, each featuring some decorative embroidered element.

Quilt top made by:

Cox, Pearl Glover

Quilted by:

Cox, Pearl Glover

Where the quilt was made, city:

Fredericksburg

Where the quilt was made, county:

Gillespie

Where the quilt was made, state:

Texas (TX)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Mrs. Cox began this quilt in 1975, a time when wearing blue jeans was becoming very popular. She designed this quilt to depict three generations of family history through appliqued and embroidered motifs of favorite pets, flowers, animals, toys, nursery rhymes, holidays, and the like. Each block has a different theme and each is an original design. The quilt is heavily embroidered and showcases the quiltmaker's expertise with a needle in that it features embroidery, crewelwork, and a variety of stitches, including feather, stem, running, chain, buttonhole, and satin.

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

This is the quiltmaker's first attempt at quilt making. She finished the quilt just in time (two hours before deadline) to enter it into the Gillespie County Fair, where it won first prize and Best of Show, the first of many such awards.

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression

Details about why the quilt was made:

commemorative

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging; Exhibit; Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Old clothes

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

used the worn blue jeans of three sons

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

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

She used denim from her three sons' used blue jeans and spent 5 years and some 1,751 hours completing this family treasure. In ordser to quilt through the two layers of heavy denim fabric plus batting, Mrs. Cox used a stab stitch and achieved ten to twelve stitches per inch.

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Gillespie County Fair; Kerr County Fair; Texas State Fair, Dallas, “Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, 1936-1986,” 16th Annual International Quilt Festival, November, 1990, Houston, Texas.

Contests entered:

Gillespie County Fair (first prize and best of show); Kerr County Fair (first prize and best of show); Texas State Fair (Best of Show, Senior Section and Mountain Mist Outstanding Quilt award).

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association’s Texas Quilt Search Archives

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Bresenhan, Karoline Patterson and Nancy O'Bryant Puentes, Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, Vol. II, 1936-1986 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1990), p. 110-111; Kerrville Daily Times, January 20, 1980, p. 1B.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Pearl Glover Cox

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Glover, Pearl

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

02/18/1919

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Houston, Harris County

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Texas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

1939

Quiltmaker's educational background:

high school

Quiltmaker's occupation:

homemaker

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's state:

Texas (TX)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Cox, Russ L.

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

owned and operated a concrete manufacturing company in Houston, Texas

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

3

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Relative; Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 50 or over

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Pleasure

Notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

creative outlet and pleasure it brings to self and family

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Cox states that she does a great deal of needlepoint, embroidery, and crewel work. She drew and executed all of the designs in My Blue Jean Quilt.

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale

Details

•