QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-95

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_0126

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

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

When was the form filled out?

1989-1990

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker

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?

Received as a gift

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

The quiltmaker gave this quilt to its present owners, her friends Mr. and Mrs. Dan Gillean as a gift.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Texas Stars Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Texas Stars

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Feather Edged Star

How wide is the quilt?

78 in.

How long is the quilt?

82 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color; Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Damage:

Discoloration or dyes ran

Describe the damage:

some soil and discoloration

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1985

When was the quilt finished?

1986

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1986

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

9

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); Separated by pieced pattern sashing

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Same block throughout; Squares

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

wide white border with red Texas Lone Stars appliqued on each side (2 on each side, 4 larger ones at top and bottom)

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

dark red print

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

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

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Describe the binding:

separate bias binding in deep red print as in stars

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

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?

Polyester

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:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

7

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

9

Width between quilting lines:

1/2 - 1 in.

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline; Single parallel lines

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Other

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Grid/crosshatch

Describe the quilting designs used:

outline quilting on both sides of the seams; crosshatch grid quilting in intersection blocks; stars quilted within blocks and along border; parallel line quilting in border to form geometrics to enhance appliqued stars

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

Quiltmaker commented that she made her Texas Stars Quilt during her "stars period." The border features the five-pointed Texas or Lone Star appliqued on; the blocks feature pieced stars in the traditional Feathered Star pattern.

Quilt top made by:

Lott, Diane Carson

Quilted by:

Lott, Diane Carson

Where the quilt was made, city:

Austin

Where the quilt was made, county:

Travis

Where the quilt was made, state:

Texas (TX)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Quiltmaker Diane Lott gave this Texas Stars Quilt to her fellow Texans and good friends Mrs. and Mr. Dan Gillean at Christmas, 1986.

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

The quiltmaker begins "a new, special quilt" each year in January. She makes "five to ten quilts a year as a creative outlet and for gifts," as was this one, a Christmas gift for friends.

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Details about why the quilt was made:

gift for friends

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, daily use

Quilt is presently used as:

Bedding, daily use; Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Public domain/traditional pattern

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

This Texas Stars Quilt was made to commemorate 150 years of Texas independence and because "I always wanted to make a Feather Star," says quiltmaker Diane Lott.

Contests entered:

awarded White Ribbon in First Quilt Category, American International Quilt Association show, 1985.

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

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search Archives

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

This Texas Stars Quilt is featured on the front cover and in an article in Quilting Today: The International Quilt Magazine, No. 3; 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. 152-153.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Gillean, Mr. and Mrs. Dan

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Carson, Diane

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

1942

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Decatur

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Texas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's educational background:

2-year certificate in secretarial science, McNeese State College

Quiltmaker's occupation:

homemaker, quiltmaker

Quiltmaker's state:

Texas (TX)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

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

president of a data processing company

Number of children:

2

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Class; From Relative

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Gifts; Pleasure

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

creative outlet

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Diane Lott's grandmother pieced many quilts, and Diane always had a sincere interest in this skill. She began making her own quilts in 1978 and has taken many classes, including one from her friend Judy Murrah in Houston. She made her first complete quilt--a Trip Around the world, in 1984.

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale