QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-98

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_0129

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner; 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?

1986-1990

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt owner

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

Raffle or contest prize

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Thelma McClung, the present owner of this quilt, won it at a Houston Chi Omega fundraiser. The owner is the mother of a Chi Omega alumna.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Texas Star of Independence Quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Texas Star of Independence

How wide is the quilt?

98 in.

How long is the quilt?

98 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; Green; White

Overall color scheme:

Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1986

When was the quilt finished?

1986

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1986

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Subject of the quilt:

Texas historic and patriotic symbols; Texas independence

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

The central medallion motif of the Texas Lone Star, laurel wreath, and bluebonnets is framed by a series of three pieced borders, one of which is a strip of historical fabric reproduction, "Tiny Texas Star," designed by Texas artist and Chi Omega member Ann Eppright. The outside border of fence posts represents the settlers whose spirit and resolve led to Texas' independence. The eight trails of laurel leaves that form one of the borders pay tribute to the 800 people who died in the Texas Revolution. The 32 other pieced 5-pointed stars that form one of the borders and that are used in the corners of successive borders represent the Immortal Thirty-Two, the Texans who gathered at Gonzales and marched off to defend the Alamo.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand 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

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:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

10

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

10

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

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

outline quilting around all pieced and appliqued designs; vertical parallel lines in the border.

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

Every design and element in this bright blue, white, and green quilt is intended to celebrate Texas' independence on the occasion of the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial. Each design and motif carries historic and/or patriotic significance. For example, the three pieced borders are symbolic of the three areas surrounding Texas in 1836, and central medallion theme of Lone Star, bluebonnet, and laurel leaf represent the people, the land, and the birth of the Texas. The "Tiny Texas Star" fabric is from a collection of historical prints designed by Texas artist and Chi Omega member Ann Eppright. The outside border of fence posts represents the settlers whose spirit and resolve led to Texas' independence. The eight trails of laurel leaves that form one of the borders pay tribute to the 800 people who died in the Texas Revolution. The 32 other pieced 5-pointed stars that form one of the borders and that are used in the corners of successive borders represent the Immortal Thirty-Two, the Texans who gathered at Gonzales and marched off to defend the Alamo.

Name of the group that made the quilt:

Chi Omega Alumnae, Chi Omega Mother's Club, Volunteers from Cullen Residence Hall, Center for the Retarded, Inc.

Quilted by:

Weisheit, Marge

Where the quilt was made, city:

Houston

Where the quilt was made, county:

Harris

Where the quilt was made, state:

Texas (TX)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Raffle or contest prize

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Annually, members of Chi Omega Alumnae, Chi Omega Mother's Club, and Volunteers from Cullen Residence Hall, Center for the Retarded, Inc., in Houston, work together to design and stitch a quilt. Chances are sold and the quilt is raffled during Chi Omega Kaleidoscope, an event described as "the Market Fest of Texas Best," held in Houston each April to benefit the Center for the Retarded, Inc. This quilt was created in 1986 as the group's sesquicentennial salute to Texas.

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

The "Tiny Texas Star" fabric is from a collection of historical prints designed by Texas artist and Chi Omega Ann Eppright. This fabric inspired Chi Omega Quilt Chairman Loine Kauachi, who created this quilt's design. The quilt was pieced, appliqued, and stenciled by members of Chi Omega Alumnae, Chi Omega Mother's Club, and Volunteers from Cullen Residence Hall, Center for the Retarded, Inc., and quilted by master quilter Merge Weisheit with advice and encouragement from Jewel Patterson (mother of Karey Patterson Bresenhan). The quilt was won during the raffle by current owner Thelma McClung, the mother of a Houston Chi Omega alumna.

Why was the quilt made?

Fundraising

Details about why the quilt was made:

also to commemorate the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging; Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Traditional pattern variation

Describe the source of the pattern:

historic and patriotic symbols of Texas

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

“Great Texas Quilt RoundUp”, Austin, 1986; “Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, 1936-1986,” 16th Annual International Quilt Festival, November, 1990, Houston, Texas.

Contests entered:

Grand prize winner, "Great Texas Quilt RoundUp," Austin, Texas, 1986.

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:

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. 158-159.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

McClung, Thelma

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's gender:

Group

Quiltmaker's city:

Houston

Quiltmaker's state:

Texas (TX)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale

Details

•