QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-270

Who documented this quilt?

Winedale Quilt Collection, Kathleen H. McCrady Quilt History Collection, 1890-2001

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

Texas Quilt Search Number:

W2h102.06

Alternate inventory control number:

QHSH-A-375

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt collector; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

technical reviewer

When was the form filled out?

2000, 2007

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt collector; Other

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

donor, technical advisor

This is a:

Finished quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Friendship Album Applique

How wide is the quilt?

93 in.

How long is the quilt?

98 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Rounded

What color is the quilt?

Green; Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Fair/worn

Damage:

Fading; Pencil or pen or marking lines; Stains

Repairs:

Stabilized with netting

Describe the repairs:

stabilized over stain

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

pencil lines marking quilting lines still show

Type of inscription:

Date; Initials; Message; Multiple Names

What is inscribed on the quilt?

15 of the 16 blocks contain messages apparently from friends and possibly family to a Virginia Riley. One inscription reads: Stitch by Stitch your work is made complete. And the knots and ties are hid so neat That all must say, much care's been taken But they'l show if a thread be broken. To hide our knots in life, we study, But to nick the thread, some one's ready, If that do'nt do, they'l turn us over But all our ties, we still may cover.

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1849-1851

Method used to make the inscription:

Ink

Location of inscription:

on block

Describe where the inscription was found:

in 16 of 17 blocks

Time period:

1850-1875

Family/owner's date for quilt:

donor dates quilt to ca. 1851

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1851-1855

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Subject of the quilt:

Friendship

Number of quilt blocks:

16

Size of quilt blocks:

16 1/2 in. x 16 1/2 in.

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Squares

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth

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

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery; Ink drawing

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

wool yarn used to embroider stems on buds

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

no

Embellishment materials used in quilt top:

Wool thread

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

twelve buds radiating from center motif in each block are attached with wool thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

White

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

4

Width of pieces on the back:

28 in., 28 1/2 in., 28 1/2 in., 7 1/2 in.

Describe the back:

Hand sewn; Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

Describe the binding:

red print fabric

How is the binding made?

Hand sewn; Home cut; Straight 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?

Cannot tell

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

Describe the quilt filling:

probably cotton

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:

8

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

9

Width between quilting lines:

1/8, 1/4, 1/2

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

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Other

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Wreaths

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Parallel lines; Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

Feathered wreaths and feathered harp appear in plain squares; parallel lines through applique; feathered circles as filler. Six parallel lines in triangles.

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

Quilt poetry in one applique patch.

Where the quilt was made, state:

Ohio (OH)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

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

Based on quilt's inscribed messages, this quilt appears to have been made in Ohio, ca. 1851, for Virgina Riley. In 2000, Kathleen McCrady, a life-long and award-winning quiltmaker and quilt historian from Austin, Texas, purchased this quilt from a woman in Kerrville, Texas, whose sister had owned the quilt for some 25 years. Ultimately Kathleen added this quilt to her many other quilts, quilt blocks, feedsacks, patterns, quilt publications, and other quilt ephemera to form the inventory of her Quilt History Study Hall in Austin, where Kathleen taught quilt history and dating from 1996 to about 2001. She donated this quilt and the contents of her extraordinary Quilt History Study Hall to the Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, beginning in 2002. Her collection, the Kathleen H. McCrady Quilt History Collection, 1890-2001, is available for research at the Center for American History. Additional information about Kathleen McCrady can be found in Kathleen H. McCrady, My Journey with Quilts: Over 70 Years of Quiltmaking 1932-2003 (Austin: 2005). The transcript of an interview with Kathleen McCrady is available at www.centerforthequilt.org/qsos/qsos/html.

Why was the quilt made?

Autograph or friendship

Was the quilt used for something other than what it is used for now?

teaching, study

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection; Study or teaching aid

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

Additional information about Kathleen McCrady can be found in Kathleen H. McCrady, My Journey with Quilts: Over 70 Years of Quiltmaking 1932-2003 (Austin: 2005). The transcript of an interview with Kathleen McCrady is available at www.centerforthequilt.org/qsos/qsos/html.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Winedale, Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

Quilt owner's city:

Round Top

Quilt owner's county:

Fayette

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Who photographed this quilt?

Billy Moore

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale

Details

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