QUILT INDEX RECORD

32-28-593

Alberta Heritage Quilt Project Number:

H88.420.1

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Royal Alberta Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Royal Alberta Museum Permantent Collection

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

When was the form filled out?

1988

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Grandmother

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

Inherited

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Crazy Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

155 cm

How long is the quilt?

170 cm

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Rounded

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Brown; Burgundy

Overall color scheme:

Light or pastel colors; Dark colors

Quilt's condition:

Poor/very worn

Damage:

Dirty; Disintegration of fabric; Insect damage; Quilting thread broken or ties missing; Tears or holes

Describe the damage:

Fabric completely missing, badly deteriorated, weighted silk disintegrated

Time period:

Timespan

When was the quilt started?

c.1910

When was the quilt finished?

c.1937

Family/owner's date for quilt:

Quilt begun in 1910 by Mary Jane Geddes, donor's maternal grandmother

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

Quilt finished in 1937 by Estella Darroch, donor's paternal grandmother.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Crazy

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Rayon; Silk; Wool

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Satin; Velvet

Fabric patterns, styles, motifs, or print categories used in the quilt top:

Dotted; Multiple scrap; Paisley; Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread; Wool thread

Materials used to make the back:

Other

Description of the back:

brocade

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Describe the back:

Machine sewn; Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Other

Fabric structure of the binding:

Other

Describe the binding:

Brocade backing

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back; Hand sewn; Machine sewn; 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?

No filling

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

Describe the quilt filling:

muslin foundation for embroidered pieces

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

grey

Width between quilting lines:

Quilted in the ditch around square blocks of crazy quilting.

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

In-the-ditch

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

The crazy quilt was started by Mary Jane Geddes in 1910 using velvets and other rich fabrics. When she died, the donor's paternal grandmother, Estella Darroch, finished the quilt in 1937. She used fabrics such as silk ties (she had a husband and numerous boys) and rayon dress fabric prominent in the 1930s. The quilt has two distinctive looks.

Quilt top made by:

Mary Jane (Waters) Geddes; Estella Darroch

Where the quilt was made, province:

Alberta

Where the quilt was made, country:

Canada

How was this quilt acquired?

Inheritance

Why was the quilt made?

Unknown

The quilt was made to be used for:

Unknown

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

Used at the cottage in the 1960s.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Old clothes; Sewing scraps

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Royal Alberta Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Edmonton

Quilt owner's province:

Alberta

Quilt owner's country:

Canada

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Waters

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Guelph

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

Canada

Quiltmaker's birthplace, province:

Ontario

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

Malcolm Daniel Geddes

Who photographed this quilt?

Lucie Heins

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Royal Alberta Museum