The Sun Sets on Sunbonnet Sue

Quilt Index Record: MichiganMSUMuseum-a0a0a2-a

Administrative Fields

Institution name (InstNameF003):
  • Michigan State University Museum
Institution project name (InstProjNameF003a):
Michigan State University Museum Collection
Institutional inventory control numbers (InstInvContrNumF004):
01.0001
Alternative inventory control number (InstInvContrNumF004a):
2001:158.1
(InstFileNameF004):
01.0001.jpg

Information source fields

Author/interviewee (IdentPersonF006):
  • Other
Other relationship to source (SourceOtherF006a):
Kitty Clark Cole, donor
Relationship of source person to quilt (RelnQuiltF007):
  • Quilt collector
Quilt owner (IfQownerF007b):
  • Purchased the quilt

Overall Quilt Description

Type of quilt object (TypeObjF008):
Finished quilt
Quilt's title (QuiltTitleF009):
The Sun Sets on Sunbonnet Sue
Owner's name for quilt's pattern (OwnerNameF010):
Sunbonnet Sue
Overall width measurement (OverallWidthF12a):
62
Overall length measurement (OverallLengthF012b):
78
Shape of edge (ShapeEdgeF013):
Straight
Shape of corners (ShapeCornersF013b):
Straight
Overall color scheme (OverallColorF14b):
  • Multicolor
Overall condition (OverCondF015):
Very good/almost new
Type(s) of inscription (TypeInscripF019):
  • Signature
Content of inscription(s) (ContInscripF020):
Seamsters Union #500 Lawrence Kansas
Method of inscription (MethodInscripF021):
  • Embroidery
Other location of inscription (OtherLocInscripF022a):
Front, lower right corner
Time period (DateQuiltF023):
1976-1999
Date quilt begun (DateBegunF023a):
c. 1979
Date quilt finished (DateFinishF023b):
c.1979

Quilt top description

Layout format (LayFormatF024):
Block pattern
Subject of quilt, if it has one (SubjQuiltF025):
Multiple ways that Sunbonnet Sue met her death.
Number of quilt blocks (NumBlockF026):
20
Size of quilt blocks (L x W) (SizeBlockF027):
12x12
Arrangement of quilt blocks: block orientation (ArrangeBlockF028):
Straight
Spacing relative to other blocks (SpacingF029):
  • Separated by cornerstones or connecting blocks sashing (different fabric in intersection)
Block style (BlockStyleF030a):
  • Same block throughout
Sashing width (SashWidthF032):
2 1/8
Number of borders (NumBordersF033):
1
Border description (BordDescF034):
Black with white strip designs, 2".

Quilt top materials and construction

Fiber types used in quilt top (FiberTypesF035):
  • Cotton
  • Cotton or polyester blend
Fabric types used in quilt top (FabricTypeF036):
  • Velvet
Fabric prints used in quilt top (FabPrintF037):
  • Multiple scrap
Construction techniques used in quilt top: piecing technique (ConstrucF038):
  • Machine Piecing
Construction techniques used in quilt top: applique techniques (ConstrucF038b):
  • Hand Applique
Construction techniques used in quilt top: embellishment techniques (ConstrucF038g):
  • Embroidery
Contains paper remains? (PaperF038i):
no

Quilt back materials and construction

Fabric fiber types used in quilt back. (FabFiberTypesF040):
  • Cotton
Number of pieces in quilt back (NumPiecesF042):
2
Description of back (DescBackF043):
  • Same fabric used throughout

Quilt binding

Materials used in quilt binding (MatUsedF044):
  • Cotton
Fabric structure used in binding (FabStrucF045):
  • Plain weave
Construction techniques used in binding (ConstrucBindF046):
  • Bias grain

Quilt batting

Material used for quilt batting or filling (MatUsedF048):
Polyester
Batting loft (BattLoftF048a):
Medium (3/16”)

Quilting description

Quilting techniques used (QuiltTechF049):
  • Hand quilting
Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 1) (NumStitchedF050):
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 2) (NumStitchF051):
6
Quilting designs used: motif/overall patterns (DesignF052a):
  • Outline

Quilt notes and observations

Any other features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction. (FeaturesF053):
Twenty multi-colored applique blocks depicted Sunbonnet Sue being "done in" in a variety of ways. The blocks each measure 11 1/2" square. The blocks are set with 2 1/2" country blue calico sashing fabric and black cornerstones. The quiltmakers "gave into their suppressed desires to eliminate the 'goody two-shoes' in their pasts." The blocks are (from left to right, top to bottom): 1. Self-immolation, Cathy Dwigans 2. Dr. La Fong's Cure for Cuteness, Bryan Anderson 3. O.D., Nadra Dangerfield 4. Skylab Accident, Carol Gilham Jones 5. Sunbonnet Soup, Bette Kelley 6. Strangled by a Sunflower, Patty Boyer 7. Food For Worms, Nadra Dangerfield 8. Sunbonnet Sioux, Bonnie Dill 9. Three Mile Island, Georgann Englinski 10. Eaten by a Snake, Nadra Dangerfield 11. Mummified, Gloria Hood 12. Struck by Lightning, Carol Gilham Jones 13. Tied to the Tracks, Georgann Eglinski 14. Lost in Space, Bette Kelley 15. Sunbonnet Sue-icide, Barbara Brackman 16. Squashed by a Rock, Barbara Brackman 17. Suestown, Guyana, Laurie Schwarm Metzinger 18. Jaws III, Nancy Metinger 19. Died for Love, Nadra Dangerfield 20. Run in With the Mob, Georgann Eglinski

Quiltmaker identification

If quilting group, group name (MakerGroupNameF097):
The Seamster's Union (Local #500)
Quilt top made by (QuiltTopF054):
  • Anderson, Bryan
  • Dangerfield, Nadra
  • Jones, Carol Gilham
  • Kelley, Bette
  • Boyer, Patty
  • Dill, Bonnie
  • Englinski, Georgann
  • Hood, Gloria
  • Metzinger, Laurie Schwarm
  • Dwigans, Cathy
  • Metinger, Nancy
  • Brackman, Barbara

Quilt provenance

City (LocMadeF057a):
Lawrence
State (ProvStateF057d):
Kansas (KS)
How was quilt acquired by owner? (AcquiredF058):
Gift
Any additional stories or notes about the quilt's ownership or history (QuiltHistF059):
Purchased by collector Kitty Clark Cole and donated to the Michigan State University Museum in 2001.

Quilt purposes uses

Quiltmaker's reasons for making the quilt (ReasonsF060):
  • Art or personal expression
Quilt was originally designed to be used as (QDesignF060b):
  • Artwork/wall hanging
Quilt is presently used as (PresUseF062):
  • Museum collection

Quilt design and materials sources

Source of quilt's materials (SourceMatF063):
  • Unknown
Quilt top pattern source (TopSourceF064):
  • Public domain/traditional pattern
Quilting design pattern source (PattSourceF065):
  • Unknown

Exhibition history of quilt

Title of exhibit (NamePlaceF067):
  • The Michigan Quilt Project: New Discoveries
Location of exhibit (LocExhibitF068):
  • East Lansing, Michigan
Date of exhibit (DateExhibitF069):
  • July 29-December 31, 2001
Type of exhibit venue (TypeExhibitF070):
  • Museum
Exhibition venue (ExpExhibitF070a):
The Michigan State University Museum

Quilt ownership and contact info

Ownership of this quilt is (OwnershipF082):
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner state (OwnerStateF086):
Michigan (MI)

Quiltmaker personal information

Gender (GenderF098):
  • Group

Image Information

Institutional accession/inventory numbers of image (InvenNumF075):
2001:158.1
Content of image (ImageConF075a):
Quilt and close ups
Type of image (ImageTypeF076):
Color
Source of image (SourceF077):
Other
Other image source (OtherSourceF077a):
Transparency
Size of source image in inches (SourceSizeF078):
2 1/4
Date source image was taken (DateF079):
0000-00-00
Date source image digitized (DigDateF079a):
0000-00-00
Access and copyright information for image (AccessF080):
Restricted
For holder of copyright, contact (HolderF080a):
Michigan State University Museum
Credit line/Surveyed by (CreditLineF080b):
Photo by Pearl Yee Wong

File Information

File function (function):
Image - medium display (250-550 pixels)
File medium (file_medium):
image
File format (file_format):
jpeg

data verification

Data verified? (verify):
yes
Verified by (verifiedby):
Donaldson, Beth
Date verified (dateverified):
2007-10-17

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