I'm working on carefully repairing some of the wear on the stitching and applique. The only things I know for sure is that the quilt is at least 50 years old and was made in Ohio. Can anyone ID the pattern?

***An update in information! I've learned from a relative that the quilt was made approximately 80 years ago in Middletown, Ohio by Mary Elizabeth (Small) Booth. Still no idea of the pattern name or where she may have found it, but we're pretty sure that Mary Elizabeth wasn't the designer.

I can't help, but just wanted to say, Thats a pretty quilt, I love the applique.

trace it. :-)

Thanks,,,, Patrice. That was a great idea.

That is BEAUTIFUL!!!! I could get into making one like that! WOW!!!

This may be an original design. i will look into my blocks books and see if it is listed. Only thing I might add would be to check with an antique quilt book or maybe APQS quilt restorer as to the best way to mend and determine the pattern used. I do know that any updates on fabric alter the date the quilt is valued at. The newer the fabric the newer the quilt and therefore the value would diminish. If you are serious about collecting you may want to consider this. Other than that....it is absolutely gorgeious and I , for one would love to have a copy of the pattern if you make one. Is that an eagle in the center?

Sandra, no it's all flowers. The blue ones are in 2 colors and measure 14" across. The smaller white ones are 10" across. The entire quilt is approximately 77 1/2" x 92" . The quilting is hard to see unless you download the pictures and scan around. It's a cornflower blue thread and the patterns are 8 sunbursts that meet with a sunflower-like pattern around the appliques. Unfortunately, there was no quilting done within the appliqued blocks and the batting's all wadded up in a few of those! I'll see what I can do about making a tracing and posting it.

Leslee downloaded the pic, the center bottom unit that needs repair...is what I wondered if was an eagle...can you determine what it may be? As to the quilting it is wonderful. Where/How did you come across this? Maybe there may be info you can find from them. If purchased @ antique shop there should be a record of the purchase and you can have them give your number to the party they purchased it from and request any info they may have. Even if it is from a family member you may be able to gleen something helpful. The devil may be in the details but you never know, you may find they may have kept the old sewing templates and/or design in with "grandma's" stuff.

I too like the pattern it very pretty and differnt. Sandra was right the tear in the bottom center does look like an eagle. If you get it traced would love a copy too

Dear Leslee, in todays paper, The San Antonio Express and News there was an article about a lady that knows about old quilts. She is a quilt collector. My husband already put the paper out for recycleing so I can't get it for you. I believe her name was Anne Kovel. Maybe you can get the article through the internet. Good luck, it looks like a beautiful quilt. Estella

If you are able to make a copy of the pattern, I would love to get a copy of it. It really is a lovely quilt.

To all who've asked--I'm going to take the measurements as best I can and do the tracing of the applique and quilt pattern(s). Patrice has offered her help (Thank you, Patrice--I'm most grateful!!!)

It's really lovely, would love the pattern :D

Thank you too Patrice for helping to share this pattern with all of us.

That is a beautiful quilt. If a pattern comes available, I would be interested in having it. Thanks, Ann

Sandra, You must have eyes of an eagle!!!! This quilt is beautiful. I also would love a copy of this pattern!

Not sure my eyes are that sharp...but imaginative sights come easy...love those clouds. Leslee was right it is a plain blue square...the tear as it is laid out in the pic however made me think it was an eagle...clouds again. i wonder anyone else got quilts with designs we wonder about? I, for one, find this search fascinating!

What a beautiful find!! I too would be interested in a copy of the tracing. Would it be possible to trace the quilting lines as well?

There are Kovels (Ralph and Terry) who write a weekly column on antiques. Perhaps "Ann" is related???

Suzanne

Me again! When studying this quilt, I noted the following:

1. The quilter used three blue flowers in the center of the quilt while the others have only two flowers; and

2. Note the placement of the stems and flowers, obviously the quilter turned the pattern over to achieve the symmetry.

Suzanne

Suz sharpe eye I hadn't noticed that.

When in was looking closer I notice that the 2 center groups on the top and bottom of the border are placed the same if you look at the side rows they are mirror images

ok....ok....! I didn't catch the center floral arrangement....I didn't think to note mirror images...to me it is a symmetrical obvious...Glad this is sparking so much interest.....Kind of like a forget me not quilt....

Sandra--YOU didn't notice??? I have the quilt right here in front of me and I never noticed there were 3 flowers in the center!!!! Great work, Suzanne!

Thanks ladies! As many of you have learned, I am "appliquer" at heart.

One of my current projects is making an applique/pieced quilt that is dated 1860-1890. When I saw it, I knew I'd be making it. I must learn to take a digital and then how to post for you to see.

The blocks remaining to be made are pieced. (Of course, I did the two different applique blocks first.) The best description would be, if you can follow me, is 1/4 of a sunburst in three colors in seven rays. The smallest piece is about the size of your little fingernail. I plan to paperpiece these blocks as the three pieces in one ray are so small. Then four rays, radiate toward the center from the four corners. --- When you see this block(s) one has to wonder who a quilter from the 1800's was able to piece with such accuracy owing she did not have the tools and template plastic we use now. I stand in awe of her. No name accompanies it which is such a shame as she will not receive the accolades she had earned and deserves.

The quilt described is in plain fabrics, two pinks, two greens on a muslin background.

Regardless, the quilt at hand. As photographed, note that the top row, center flowers (blue on white), the stem is not a mirror image to its counterpart at the bottom. I would be interested in learning if the top row of flower groups (white on blue) is a mirror of the bottom row of white on blue.

Thanks again. Suzanne

Suzanne

Suz, I took a few shots of the borders folded to be beside each other. I think the quilter did her best to mirror the applique.

Leslee, have pulled my old McCall Needlework mags from 1949-51 and have been searching them...no luck there , but have found some wonderful patterns. I did e-mail a couple of companies concerning the pattern offers listed in there. Yes! some of these are still around and expect to hear from them soon...if they have copy will let you know. Also could check in the Dayton papers or Cincinnati papers archives for mention of patterns. Two of the largest commercial quilt and pattern manufacturers main offices were in those towns. Quilt and search...quilt and search....

This is really fascinating. Not only did we see a beautiful pattern and old quilt but ar learning the history of quilts and pattern companies!

Isn't it fascinating? When I posted the pic, I thought everyone would write to say their grandmothers had made this pattern dozens of times. And there's something else I've learned and hoped this quilt will remind us of. Tho it's an old quilt and it's been often-used and well-loved, we can all see the damage that could have been avoided. Proper folding over the years and the right storage most likely would have stopped the holes and tears along the fold lines and the yellowed areas. Not leaving large areas unquilted would have avoided the cotton batt shift. And the rule I'm reminded of the most: DOCUMENT the quilt!! Put a date and a signature somewhere on it, your quilt may live for decades and become somebody's mystery!! :roll:

Good point! Over the years as my skills have grown, i've started trying (in some cases) to make a teeny replica of the block to use for the label and done just that. Put who it was for the date and my name. Its a quirk of mine--like a teeny Sunbonnet Sue or aq teeny fan like the bigger one. But it gives the quilt some more individuality that makes it exclusively for the recipient. Dating is so important! Its a shame, that more of the old ones weren't dated.
I have what I think is old quilt in the closet. It has a crocheted afghan and cotton batting in the middle. I paid $25.00 for at a flea mkt in Hot Springs ARk 25 years ago. It is bad shape but I don't know what to do to fix it and hate to get rid of it because I think its really old. I wouldn't mind donating it to a museum but really don't know how to go about even doing that or if anyone would be interested.

Vicki, Check these sites for now....RockyMountainQuilts.com....or OldTrinitySchoolhouseQuilts.com.....Having something from the purchase would give you a name to locate...but that water has long been under that bridge....Documentation is certainly very important...remembering even more so....I gotta'work on it too. As for your local museum, ask them...if they don't they would know where they would...

Good idea!

The quilt is beautiful for sure, but the sad thing is all those tiny stitches and no label. She didn't sign her work. I have a customer who has me hand bind her quilts. She often brings me a machine embroidered label that is at least as big as a sheet of paper if not larger. I have to laugh as I sew on the label, but it shows she values her work and wants everyone to know it. LOL I make quilts to be loved and used today. But if I ever do an all hand work quilt, I sure would hate the idea of someone wondering about it's origin. This is a good lesson to us to document.

Vicki,

Alex Anderson answered a similar question today when she visited a quilt shop at which she was speaking and showing slides. A quilter had an old family quilt and couldn't part with it but it was in such bad condition, it was stored. It appeared that one half of the quilt was exposed to sun which caused the damage. Alex suggested that she cut it into several pieces and have the pieces framed. This way she could share it with other family members.

Is this a possible solution for you? Suzanne

PS: Leslee, thank you for the new pictures. I appreciate same. S

Leslee,

You may want to contact the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. They have (as far as I know, but I may be entirely incorrect) the only university in the country with an entire department dedicated to quilts. The art form, design, history, etc. They also have a large display of antique quilts that are protected as well as the declaration of Independence. They have consultants that would (free of charge as of a couple years ago) inspect pictures of a quilt if it wasn't nearby and try to determine age and pattern. You may want to try there. It is very pretty.

Melissa

This is a great website for antique quilts, Maybe you can find yours here.
http://www.quiltindex.org/index.php

I have been very interested in some of the old designers like Ruby Short Mckim. Her grandaughter is starting to offer her patterns for sale. Possibly you could contact them to see if this was one of Ruby's designs. She is featured every now and then in American Patchwork and Quilting, one of the mags that BEtter Homes and Gardens has. BB&H did back in the 30's and 40's publish some of her patterns as well as several newspapers in the midwest. She was a very prolific designer so perhaps this is one of hers. Can't hurt to try! Good luck. The search has been fascinating so keep us posted.

I think these are pretty close. some of the templates are a bit out of proper shape but that can be fixed during the cutting or stitching. close examination of the photos indicate that the quilter didn't trace and follow a pattern precisely. rather, it looks like she "eyeballed" the placement of the different elements within the 10" and 14" circles.

this is a fairly large file. if it uploads here, it'll take a while to download on dial-up.

Got it! Will print templates here at work before I leave and try to print a color picture at home (no color printer hooked up to my pc here at work :cry: Thanks Patrice! I know what I'll try next!

Thank you so much , both of you, Leslee for sharing such a beautiful treasure and Patrice, for your help in passing it on to us. Both of your are Quilting Queens!!! Our thimbles are off to you!

Leslee & Patrice,

Thank you!
Your work and sharing are most appreciated!

you are all very welcome. :P