The July 17, 2004 meeting of the Midwest Fabric Dating Study Group took place in Marion, Indiana during the Quilters Hall of Fame Grand Opening Celebration. During the weekend we took classes, attended lectures, mingled with the past honorees and toured the Marie Webster home (see www.quiltershalloffame.org  for more information). Approximately 20 members gathered Saturday evening for a stupendous show-and-tell that lasted until after midnight! We were joined by several guests including certified quilt appraisers Susan Fiondella, Deb Roberts and Sue Reich, as well as Hazel Carter (founder of the Quilters Hall of Fame in 1979) and even Eleanor Burns.

Unlike previous meetings, we did not have a designated theme and the sky was the limit! The most recent offering (top only) was a 1970’s “Trip Around the World” in day-glow, psychedelic colors, while the earliest piece was a 60” x 120” panel of French decorator fabric, very like the early Palampores with the typical mound, tree, and large bird surrounded by flowers and dated as early as 1800.

The quirky and unusual was represented by a three-panel quilt – 2 panels of pieced blocks and a center plaid panel. Each panel was quilted individually, the edge finishes varied (front to back and back to front) and even the backing was inconsistent. Another oddity was a Honeybee Variation appliqué quilt, densely quilted, with a most original border design – sort of half a tobacco leaf with wings!

A particularly graphic red, white and blue quilt made in the 1920’s caught the interest of one member who researched the pattern and the layout after our return. The pattern was identified as Brackman’s “Nebraska” (#1941). The quilt was said to have been made by a husband and wife team – he cutting out the pieces and the wife completing the assembly and quilting.

An 1890’s Double Irish Chain (top only) may have been a finished quilt that was taken apart and provided an excellent fabric study of purples, bright yellow, double pink, conversation prints, pastel plaids, butterscotch and claret. Several Album block quilts were shared, one with vibrant yellow setting squares and no signatures and another with Connecticut signatures and inscriptions and dated 1848. Another find was a delicate 1850’s Churn Dash top (4 ½” blocks) with madder setting blocks, muslin background and a few surprising teals and pistachio greens pieced into the blocks.

In honor of Marie Webster, an e-bay purchase of the “Rainbow” pattern in traditional pastels beautifully quilted by black women in Weavertown, PA was shared. Another Webster beauty, the “Wreath of Roses” (Brackman’s appliqué, #4.78) was completed in Massachusetts in 1931. In addition to the finished quilt, the complete kit and original blueprint pattern sheets (dated 9-2-28) were included. Another e-bay treasure was a set of blocks preserved in an archival book and dated 1840. The blocks were from upstate New York and many contained the signatures of men – purpose unknown.

Another member provided a preview of the next meeting on doll and crib quilts by sharing several smaller pieces from her mother’s family in Canton, Ohio – one of the pieces was signed “Viola” and dated 1873 and was constructed of simple squares and tied.

An Oakleaf and Acorns appliqué quilt mimiced a cross stitch pattern of similar design with the same quilting motifs and suggested a kit quilt or the same company manufacturing both designs (4 oak leaves separated by 2 acorns forming a circular shape). The appliqué was completed in brown thread. Another treasure was a red-orange pieced and appliquéd basket quilt made in Illinois by 16-year old Hattie Hostetler in 1878.

A pristine appliquéd Rose Tree variation top in red, green, and cheddar was dated the 3rd quarter of the 19th century and was thought to be characteristic of Tennessee. We then revisited another red and green appliqué quilt from our last meeting which also exhibits regional characteristics of Tennessee. Dated with the probable wedding date of October 11, 1851 and the initials of the bride and groom, the quilt utilizes an unusual construction method. The quilt is appliquéd to a circular foundation, then pieced into a square block and is similar to a quilt in The Quilts of Tennessee (page 69).

With tired eyes and sensory overload, we climbed the stairs to our overnight accommodations at Indiana Wesleyan University and the convenience of not having to drive home after such a stimulating evening! Many of us talked of using our show and tell to keep us warm during the night away from home in the well-air conditioned dorm rooms. Our visit concluded the next morning with brunch at the Wilson-Vaughn Hostess House, a Marion landmark. Commissioned as a wedding gift by 60-year old J. Wood Wilson for his 27 year old bride in 1912, the mansion was built by a black architect/builder. The young bride, Peggy Wilson Vaughn, later became a friend to Marie Webster.

Our next meeting is Sunday, September 19 in Cincinnati at the home of Katha Kievit with the topic of Crib and Doll quilts – please bring show and tell!

Amy Korn AQS Certified Appraiser