QUILT INDEX RECORD
13-9-19
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Mountain Heritage Center
Who documented this quilt?
Mountain Heritage Center; Southern Appalachian Quilts
Mountain Heritage Center's Accession Number:
MHC2005.06.003
Person filling out this form is:
Blood relative of quiltmaker; Quilt owner
Source of the information on this quilt:
Great Great Grandaughter
When was the form filled out?
2005
Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:
Quilt owner
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Inherited; Received as a gift
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Butterfly
How wide is the quilt?
75 1/2"
How long is the quilt?
86"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Black; Blue or Navy; Green; Lavender; Pink; Red; White; Yellow
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor; Light or pastel colors
Quilt's condition:
Fair/worn
Damage:
Dirty; Disintegration of fabric; Fading; Stains; Wear to edge or binding
Time period:
1930-1949
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1940
Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:
1930 - 1940
Who estimated the quilt's date?
Merikay Waldvogel
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
84
Size of quilt blocks:
9" x 9"
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:
2
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Dotted; Floral; Geometric; Multiple scrap; 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; Hand Applique
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Embroidery
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Embellishments used:
Cotton thread
Describe embellishment materials or techniques:
Black outline stitch typical of era.
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
Lavender
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
3
Width of pieces on the back:
10"; 33 1/2"; 33 1/2"
Describe the back:
Machine sewn; Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Back turned to front; Machine sewn
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?
Cotton
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
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:
5
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
6
Width between quilting lines:
1/2"
Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?
no
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Double parallel lines; Echo
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Floral
Quilting designs used, background fills:
Parallel lines; Other
Describe the quilting designs used:
Pink squares have embroidery pattern for a tulip as the quilting design. Similar to Block 3 - Flower Garden Quilt Series - 1930 published nationwide in newpapers.
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Butterfly applique may be die cut - no piecing and then hand pieced to block.
Quilt top made by:
Ramsey, Emma Lee Owensby
Quilted by:
Ramsey, Emma Lee Owensby
Where the quilt was made, city:
King's Mountain
Where the quilt was made, county:
Cleveland
Where the quilt was made, state:
North Carolina (NC)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Inheritance
Quilt is presently used as:
Exhibit; Museum collection; Study or teaching aid
Where did the maker get their materials?
Purchased new
Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Emma Lee Owensby Ramsey worked in a card room of a cotton mill in Cleveland county NC. Emma’s spouse, Jessie Lee Ramsey, was employed as a weaver in a cotton mill.
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public Museum, Library or Institution
Quilt owner's name:
Mountain Heritage Center Western Carolina University
Quilt owner's city:
Cullowhee
Quilt owner's county:
Jackson
Quilt owner's state:
North Carolina (NC)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Owensby, Emma Lee
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's birth date:
07/24/1889
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
United States
Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):
11/28/1907
Quiltmaker's occupation:
Worked in a card room of a cotton mill in Cleveland county NC.
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Owensby, William Lee
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Owensby, Florence Olivey
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):
Ramsey, Jessie Lee
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Employed as a weaver in a cotton mill.
Number of children:
3
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
3
Who photographed this quilt?
Tim Barnwell
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Mountain Heritage Center
Cite this Quilt
Ramsey, Emma Lee Owensb. Butterfly. 1930-1949. From Mountain Heritage Center, Mountain Heritage Center; Southern Appalachian Quilts. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=13-9-19. Accessed: 04/26/24