QUILT INDEX RECORD

33-29-58

Description of quilt:

This quilt won Second Place in the Minneapolis regional round and was exhibited at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. This Feathered Star pattern was published by Hubert Ver Mehren for his Home Art Studio quilt pattern line. The quilt first appeared in 1932 in the booklet (name?)

Essay:

The 1933 Sears National Quilt Contest was announced in January 1933 with a deadline of May 15, 1933. Over 24,000 quilts were entered at local Sears stores or sent to one of 10 regional mail order houses. Quilts were judged at each site with the top three winners moving onto the next round. Finally just 30 quilts reached the final judging held at the Sears Pavilion on the 1933 Chicago World's Fair site. Isabel Hughes of Linn Grove, Iowa won second place of $75 in Minneapolis round. Her quilt then went to the national round where it did not win a prize but it was displayed at the Sears Pavilion of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Quilt historian Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr. visited the exhibit and jotted these notes down about the quilt: "Feathered Star -- very effective."

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project; Sears Quilt Contest 1933 Chicago World's Fair

Merikay Waldvogel Legacy Project Number:

023

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker

Source of the information on this quilt:

Grand-daughter-in-law

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Feathered Star

What color is the quilt?

White; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt started?

1932

When was the quilt finished?

1933

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

Star design quilted in large white squares.

Quilt top made by:

Hughes, Isabel

Quilted by:

Hughes, Isabel

Where the quilt was made, city:

Linn Grove

Where the quilt was made, state:

Iowa (IA)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Inheritance

Why was the quilt made?

Challenge or Contest entry

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Hubert Ver Mehren design for Home Art Studio

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Published material

Contests entered:

Sears Quilt Contest, 1933 Chicago World's Fair Quilt was judged either at a local store or at the mail order house. The quilt won second place at the regional round in Minneapolis and went to the national round in Chicago where it did not win a prize.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's city:

Linn Grove

Quiltmaker's state:

Iowa (IA)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Grand-daughter-in-law reported that she owns two quilts by Isabel Hughes--Double Wedding Ring (double-bed size) and String of Beads (a king size applique quilt).

Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs or rhymes used by the quiltmaker:

According to the family, Isabel used her $75 in prize money to pay for a portion of her daughter's college education.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Merikay Waldvogel