The Quilt Index

Submit a Quilt

WELCOME TO THE QUILT INDEX COMMUNITY!

There is no Quilt Index without your quilt. There is no Quilt Index without your support. When you add your quilt and story to the Quilt Index, you join a community of thousands around the world who care about preserving the history of quiltmaking. This massive collective effort is building a remarkable resource for research, education, and inspiration about this art form and the artists who produced quilts. After you have added your quilt story and images, your piece of quilt history will be shared with others.

WHERE DO I START?

You will be using The Quilt Index Public Submission Form which asks questions about the quilt, the maker, and the owner. The form is a compilation of aspects of quilt history that are being recorded in quilt documentation projects around the world.

Prepare by gathering a measuring tape and any records on how you got the quilt or the person who made it. Download The Quilt Index Public Submission Form and fill it in. Then, copy and paste your answers into the online Quilt Index Public Submission Portal. Or, print the form and fill it in; when finished, keyboard your answers into the Quilt Index Public Submission Portal.

If you already have a system for documenting your quilts, compare your system to the Quilt Index Public Submission Form. For instance, if you use a spreadsheet to keep information on your quilts, rearrange your columns to match the order of the information on the Quilt Index Public Submission Form. This will make it easier for you to fill out the online Quilt Index form.

As you go through the online form you will see many hint

. Click on the symbol to get hints to help you answer questions.

The JUMP TO SECTION enables you to move around the fields while adding your information.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers to all of the questions. Just skip any questions you can’t answer.

Refer to The Quilt Index Guide to Documenting Quilts if you are a first time documentor or want extra help. Refer to Preparing Your Images for the Quilt Index for help with naming and sizing your images.

When you are done entering data online, hit the “Submit” button and your information will be processed by a Quilt Index staff member. You will receive an email with a link to each quilt. Whether you submit one quilt or many quilts, you can share the links with friends, family, and colleagues around the world!

WHAT IS THE HIDDEN COST?

There is no charge to upload your stories, images, and information about your quilts. We are, however, asking that individuals recognize that there are real costs to include your quilts and stories in The Quilt Index. We are suggesting a donation of $10.00 per quilt to cover those costs. Simply calculate how many quilts you have added, multiply by $10.00 per quilt, and then go to QI DONATE PAGE to submit funds in a secure online portal or to download a contribution form. If you want to provide more support beyond covering the costs of adding your quilts, we warmly welcome any additional contribution! These funds will enable The Quilt Index to maintain your data in an international digital resource that is accessible by everyone into the future.

QUESTIONS?

Visit our F.A.Q for more information. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send them to us through the Quilt Index contact page to submit them.

Story About This Quilt

Please share stories about this quilt here:

Please make a separate story page for this story.

Is this is a special story with photographs and/or ephemera (letters, census pages, templates, etc.) If yes, it can have a record all its own on our Stories page.

Overall Description

What kind of quilt is this?

If none of the above apply, describe the piece:

Owner’s name for quilt:

Quilt pattern names can be confusing. For names that came down through the family like “Granny’s Blue Quilt” use Owner’s name for quilt. For names you found in a quilt reference book like Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns, or from a quilt professional, use Name(s) for quilt’s pattern in common use. For art quilts that have a title, use Quilt’s title. You may use more than one field. For instance you may have found that “Granny’s Blue Quilt” is a Monkey Wrench pattern, so you can use Owner’s name for quilt and Name(s) for quilt’s pattern in common use. If you used a source like Brackman, enter in Source of pattern name. If the quilt is topical like a NAMES panel quilt, put the subject of the quilt in Subject of quilt.

Quilt’s title:

Name(s) for quilt’s pattern in common use:

Source of pattern name:

Subject of quilt:

List up to 8 words you think will be helpful to researchers interested in this quilt.

How wide/long is the quilt? (in or cm?)

Shape of edge:

Other shape of edge:

Quilt Top Colors

What color(s) is the quilt?

Antique colors:

These are colors specifically relating to old quilts (before 1940) and describe the manufacturing or dyeing process.

Overall color scheme:

Describe any other colors not included in the other color fields.

Layout

Choose the best description for the quilt’s layout:

Quilts often follow styles in the way the patterns are put together. This is called the Layout. If you don’t understand these quilt terms, refer to Quilt Layout in the How to Document a Quilt Guide, or skip the Layout section.

Number of quilt blocks:

If this is a block style quilt, use the following fields to describe the blocks and how they are set together. If this is not a block style quilt, skip to the Border.

Size of quilt blocks:

Medallion size:

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Other spacing:

Sashing width:

Not all blocks are square, choose the block shape:

Number of borders:

Border description:

Fabrics

Fiber type:

Fabric type:

Print type:

Other fibers or fabrics:

Construction

Piecing:

Applique:

Novelty:

WERE EMBELLISHMENTS USED TO MAKE THIS QUILT TOP?

Embellishing techniques:

Embellishments used:

Unique or other construction techniques:

Batting

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

How thick is the quilt?

Unique or other filling:

Quilting

Quilting techniques used:

QUILTING DESIGNS USED

Overall motifs:

Decorative motifs:

Background fill:

Other quilting designs used:

Thread type:

Thread color:

Number of quilting stitches per inch:

Width between quilting lines (in inches):

Knots visible?

Binding

Materials used in quilt binding:

Fabric structure of the binding:

How is the binding made?

How wide is the binding? (measure on the top only)

Describe unique binding:

Quilt Back

Materials used in the quilt back:

Describe the back:

What color is the quilt back?

Number of pieces in the quilt back:

Width of pieces:

Other description of the back:

Inscriptions

Type of inscription:

Method used to make the inscription:

Location of the inscription:

Record here the words or letters/initials that are on the quilt.

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

Any other notes on inscriptions:

Condition and Repairs

Quilt condition:

Damage:

Repairs:

Any other notes on condition or repair:

Any other features or notes about the quilt’s appearance, materials, or construction:

Quilt History

Date The Quilt Was Made

Dating quilts can be problematic. Are you the maker and know when it was begun and finished? Use Date quilt begun and Date quilt finished. Do you have only one date?, use Date quilt finished. Are you estimating based on a family story that passed to you with the quilt? Use Family/owner’s date for quilt. Did someone help you date the quilt? Use Further information concerning date (s). Use Time period, even if you used other date fields because it helps with searches.

Date quilt begun:

Date quilt finished:

Family/owner’s date for quilt:

Further information concerning date(s):

Time period:

Why The Quilt Was Made

Reasons:

If you know more, please explain:

Quilt is presently used as:

Other present use(s) of quilt:

Where The Quilt Was Made

City:

County:

State:

Province:

Country:

Sources Of Materials and Patterns

Where did the maker get their materials?

Other source(s) of quilt’s materials:

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Other information about the pattern:

If you know the name of the pattern or designer, enter it here.

Exhibits, Contests, Publications, and Other Items

List exhibitions quilt was shown at:

Add as much information as you can. If you know the names, dates, places, enter them.

List contests quilt was shown at:

Add as much information as you can. If you know the names, dates, places, enter them. But if all you know is “First prize, state fair,” that’s good, too.

PUBLICATIONS

List publications this quilt has appeared in:

Please list or describe any other items (diaries, patterns, wills, photos, etc.) that relate to this quilt.

This is an inventory of items you may have about the quilt or its maker. If you would like to upload any of these items, you may add up to four extra images or contact Beth Donaldson for more options.

Images of this Quilt

The QI allows for one quilt image and four details. Find the best image of your quilt and crop it as close to the quilt edges as you can. Size this image at 72 dpi and 1500 pixels wide and when saving, add "z" or "zoom" to the image file name. Make sure there are no spaces in the file name (ex: TRC-001a.jpg works, TRC 001z.jpg, does not work). Upload this image to the "Zoom" field. Take your zoom image and resize it to 72 dpi and 700 pixels wide. Choose save as and rename this image by removing the "z" or "zoom". Upload this image to the "Quilt" image field. You may upload up to four details. They should be 72dpi and no more than 700 pixels wide. Upload those images to the "Detail" fields. For more on the quilt images see Preparing Your Images for the Quilt Index.

Quilt (full view image of the quilt, 72 dpi, 700 pixels wide):

Zoom (same image as Quilt, but larger, 72 dpi, 1500 pixels wide):

Photographer/photo credit:

Date image was taken:

Detail 1 (can be close-up of quilt, quilt back, signature, quiltmaker, prize ribbon, pattern, etc., 72 dpi, 700 pixels wide):

Detail 1 Caption:

Detail 2 (can be close-up of quilt, quilt back, signature, quiltmaker, prize ribbon, pattern, etc., 72 dpi, 700 pixels wide):

Detail 2 Caption:

Detail 3 (can be close-up of quilt, quilt back, signature, quiltmaker, prize ribbon, pattern, etc., 72 dpi, 700 pixels wide):

Detail 3 Caption:

Detail 4 (can be close-up of quilt, quilt back, signature, quiltmaker, prize ribbon, pattern, etc., 72 dpi, 700 pixels wide):

Detail 4 Caption:

The Quiltmaker/Artist

WHO MADE THE QUILT?

Quilt top made by (Last Name, First Name):

Quilted by (Last Name, First Name):

Other people who worked on this quilt (Last Name, First Name):

I will document multiple quilts by this quiltmaker, please make a separate artist page.

If you document only one quilt by this maker, you don’t need a separate artist. All your artist information will show on the quilt page. If you document multiple quilts by this maker, the maker can have their own page here. Please submit at least one picture and a biography (short or long). All documented quilts by this maker will appear at the bottom of their page, ex: 12-51-74. Note the quilts made by the artist are listed first with “Creator” in the display card. This same page can include any quilts collected (but not made by) this maker. The quilts owned by the artist are listed next with “Owner” in the display card. After your artist page is established you will be given a unique KID number for use when you document more quilts. When this KID number is added to any new quilt record you enter, the quilt will show up on your artist page.

If you already have an artist page for this maker, enter the KID here.

If you have any changes to the artist record, enter them in the fields below. If there are no changes, skip to Owner.

Upload an image of the quiltmaker:

ARTIST STATEMENT OR BIOGRAPHY OF QUILTMAKER OR QUILT GROUP (SHORT OR LONG):

QUILTMAKER GROUPS AND RELATIONS

If quilting group, group name:

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Other relationship not listed above:

ABOUT THE QUILTMAKER

Quiltmaker City:

Quiltmaker State:

Quiltmaker County:

Quiltmaker Province:

Quiltmaker Country:

Other names quiltmaker was known by:

Birthplace city:

Birthplace state:

Birthplace province:

Birthplace country:

Birth date:

Death date:

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker grow up:

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Educational backgrounds:

Religious affiliations:

Occupation:

Spouse’s/spouses’ and/or partner’s/partners’ name(s):

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts:

If yes, price charged:

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting:

Does (did) the quiltmaker belong to a group? Include the name, location, and special activities of the group.

Quilt Owner

I will document multiple quilts by this quilt owner, please make a separate owner page.

If you only document one quilt, you don’t need an owner page. All your owner information will show on the quilt page. If you document multiple quilts, you (the owner/collector) can have your own page, here. Please submit at least one picture and a biography (short or long) of the owner. If the owner is also a maker, you only need one page. All documented quilts will appear at the bottom of their page, ex: 12-51-74. On the page, if you made the quilt they are listed first with “Creator” in the display card. If you collected the quilt (but did not make it) the quilts are listed next with “Owner” in the display card. After your artist page is established you will be given a unique KID number for use when you document more quilts. When this KID number is added to any new quilt record you enter, the quilt will show up on your artist page.

If you already have an artist page for this owner, enter the KID here.

If you have any changes to the owner record, enter them in the fields below. If there are no changes, skip to Release.

Name of quilt owner (Last Name, First Name):

Biography of quilt owner (short or long):

Person filling out this form is:

Other:

How did you acquire this quilt?

What was the occasion, date, person inherited from, etc.?

Privacy wishes of owner:

Quilt owner city:

Quilt owner county:

Quilt owner state:

Quilt owner province:

Quilt owner country:

Owner’s inventory number:

Do you have a lot of quilts to add to the QI and have your own inventory system? Do you want to find a quilt using your own number? If yes, put that number here.

Please include my record in another quilt documentation project. Choose the projects where your record will appear:

Each submitted quilt creates one record that shows in search results and on the Public Submission page search. Your quilt will be included in other project searches if you choose it from the dropdown list. If your quilt was made in a particular state or country or is owned by someone in a particular state or country, choose the corresponding project. If the quilt pertains to a topic like health, etc. choose that project. You may choose more than one project. The QI retains the right to not include your quilt if there is no evidence in the record that it belongs to the project you've chosen. Most quilts included in the QI resulted from statewide documentation projects. Many of those projects no longer accept quilt records. If you don't see a project in the list, it has not given the QI permission to add more records. The dropdown list includes documentation projects that are encouraging the use of the Submit a Quilt page and want the new records included in their projects.

Access and copyright information for image:

For holder of copyright, contact:

Release Form

I release to the Quilt Index the information recorded on this form, the photos and materials provided for the educational and research purposes they deem appropriate.

Name: *

Date: *

Contact email: *

* Required fields