QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-7276
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
99.0250
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
1998:53.70
Object label:
October Foliage
Mary Schafer
Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan
1971
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#1998:53.70
Essay:
Interpretative Commentary:
Mary frequently added her own touch to the historical patterns she used by designing a border and original quilting design to further the quilt's overall impact. One of Mary's trademark original border designs, an appliquéd curving vine border with leaves and grapes, can be found in this "October Foliage" quilt. Mary usually had a very specific reason for choosing each element of her quilts. Here, the rust-colored appliquéd design of the blocks suggests fall leaves whirling in the wind. -- Mary Worrall
Additional Commentary:|
The quilt was included in the exhibit American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, which toured in Japan from January-December 2003 and is featured in the exhibit’s catalogue, American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum. -– Beth Donaldson
Quilt's title:
October Foliage
Owner's name for the quilt:
October Foliage
Quilt top made by:
Schafer, Mary
Quilted by:
Schafer, Mary
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Purchased the quilt
Where the quilt was made, city:
Flushing
Where the quilt was made, county:
Genesee
Where the quilt was made, state:
Michigan (MI)
Time period:
1950-1975
Why was the quilt made?
Teaching or learning sample
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's city:
Flushing
Quiltmaker's county:
Genesee
Quiltmaker's state:
Michigan (MI)
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Vida
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Urban
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
Austrian
Quiltmaker's educational background:
Her father made her quilt school at age 15 to work in his creamery.
Quiltmaker's occupation:
Bottle washer, book keeper, telephone operator, home maker.
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Vida, Josef
Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:
Austria
Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:
Austrian
Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:
Austria
Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:
Austrian
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:
German
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
Welder at Buick Motors
Number of children:
1
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
1
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Self-Taught
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 40-49
Why does the quiltmaker quilt?
Fundraising; Pleasure
Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:
more than 50
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
no
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
only informally
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
84 1/2
How long is the quilt?
94
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Beige or Tan; Rust
Overall color scheme:
One color/monochromatic
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Method used to make the inscription:
Embroidery
Location of inscription:
on border
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
12 appliqued blocks, 6 alternate plain blocks
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:
1
Number of borders:
1
Describe the borders:
The border is appliqued with a vine with leaves and grapes.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
3
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Straight grain
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?
Polyester
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
7
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Wreaths
Quilting designs used, background fills:
Parallel lines
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Mary frequently added her own touch to the historical patterns she used by designing a border and original quilting design to further the quilt?s overall impact. One of Mary?s trademark original border designs, an appliquéd curving vine border with leaves and grapes, can be found in this ?October Foliage? quilt. Mary usually had a very specific reason for choosing each element of her quilts. Here, the rust-colored appliquéd design of the blocks suggests fall leaves whirling in the wind.
Where did the maker get their materials?
Purchased new
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Another quilt
Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:
Image of the quiltmaker, interviews, ephemera
Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:
See "Mary Schafer and Her Quilts" by Gwen Marston and Joe Cunningham.
Person filling out this form is:
Quilt owner
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's name:
Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's city:
East Lansing
Quilt owner's county:
Ingham
Quilt owner's state:
Michigan (MI)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Purchase
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on this quilt?
Original to maker
Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:
Mary loves hand work and traditional patterns.
Who photographed this quilt?
Fumio Ichikawa
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Schafer, Mar. October Foliage. 1950-1975. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-7276. Accessed: 03/29/24
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Collection
Mary Schafer Quilt and Ephemera Collec...
Worrall, Mary
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Gallery
Michigan Quilts
MacDowell, Marsha
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Collection
Quilt Treasures
Worrall, Mary
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Schafer, Mary Quiltmaker
Michigan Quilt Project