
QUILT INDEX RECORD
19-15-5545
Minnesota Quilt Project Documentation Number:
WS 062
When was the form filled out?
10/20/90
Where was the quilt documentation day held?
Waseca
Who helped you fill out the form?
Bev Phelps, D.F.S., Cele Heinen
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Minnesota Quilters Inc.
Who documented this quilt?
Minnesota Quilt Project (MQP)
Description of the back:
solid blue
Describe the back:
Machine sewn
What color is the back of the quilt?
Blue or Navy
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
3
Width of pieces on the back:
42.5", 43", 3"
How wide is the quilt?
75"
How long is the quilt?
89"
Size of quilt blocks:
12" x 12"
Sashing width:
2"
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
5
Number of borders:
1
Describe the borders:
2" plain blue blend fabric (same as sashing), butted corners
This is a:
Finished quilt
Describe the item:
repeated pieced blocks, hand quilted quilt
Quilt's title:
Windmill
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Square
Overall color scheme:
Two color
What color is the quilt?
Blue or Navy; Brown
Quilt's condition:
Good/moderate use
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1910 - 1960"s
When was the quilt started?
1910
When was the quilt finished?
1960's
Who estimated the quilt's date?
maker
Time period:
1950-1975
Further information concerning dates:
Maker's mother made seven blocks in 1910; maker made the balance of the blocks in 1940; maker assembled and completed the quilt in the 1960's
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
30
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
Owner's name for quilt:
Windmill
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Kansas Troubles, Grand Right and Left
Brackman # or other source & #:
Brackman #1270
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side; Separated by plain sashing
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton; Cotton or polyester blend
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Checked; Floral; Plaid; Solid/plain
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Public domain/traditional pattern
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Cecelia Loken made seven blocks in 1910. Her daughter Gena Loken Fretham made the remainder of the blocks in the 1940's. Gena assembled and quilted the quilt in the 1950's or 60's.
Quilt top made by:
Cecelia Hagen Loken and Gena Loken Fretham
Quilted by:
Gena Loken Fretham
Quiltmaker's city:
Cecelia made seven blocks at her farm in Otisco Township; Gena completed the quilt later. Both were in Waseca County.
Quiltmaker's state:
Minnesota (MN)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's maiden name:
Cecelia Hagen; Gena Loken
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's birth date:
Cecelia: May 24, 1881; Gena:Oct. 13, 1901
Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:
Gena: New Richland Township, Waeca County
Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:
Minnesota
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
United States
Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):
Gena: 1923
Quiltmaker's date and place of death:
Cecelia: Dec. 23, 1931, Waseca County; Gena: Jan 24, 1996, Waseca County
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
Norwegian
Quiltmaker's educational background:
Gena: 8th grade
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Lutheran
Quiltmaker's occupation:
homemakers
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Rural
Quiltmaker's father's name:
Cecelia: Ole Oleson Hagen; Gena: Jens Loken
Quiltmaker's mother's name:
Cecelia: Ingeborg Kvale Hagen; Gena: Cecelia Hagen Loken
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):
Cecelia: Jens Loken; Gena: Andrew Fretham
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:
farmer
Number of children:
Gena: 8
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
From Relative
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 11-19
Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:
Gena learned to quilt from her mother, Cecelia
Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:
20-50 quilts
Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:
Gena made 30+ quilts including 22 quilts for her 24 grandchildren. A the time of the documentation day, two more quilts were planned for the remaining two grandchildren. Gena said that she completed this quilt to honor her mother who made the first blocks.
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:
Quilt was exhibited in June of 1989 at Farmamerica, the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center near Waseca.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Minnesota Quilters, Inc.
Cite this Quilt
Cecelia Hagen Loken and Gena Loken Fretha. Windmill. 1960's. From Minnesota Quilters Inc., Minnesota Quilt Project (MQP). Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=19-15-5545. Accessed: 04/24/25