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Windmill; Windmill; Kansas Troubles, Grand Right and Left

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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