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Gasperik 04: Kit Quilts

Mary Gasperik's quilts reveal a fondness for playing with the elements of commercially available quilt kits. Calico Rose, which may have been her first attempt at such a kit, is the only kit quilt she made without substantial changes of her own. She experimented with borders, hues, and background quilting patterns, as well as appliquéd elements of her own invention or from other patterns.

Calico Rose

Meadow Lark and Peasant Wreath

Leaf and Vine (#061)

Leaf and Vine (#024)

Leaf and Vine (#013)

Morning Glory (#026)

Morning Glory (#062)

Morning Glory (#009)

Morning Glory (#016)

Floral Bouquet

Legacy
Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary

Gasperik Legacy Project, Mary

Chicago; Illinois; United States

The Mary Gasperik Quilts consist of 80+ quilts made in Chicago at the height of the quilt revival of the 1930s and 40s. Nearly all quilts are still owned by her descendants who generously supported this online project spearheaded by grand-daughter Susan Salser.

legacy

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Essay
Mary Gasperik (1888-1969): Her Lif...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Mary Gasperik (1888-1969): Her Life and Her Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

Essay

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essays

Essay
American Quilts Empowered Immigrant Wo...

Salser, Susan

American Quilts Empowered Immigrant Women

Salser, Susan

2011

Quiltmaking could be an empowering form of self-expression for immigrants to the United States at the turn of the 20th Century, as in this case study of Hungarian-born Chicago quilter, Mary Mihalovits Gasperik, written by her grand-daughter, researcher Susan Salser.

Essay

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essays

Essay
Mary Gasperik and the Tuley Park Quilt...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Mary Gasperik and the Tuley Park Quilting Club

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Essay

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essays

Essay
Mary Gasperik and the Detroit...

Salser, Susan

Mary Gasperik and the Detroit News "Quilt Club Corner"

Salser, Susan

May; 12; 2005

Essay

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essays

Gallery
Gasperik 01: Masterpiece Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 01: Masterpiece Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 02: Antique Quilt Design Sour...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 02: Antique Quilt Design Sources

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 03: 1930s Quilt Pattern Sourc...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 03: 1930s Quilt Pattern Sources

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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18-121-6

galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 05: Gifts for Children

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 05: Gifts for Children

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 06: Gifts for Weddings & ...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 06: Gifts for Weddings & Anniversaries

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 07: Appliquéd Blo...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 07: Appliquéd Blocks

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 08: Mystery Quilts - Unidenti...

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 08: Mystery Quilts - Unidentified Patterns and Kits

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 09: Wholecloth Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 09: Wholecloth Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Gallery
Gasperik 10: Practical Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

Gasperik 10: Practical Quilts

Waldvogel, Merikay

May; 12; 2005

Gallery

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galleries

Collection
1933 Sears National Quilt Contest Disc...

Waldvogel, Merikay

1933 Sears National Quilt Contest Discoveries

Waldvogel, Merikay

2011

Merikay Waldovogel and Barbara Brackman researched the Sears National Quilt Contest. Sears Roebuck & Co. with headquarters in Chicago was a financial backer of the 1933 World’s Fair, known as The Century of Progress Exposition. To drum up interest in the Fair nationwide, Sears announced a national quilt contest in January 1933 with prizes totaling $7500.

Collection

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specialcolls

Exhibit
The Quilts of Mary Gasperik

Salser, Susan

The Quilts of Mary Gasperik

Salser, Susan

1992

In 1992, three of Mary Gasperik's granchildren, worked with other family members to present the quilts of their grandmother.

Exhibit

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exhibits

Exhibit
Mary Gasperik Quilters Hall of Fame In...

Salser, Susan

Mary Gasperik Quilters Hall of Fame Induction Exhibit

Salser, Susan

July; 22; 2021

The Mary Gasperik Hall of Fame Exhibit, was held at the Marion Public Library from July 15-17, 2021 as part of the Quilters Hall of Fame Celebration 2021.

Exhibit

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exhibits

Ephemera
Womenfolk 33. The History of 20th Cent...

Breneman, Judy Anne

Womenfolk 33. The History of 20th Century Kit Quilts

Breneman, Judy Anne

2007

This article from the website, Womenfolk.com is part of the Practices in Patchwork Quiltmaking essays. Themes and methods through time including Bible, temperance, feedsack and kit quilts.

Ephemera

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publications

1942 or earlier
Calico Rose
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1942 or earlier

Calico Rose

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery, This quilt looks like it is composed of individual blocks sewn together, but it is not. In construction terms, it is really a strip quilt bearing applique.

Quilt Size: 87 inches x 97 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Salser recorded the following notes when she examined an original Paragon 01082 Calico Rose kit in June 2017, comparing the kit with Gasperik's quilt, as well as a completed Calico Rose quilt made by an unknown quilter in New York: The set of solid color fab...

KID: 18-14-86

18-14-86

1937-1949
Meadow Lark and P...
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1937-1949

Meadow Lark and Peasant Wreath

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 77 inches x 88 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik changed the original kit by making the straight edges scalloped. She added appliqued meadowlarks between the wreath blocks. The source of this bird design is not known, but it closely resembles the Aunt Martha pattern #626 transfer design for making a meadowlark (see Wyoming state bird in ...

KID: 18-14-30

18-14-30

1944
Leaf and Vine
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1944

Leaf and Vine

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 84 inches x 93 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain, applique pink bow is not cotton

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

The quilt is personalized, as are its mates - Gasperik quilts <a href="https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=fullrec&kid=18-14-40" target="_blank">#013</a> and <a href="https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=fullrec&kid=18-14-42" target="_blank"...

KID: 18-14-43

18-14-43

1940s
Leaf and Vine
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1940s

Leaf and Vine

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 88 inches x 94 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Elaborate quilted feathers extend outward from the crossed laurel boughs. At the center of the boughs is a feathered circle. At the bottom, the arched quilted feathers touch, forming a crown.

KID: 18-14-42

18-14-42

1944
Leaf and Vine
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1944

Leaf and Vine

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 73 inches x 89 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Floral, Print, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

This quilt was made for and given to Gasperik's son and daughter-in-law (Elmer and Doris Gasperik) as a wedding anniversary present., The calla lily is a favorite Gasperik pattern. It is the <a href="https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=publications&kid=18-121-21" target="_blank...

KID: 18-14-40

18-14-40

1938-1945
Morning Glory
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1938-1945

Morning Glory

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 68 inches x 103 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Bucilla Applique Bedspread <a href="https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=publications&kid=18-121-114" target="_blank">Morning Glory</a> Design No. 2005 kit at first glance appears too have been Gasperik's pattern source; but ...

KID: 18-14-32

18-14-32

1935-1945
Morning Glory
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1935-1945

Morning Glory

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 68 inches x 102 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

<a href="https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=publications&kid=18-121-114" target="_blank">Bucilla Applique Bedspread</a> "Morning Glory" Design No. 2005 kit at first glance appears too have been Gasperik's pattern source; but upon clos...

KID: 18-14-33

18-14-33

1938-1945
Morning Glory
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1938-1945

Morning Glory

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 66 inches x 98 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

<a href="https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=publications&kid=18-121-114" target="_blank">Bucilla Applique Bedspread kit #2005</a>, Morning Glory. Morning Glory Design No. 2005 kit was used to design th...

KID: 18-14-34

18-14-34

1938-1945
Morning Glory
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1938-1945

Morning Glory

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 66 inches x 99 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Bucilla Applique Bedspread "Morning Glory" Design No. 2005 kit was used to design the four Gasperik Morning Glory quilts, but Marie Webster's child's quilt design "Morning Glory" in pink was likely used as the inspiration for making adjustments and changes to the Bucilla design. ...

KID: 18-14-35

18-14-35

1933
Floral Bouquet
Gasperik, Mary

Date Made: 1933

Floral Bouquet

Creator: Gasperik, Mary

Location Made: Chicago, Illinois (IL) United States

Contruction: Hand Applique, Embroidery

Quilt Size: 78 inches x 88 inches

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Solid/plain

Project: Mary Gasperik Private Collection; Sears Quilt Contest 1933 Chicago World's Fair

This Wurzburg kit Formal Garden No. 3555 was advertised: "This pattern has taken first prize in several National Contests." Perhaps that is why Mary Gasperik wanted to try her hand at this particular quilt pattern. It was also Wurzburg's most popular kit [see Michi...

KID: 18-14-41

18-14-41

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