Turkey Tracks Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1880

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Artifact Overview

Susan McCord's unique vine design meanders along the border on one side of this Turkey Tracks pattern quilt. This quilt was probably made with a specific bed in mind -- a bed with one long side against a wall. The border's background fabric doesn't quite match the rest of the quilt. Did McCord "recycle" a previously made, and now worn, quilt's border?

Artifact Details

Artifact

Quilt

Date Made

circa 1880

Creators

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

73.120.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cotton (Textile)
Calico
Muslin
Batting

Technique

Piecing
Applique (Technique)
Embroidering
Quilting
Hand sewing
Roller printing (Printmaking)

Color

Pink (Color)
White (Color)
Brown
Green

Dimensions

Height: 82.5 in
Width: 73 in

Inscriptions

Mrs. C. M. Cannaday

Specifications

Pattern: Turkey Tracks
Number of Pieces (top): 16 pattern blocks
Fabric (top): Roller printed cottons , solids, seaweed or parsley prints
Piecing Technique: Hand pieced and hand appliqued
Number of Pieces (back): 7
Fabric (back): Cotton muslin
Stitches per Inch: 9-12
Quilting Pattern: In pattern blocks pieces are outline quilted on background of crosshatch diamond grid; lattice has wavy feather quilting pattern on background of crosshatch diamonds; borders at top and bottom quilted with diagonal lines; applique border outline quilted around each applique piece with background of crosshatch diamonds
Quilting Technique: Hand quilted
Binding: Front and back edges turned in; hand sewn on top, bottom and proper right, with no separate binding; proper left front fabric is turned to back
Batting: Thin cotton batting with milling debris in the batting
Note(s): This pattern is also known as Wandering Foot pattern. Because the background fabric appears different in the applique border, and it was repaired before the quilt was assembled, it may indicate that this border was from another quilt or was left over from another quilt and added to this one.
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