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- Floral Urn Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1860 - Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quilt making. Her Floral Urn quilt is reminiscent of album quilts made of large appliqué floral or wreath blocks. Large floral motifs were popular in the mid-19th century -- but McCord's version is exceptionally imaginative. McCord's love of gardening inspired the fuchsia, tulips, and daisies which spill whimsically from the urns.
- circa 1860
- Collections - Artifact
Floral Urn Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1860
Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quilt making. Her Floral Urn quilt is reminiscent of album quilts made of large appliqué floral or wreath blocks. Large floral motifs were popular in the mid-19th century -- but McCord's version is exceptionally imaginative. McCord's love of gardening inspired the fuchsia, tulips, and daisies which spill whimsically from the urns.
- Ocean Waves Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1880 - Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quilt making. This Ocean Waves quilt pattern was well-known in the late 19th century. But in McCord's hands the design is breathtakingly executed, formed of hundreds of tiny half-inch triangles cut from printed cotton fabrics. McCord finished the borders of this quilt with her unique meandering vines with colorful pieced leaves.
- circa 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Ocean Waves Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1880
Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quilt making. This Ocean Waves quilt pattern was well-known in the late 19th century. But in McCord's hands the design is breathtakingly executed, formed of hundreds of tiny half-inch triangles cut from printed cotton fabrics. McCord finished the borders of this quilt with her unique meandering vines with colorful pieced leaves.
- Hexagon Mosaic Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900 - Indiana farmwife Susan McCord, like other frugal housewives of the era, sewed her quilts from fabric she had on hand, mostly clothing scraps. McCord expertly pieced this top from small 1-1/4 inch hexagons arranged in concentric rings. A close look at the small scale prints reveals an encyclopedia of inexpensive clothing fabrics popular during the late 19th century.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Hexagon Mosaic Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900
Indiana farmwife Susan McCord, like other frugal housewives of the era, sewed her quilts from fabric she had on hand, mostly clothing scraps. McCord expertly pieced this top from small 1-1/4 inch hexagons arranged in concentric rings. A close look at the small scale prints reveals an encyclopedia of inexpensive clothing fabrics popular during the late 19th century.
- Turkey Tracks Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1880 - 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?
- circa 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Turkey Tracks Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1880
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?
- Pine Tree Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900 - Susan McCord pieced this Pine Tree pattern quilt top, but never finished it. Her descendants later had it quilted so that this bedcovering could be used. It is one of McCord's later quilts, and includes many turn-of-the-twentieth century fabric scraps. A close look reveals some fabrics seen in other McCord quilts. Purple calico sashing sets off the scrappy pine trees nicely.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Pine Tree Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900
Susan McCord pieced this Pine Tree pattern quilt top, but never finished it. Her descendants later had it quilted so that this bedcovering could be used. It is one of McCord's later quilts, and includes many turn-of-the-twentieth century fabric scraps. A close look reveals some fabrics seen in other McCord quilts. Purple calico sashing sets off the scrappy pine trees nicely.
- Triple Irish Chain with Vine Border Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900 - Susan McCord's Triple Irish Chain demonstrates her considerable skill at manipulating fabric, color and design to turn a traditional quilt pattern into something extraordinary. Choosing carefully from her bag of scraps, McCord sewed thousands of very small fabric squares of varying colors together, resulting in a remarkably balanced, pleasing whole. Then she surrounded it with her unique vine border.
- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Triple Irish Chain with Vine Border Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1900
Susan McCord's Triple Irish Chain demonstrates her considerable skill at manipulating fabric, color and design to turn a traditional quilt pattern into something extraordinary. Choosing carefully from her bag of scraps, McCord sewed thousands of very small fabric squares of varying colors together, resulting in a remarkably balanced, pleasing whole. Then she surrounded it with her unique vine border.
- Crazy Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1895 - In the late 19th century, decorative "crazy" quilts -- made from silk, velvet, and wool scraps stitched together "crazily" and embellished with embroidery -- were all the rage. Susan McCord made three crazy quilts -- this is only one she completed. McCord pieced the top, skillfully embroidered nearly every block, added filler and backing, and then tufted the three layers together with wool yarn.
- circa 1895
- Collections - Artifact
Crazy Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1895
In the late 19th century, decorative "crazy" quilts -- made from silk, velvet, and wool scraps stitched together "crazily" and embellished with embroidery -- were all the rage. Susan McCord made three crazy quilts -- this is only one she completed. McCord pieced the top, skillfully embroidered nearly every block, added filler and backing, and then tufted the three layers together with wool yarn.
- Diamond Field Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1890 - This popular patchwork pattern is called Diamond Field. In Susan McCord's hands it becomes a marvel of workmanship and design -- tiny pieces of different fabrics expertly arranged and sewn together. The quilt top is evenly faded and the batting thin -- it has seen much use and washing. Perhaps the quiltmaker or a family member slept under this quilt.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Diamond Field Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1890
This popular patchwork pattern is called Diamond Field. In Susan McCord's hands it becomes a marvel of workmanship and design -- tiny pieces of different fabrics expertly arranged and sewn together. The quilt top is evenly faded and the batting thin -- it has seen much use and washing. Perhaps the quiltmaker or a family member slept under this quilt.
- Feathered Star Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1890 - Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quiltmaking. Prince's Feather, often called Princess Feather, was a popular mid-19th century appliqued quilt design. McCord's graceful version of this feathery pinwheel pattern features her distinctive striped leaves, expertly pieced from tiny colorful scraps of fabric.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Feathered Star Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1890
Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quiltmaking. Prince's Feather, often called Princess Feather, was a popular mid-19th century appliqued quilt design. McCord's graceful version of this feathery pinwheel pattern features her distinctive striped leaves, expertly pieced from tiny colorful scraps of fabric.
- Vine Quilt by Susan McCord, 1880-1890 - Indiana farmwife Susan McCord made this stunningly beautiful quilt -- indisputably her masterpiece. This trailing vine design is a McCord original. McCord pieced together printed and solid cotton fabric scraps to create the over 300 leaves on each of the thirteen vine panels. McCord used variations of this vine in the borders of several quilts. But McCord's vine design is rendered to perfection in this work of genius.
- 1880-1890
- Collections - Artifact
Vine Quilt by Susan McCord, 1880-1890
Indiana farmwife Susan McCord made this stunningly beautiful quilt -- indisputably her masterpiece. This trailing vine design is a McCord original. McCord pieced together printed and solid cotton fabric scraps to create the over 300 leaves on each of the thirteen vine panels. McCord used variations of this vine in the borders of several quilts. But McCord's vine design is rendered to perfection in this work of genius.