Manufacturer
Newcombe, Mrs, Kent County
Lone Star Quilt (Starburst, Sunburst, Native American Star, Star of Bethlehem)
Datec. 1863
DimensionsOverall: 170.2 x 182.9 cm
Credit LineGift of Miss. G. Mitton, London, Ontario, 1963
Object number1963.038.001
Label TextMary Newcombe (1820-1897) used heavy, durable fabric to make this star of Bethlehem quilt, suggesting it served as a utilitarian bed covering. Her sewing skills and choice of contrasting colours made it a showpiece. Newcombe hand-sewed the different triangles and squares that produced the central star motif. She may then have hand-quilted the pieced top, cotton batting, and cotton backing. She might also have held a quilting bee during which a group of women worked together around a quilting frame to stitch the three layers together.
This quilt shows a difficulty that quilters of the past experienced with certain dyes. When first made, all of the black fabrics in this quilt would have looked the same. That some faded to varying shades of grey and brown indicates the use of different dyes.
NameQuilt
CopyrightPhoto Credit: Alex Walker
January 1891
JOHN CAMPBELL
