Name/Title
Log CabinEntry/Object ID
1997.001.005Description
There are 30 blocks in this log cabin quilt arranged into a Sunshine and Shadows pattern (5 x 6). This hand quilted pieced scrap quilt was done in multi-colored fabric with a pieced strip backing. It is a summer quilt and has no batting. A "J" is embroidered in pink in the top left corner.
There is a back to front 1/4'' binding with square corners. The back is made up of 4 panels of a blue and brown plaid. There is no batting.
The entire quilt is hand quilted with single brown thread. It is 12 stitches per inch. It follows the top design with diagonal lines and stitch in the ditch. Each block features an "x" at the center.Context
Mary Spitzer Etter of Harrisonburg, Virginia donated her family's entire quilt collection to the Virginia Quilt Museum in 1997. The collection contained 27 quilts, most of which were made by Mary's aunts, the Spitzer sisters. Their names were Sarah Josephine Spitzer (Walters), Margaret Melinda Spitzer (Jones), and Ellen Rebecca Spitzer. It is unknown if the other two Spitzer sisters, Hannah Spitzer (Brown) and Jane Spitzer (Evers), did much quilting. Of the quilts completed by the Spitzer sisters, there is a single initial embroidered on the front of quilt to mark who made each quilt. Ellen Spitzer's daughter, Irene, also completed three pieces of the collection. Some of the quilts contain blocks were done by Mabel Spitzer, Mary's mother. These blocks were then quilted by either Berta or Effie Long, Mabel's neighbors. There are a few quilts not made by a Spitzer, yet they were still made by relatives of the Spitzer family.Collection
Permanent CollectionAcquisition
Accession
1997.001Source or Donor
Mary Spitzer EtterNotes
Donated Feb. 23, 1997Made/Created
Artist
Sarah Ann Josephine Spitzer WaltersDate made
circa 1875Place
* Untyped Place
Rockingham County, VirginiaInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InitialsLocation
top left cornerTranscription
"J"Material/Technique
EmbroideredDimensions
Dimension Description
Overall Quilt DimensionsWidth
81 inLength
100 inDimension Description
Individual Block DimensionsWidth
16 inLength
16 inDimension Notes
30 Blocks total, 5 x 5Materials
Material
Cotton, WoolMaterial Notes
Mixed; solids, stripes, prints, plaidsColor
Multi-Color, Orange, Blue, Purple, Brown, PinkCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodNotes
Minor staining and some fading
