October Foliage
Mary Schafer
Flushing, Genesee County, MI
1971
84 1/2" x 94"
Cotton with polyester filling
1998:53.70
Photo by Fumio Ichikawa, all rights reserved Michigan State University Museum

Mary frequently added her own touch to the historical patterns she used by designing a border and original quilting design to further the quilt's overall impact. One of Mary's trademark original border designs, an appliqued curving vine border with leaves and grapes, can be found in this "October Foliage" quilt. Mary usually had a very specific reason for choosing each element of her quilts. Here, the rust-colored appliqued design of the blocks suggests fall leaves whirling in the wind.

By Mary Worrall from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum