Quilting History of Dorothy Alice Barnhill Cleaver

There once was a little girl named Dorothy, sitting under a quilting frame threading her third needle, while her mother Dorothy Marguerite (Culver) Barnhill and grandmother Nora Marriah (Stratton) Barnhill used those needles as hired hands to quilt a lattice grid the width of a ruler, charging by the yard of thread used. Unknown to her she was being taught a family tradition that would she would pass onto her children and grandchildren. Dorothy's first introduction of the art came from her greatgrandmother Chloe Marriah (Jones) Stratton. Chloe loved sewing crazy quilts made from a bag of oddly shaped scraps of fabric sewn together by hand. At 10 years Dorothy began her first quilt the 'Bow Tie Quilt'. With instruction from her grandma Nora she hand stitched each block finishing when she was a teenager. She made her next quilt at 20 years old an 'Animal Applique', while working nights as a Santa Fe railroad PBX Operator. Once Dorothy had the techniques of quilting her creativity took hold. Here is a look at her quilt log.

Stars

Brian's star quilt was made in the 'English paper piecing' style with cardstock as a base then appliqued to a background. (2002) 76"x 90"

Ocean Waves

Grayson wanted a wild and crazy quilt. 24 block set on point(2004) 79"x 95"

Goldenrod

This quilt was made for Craig 88"x 97"

Autumn Leaves

Ryan's quilt has 72 hand appliqued and embroidered blocks. (2004) 86"x95"

Hawaiian Applique

A good friend Chuck Hurst had this quilt top and I quilted it for him.

Flower Basket

Stacey's quilt has 40 basket blocks placed on point. Hand quilted around baskets by Rachelle and I in 2005. 81 1/2"x 98"

Mushroom Quilt

This embroidered quilt I wanted to make for a long time. Suzanne loved the colors.

Jacob's Ladder

Derek's quilt 42 blocks, hand quilted by Rachelle and I. (2002) 85 3/4"x 98 1/2"

Octagon Scrap Quilt

Logan's quilt brown and turquoise.

Patriot's Puzzle

This is Nicole's quilt made in 2003.

Junior Quilts

Quilts made in 2001 for Jarin and Tanner.

Jean Quilt

Made from jeans and overalls for Craig in June 2001. 50"x 75"

Squares 2

Pieced in 2001 for Melissa. Cost $27.50 84"x 92"

Shoofly

Made in 2001 for Andrea. Pieced in 4 weeks, quilted in 16 days by Rachelle and I. 55 Fly blocks, stitch in the ditch around flys. Cost $42.50 89 1/2"x 96"

Whatchamacallit

This quilt was made for Telly. Started August 10, 2000 and finished February 15, 2001. 16 days quilting time. Cost $65

Squares

Made for Preston in 2000. Cost $46 80"x 94"

Pinwheel

Made for Alan's wedding. Cost $45 (1999) 78"x 86"

Celtic Squares

Chad's quilt made in 1998, quilted by Rachelle and I.

American Chain

Penny's quilt, began in July finished in December. It took three weeks to quilt. Cost $42 (1998) 91"x 102"

Radiant Star

Nathan's quilt Cost $70 (1996) 83"x 95"

Forest Animals

Ronnie's quilt made with printed panels and the bear claw block. Cost $80 (1996) 88"x 102"

Night & Noon

Rachelle's quilt. She picked pattern and materials. Cost $77 (1986) 85"x 100"

State Birds 2

My mother Marguerite embroidered this quilt for Lisa and Justin. Machine quilted.

Trip Around the World

Lisa and Justin chose this pattern for their wedding quilt. It contains 1600 squares. Hand quilted. Cost $48 (1983)

Lone Star

Made by my mother Marguerite for Paul and Susan.

State Birds

This quilt was embroidered by my mother Marguerite for Rick and Jill. It was macjine quilted in Kansas by Mrs Mose Wilson. Cost $3

Beginner's Delight 2

Paul chose to have his quilt made from the same pattern as Rick's. However, he wanted all the printed windmills to be of the same material with a beige lining. Cost $41 (1982)

Beginner's Delight

I made this quilt for Rick and Jill's wedding. It had a gold border and lining. Cost $25 (1974)

State Flowers

My mother Marguerite embroidered this quilt for Ron and Reona's wedding. She had it machine quilted in Kansas by Mrs Mose Wilson.

T Quartet

This pattern was published in 'Workbasket' in Dec 1962. I made it in two months for Ron and Reona's wedding in 1969. It was long stitched and cost $13.

Bird in the Window

I pieced this quilt after moving to Washington. I long stitched it while living in the first house we built on Bucklin Hill in Silverdale. (1963)62 blocks 66 1/2" x 82 3/4"

SunBonnet Girl

Grandma Addie Alice (Edwards) Galbreath gave me these pre-cut applique pieces. I appliqued them and my mother Marguerite helped me with long stitch quilting. (1962) 20 blocks 69"x 82 1/2"

Flying Geese

The blocks in this quilt were pieced by Willis' grandmother, Addie Alice (Edwards) Galbreath. when we were married in 1947, she gave me the blocks and I put them together. My mother Marguerite and I long stitched it. A blanket was used for batting. 20 blocks set on point 68" x 82 1/2"