Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Embroidered Masonic Quilt
1977
Imogene Evans Bowman; Ladies of Malta Commandery No. 21
USA: New York, Binghamton
cotton [?]
overall: 105 in x 76 3/4 in
Gift of Lewis L. Walter
SC79.24

Embroidered Masonic quilt with 35 twelve-inch blocks. The blocks are white and embroidered with symbols for Masonic groups (including Blue Lodge, Knights Templar, Shrine, Scottish Rite, Eastern Star, DeMolay, and others - see complete list in file). Each block has one symbol above the name of the group embroidered in black. The quilt is sashed with teal-blue fabric (two inches wide). The quilt has a teal backing in two pieces. There is one outer border in teal, three inches wide. The binding is back to front. The quilt is signed and dated with an embroidered inscription at the lower left corner on the back, "Original Masonic Quilt / Made by the / Ladies of the Malta Commandery / No-21 Binghamton N.Y. / Artist - Imogene Evans Bowman 1977." The quilt is machine-pieced, embroidered and hand quilted. It has a thick batting. The quilt is quilted in an outline pattern at three stitches to the inch.

This quilt was the result of a three-year project (starting in 1975) by the Ladies of Malta Commandery No. 21 in Binghamton, NY, to benefit the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. Margaret Pollio, wife of one of the Commandery members, first collected emblems of the various Masonic groups on lapel pins, placemats and other items. Imogene Evans Bowman, of Chenango Forks, NY, used the items to draw the emblems, which were transcribed onto the quilt blocks and embroidered by the ladies of Malta Commandery. The quilt was completed in November 1977 and was shown at several Masonic events in 1978.