January 5–11, 1997
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest :
- Documentation vs. romanticized interpretation — a pointed critique of a well-known Oregon Trail quilt book for assigning symbolic “migration” meaning to traditional patterns without any actual evidence from the makers, sparking a broader discussion on the difference between documented history and historical fiction.
- US vs. Australia comparative quilt history — a detailed continuation of this thread, with a structured list of possible factors (immigration timing, convict vs. family settlement, social structure, poverty levels, fabric availability, climate, and geographic isolation).
- What defines a “quilt”? — a recurring identity question sparked by regional differences over tied vs. stitched bed coverings, with terms like “comforter,” “hap,” and “counterpane” compared by region.
- Prewashing fabric practices — an extended, detailed exchange on methods, reasoning (chemical residues, shrinkage, allergies), and even a formaldehyde-in-new-fabric anecdote.
- Quilt storage and preservation — further detail on acid migration from wood, mylar as a barrier material, desiccant packets, and where to source archival supplies.
- English and Welsh quilting origins — book recommendations and a discussion of Durham quilting, Welsh influence on Amish quilt design, and how developed quilting and patchwork were in Europe before American colonization.
- Crazy quilt construction techniques — backing fabric choices (cotton sateen), tying methods, binding materials, and a puzzle over mystery loops on an antique silk baby-block quilt.
- Feedsack and fabric bag history — origins of the cloth sack industry tied to the invention of the sewing machine.
- Historical dye chemistry — black dye recipes (iron tannate, logwood) and their long-term effects on fabric durability.
- Book recommendations and TV resources — several state and regional quilt history titles, plus Simply Quilts broadcast schedules across the US and Canada.
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 11:21:09 +1000
From: J Marlow
To:
Subject: QHL: Talula Gilbert Bottoms quilts
After reading “Legacy – The Story of Talula Gilbert Bottoms and Her
Quilts” you may like to have a look at the book “Family Ties- Old Quilt
Patterns from New Cloth” which is a treasury of elegant, colourful quilt
patterns based on the quilts of Talula Bottoms grandmother of the author
Nancilu Butler Burdick.
The quilt patterns illustrated range from easier to more challenging.
The “Pieced Quilts” section, for instance, begins with the Snowball, a
pattern often used in the past by grandmothers to introduce very young
girls to curved-patch piecing. The “Applique” section, however, is
offered randomly, because any quilter can see at a glance a pattern’s
appeal and skill level.
Family Ties provides a rare glimpse of how older quilt patterns can
reach across generations to enrich lives and strengthen family ties in
our own fast-moving world.
It is Published by Rutledge Hill Press ISBN 1-55853-134-3.
No affil. just enjoyed both books. The Legacy book may inspire you to
try one of her patterns.
Jeanette
jmarlow world.net
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 21:39:18 -0500
From: SadieRose aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Speck more info on Baptist Fan quilting
In the book “Treasures in the Trunk” the ‘Baptist Fan’ quilting motif is
called “elbow” quilting. Anyone heard it called this before??
“The curved lines of elbow/fan quilting were also easy to place for
quilting. A series of marks was spaced equidistant along a board. As the
lines were needed, the elbow was placed on the appropriate mark and the line
drawn as the arm swung the curve across the quilt.” (pg 142 T i t T Mary
Bywater Cross)
Karan from Iowa where we are expecting new snow tomorrow
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 21:39:12 -0500
From: SadieRose aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Quilt History books
I want to emphasize that this is my Personal Opinion…..
I think “Treasures in the Trunk” is a lovely book with some great quilts
and information on the quilt makers, families and their travel to Oregon over
the Oregon Trail.
The thing that really frustrates me is the 1990’s interpretation of
women’s lives and intents about making their quilts. I got so mad reading
about traditional designs being interpretted as ‘Migration Quilts’ that I
actually threw the book across the room in disgust! Poor DH couldn’t figure
what was going on. He got a sermon on my point of view on this.
If there was a diary or written account by the maker…..and she said “I
chose this pattern to symbolize my migration to Oregon” then that would be
fine with me. But to interpret someone else’s intentions 150 years later
(without documentation) ….is not history to me, but historical fiction.
The other problem with this is that future quilt enthusiasts may accept
these interpretations as “fact” (which has already happened with quilt
‘history’ over the years).
I hope that no one in 2145 looks at my Ocean Waves quilts, and decides
that I was drowning in technology.. or pining for the ocean, here in the
landlocked Midwest. I just like scrap quilts, and the Ocean Waves design.
Now my “Shooting Stars” quilt (actually the Japanese Snow Crystal’s
pattern) was so named because I cut out the diamonds as I listened with
horror to the start of Desert Storm (had friends with sons over there).
I guess there are 2 sides to this….one is to be careful in your
interpretation of someone else’s quilts….and the other, is to leave a
written record of how and why you made your quilts, so they won’t have to
guess in the future!
Will get down off my soapbox now! Karan
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 02:23:19 -0800
From: nomad1 ibm.net
To:
Subject: QHL: Intro
Hi everyone!
Just introducing myself to all you facinating folk.I hail from Australia
-yes another one! My name is Hiranya and I too am nuts about quilts among
other things.
When some of you were talking about the Smithsonian Book ,were you
talking about “Quilts From the Smithsonian”? Or is there another
available?
Bye for now Hiranya
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 22:39:08 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: QHL: Speck more info on Baptist Fan quilting
Yes, as a matter of fact, at one of the shows I was at, an older woman came
up to me and told me that one of my quilt labels was wrong. I had refered
to the quilting pattern as “fan” quilting, she told me that, growing up, it
was always called “elbow quilting.” I assumed that to be a Southern
reference, I didn’t realize it was in Treasures in the Trunk, too.
Kris
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 97 22:25:47 PST
From: John & Cinda Cawley
Subject: QHL: RE: Speck more info on Baptist Fan quilting
Message-ID:
Hi Carol,
There was definitely more than one quilt in the Renwick exhibit
that had fan quilting.
Cinda in Scranton
Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 23:14:43 +0000
From: “The Garretts”
Subject: QHL: Re: Quilt History books
Karen, aka Sadie Rose –
I loved your post about Treasures in the Trunk and agree with your point about
us creating quilt history facts without documentation. There are many untrue
“facts” being circulated because they have appeared in writing somewhere, and
then used as a reference for another writing. The domino effect can occur
quite easily. Authors need to be held accountable for what they write, and
they need to realize the importance of documentation as opposed to heresay. In
my opinion, there has been considerable “romanticism of quiltmaking” without
regard to facts. The romantic version reads/sells/sounds better. Actually, I
feel that if you dig deep enough, you can find the “true” romantic version.
That’s why I enjoy being involved in quilt documentation so much.
Happy quilting from
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Sun, 05 Jan 1997 08:41:25 -0800
From: nomad1 ibm.net
To: QHL cuenet.com
Subject: QHL:Nancy Sentipal
Nancy,never call Romance silly!The world certainly could do with more
Romance.Actually when one considers quilts,there is so much Romance
attached to them in a way,if you get my drift.
Reading the other Intro’s I felt a bit guilty as I was so brief,I did not
mean to be secretive or snobby.Basically I did not want to Yakk too much!
Looking forward to chatting with you all,
Hiranya Loder from Sydney Australia
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 09:09:36 +0000
From: David Lewis
Subject: QHL: Durham Quilts
Message-ID:
This may appear strange, writing from England to an American group to
ask about English quilts.
A week ago, I saw a section in a video about Durham Quilts (that is
Durham in the North East of England).
So far, I have been unable to find any more information. Can anyone
point me in the right direction?
Thank you.
Marie
Marie Lewis
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 07:24:44 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Lending Library
another thought and good business fo YOU..an article on antiqeu quilts, what
to look for, care of, prices to pay, etc..it could be a series..you fo course
get the fee/full credit..Jane
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 10:58:12 -0500
From: “Judy Grow”
Subject: Quilts touching wood
All this talk of putting quilts in chests, on frames or on wooden poles
has gotten me to unlurk. I am a professional picture framer. My education
has been in protecting paper and fabric from the inherently harmful effects
of wood and paper (also a wood product).
Unless all wood products are sealed permanently, acid migration will take
place and damage the artwork (quilts are art). Therefore placing quilts in
muslin bags will not be protective in a cedar chest or in a bureau drawer.
As the cellulose fibers in the lignan break down they form gases that, of
course, will permeate a muslin bag and stain what is inside the bag. The
muslin will get stained first, then the quilt. And if that cedar chest is
in the attic — all chemical processes are speeded up by 10% for every
increase of 10 degrees.
And if the cedar chest is in the basement you have the problem of mold
forming in a moist environment. A thumbprint can be a banquet for mold
spores, so any quilt must be throroughly cleaned before storage. There is a
reason for wearing white gloves at quilt shows.
Judy in NJ
judygrow blast.net
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 97 08:17:50 -0900
Subject: QHL: Re:pre-washing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”US-ASCII”
Before I sign off, I would like to find out if everyone pre-wash their
fabrics, before making a quilt? For those who pre-wash, how do you do it?
With cold or hot water, in detergent or salt & vinegar, by hand or
machine, etc, etc? And what are your personal reasons & opinions for
pre-washing the fabrics?
I pre-wash everything; fabrics before quilting and new clothes before
wearing. I do it to remove any residual chemicals before I handle the
fabric, as I am sensitive to them. But I also figure if there will be a
problem with washing a fabric, better find out before I use it! So I wash
them same as everything else, mild (unscented) detergent and warm water.
I also wash finished quilts when done. Partly to remove any dirt or oils
that could adversely affect it and partly to be sure it will survive
washing before going to a new home. (Which they all will, sooner or
later, except those I wear out!)
Abby Fuller
nickf xyz.net
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 02:34:55 +0000
From: “Hester Butler-Ehle”
Subject: QHL: Introduction
I’ve been feeling a bit guilty, having been on the list for a few
weeks without introducing myself, but now that the holiday rush is
over, I can do so.
I have really enjoyed reading this list–I’m one of those who has
at least as many history books as how-to-do-it books in my quilt book
collection, and probably more. I especially like the different state
quilt project books–it’s fascinating to see the regional
differences, as well as the different ways the projects have been
run. Also, since I prefer to make traditional quilts, these books
provide endless inspiration!
There isn’t really a quilting history in my family; my grandmother
made one top (from scraps of fabric from clothing she had made–my mom
can look at it and identify the dress or housecoat that each came
from) in the late forties or early fifties, but had it quilted by
someone else. Until last year I thought that was the only family
quilt, but then my mom found an old Ducks Foot in the Mud that my
grandmother had had. Unfortunately she has no idea who made it, as my
grandmother and her youngest sister (my great aunt) were the only
seamstresses in the family. We looked at it and the fabrics used
seem most likely to have come from the first quarter of this century,
but that’s all we have been able to figure out. It certainly gave me
new motivation to make sure I sign all my quilts!
Looking forward to “meeting” you all,
Hester
hjbe portup.com
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 15:57:14 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Reading list ideas
What a wonderful idea..and I too am very lucky to be in Pittsburgh, the home
ANDREW CARNEGIE..RING A BELL?? I myself will check to see if they can
acquire any that peek my interest. And sometimes they ask for suggestions as
to what to order..and you are welcome to borrow NE/TX..Jane
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 16:58:58 -0500
From: AJSNGS aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Reading list ideas
Hiya Jane,
We watched part of the Steelers game….weird weather huh?
This book list thing could get confusing but it still will be fun. Kris said
she would like to borrow “Soft Covers…” after me, so would you like me to
send it on to her when I’m finished, or do you want it back first? Stupid
question, I know, but it’s your book so I feel that I should ask it anyway.
And put me in line for the Oregon Trail….
Nancy in VA (where going back to work tomorrow is really getting in the way
of doing all the stuff I really need to be doing–like reading your book, and
buying quilting stuff, etc.!! (smile).
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 97 14:34:24 PST
From: Geolink P/L
Subject: QHL: My Intro and Books.
Good-day there – I am Leanne from Darwin, Northern
Territory, Australia and am thoroughly enjoying the few
weeks that I have been on this list.
I have only been quilting for 4 years but have spent lots of
time while the children are little doing quilts (large and
small) and am addicted to quilting!!
I am starting to collect the history-of-quilting books now
after having bought many how-to-do-quilting books.
I have 5 for the list of books:
- Treasures in the Trunk – quilts of the Oregon Trail.
- Old Patchwork Quilts and the Women Who Made Them.
- Signs and Symbols – African images in African-American
Quilts.
- Pieces of an American Quilt – behind the scenes of the
movie “How to make an Amercan quilt”.
- Amish Women – lives and stories.
All the best for 1997 everyone and happy quilting!!
From
Leanne McGill.
Leanne McGill and John Humphries : Say G’Day
Geolink P/L, ACN 009 640 215 : and
PO Box 886, Palmerston, NT, AUSTRALIA 0831: Smile!
geolink ozemail.com.au : * *
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 12:19:51 -0800
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #30
Someone said:(I was too ambitious with my editing):
>
I have one more comment about storing quilts. I said borax would ward
off silverfish but in the years I have dealt with quilts I have found the
worst
damage from mice, especially in quilts stored in the attic.
>
I wonder what is the best way to discourage them. I have read that
mice do not like newspapers and if there were a layer of newspaper around what
you stored they would leave it alone. Again have a couple of layers of cotton
or something nonacid between the quilts and the newspapers. Does anyone
know if
this works or what does work? moth balls? they cause such a bad odor? ??? So
many things to consider, maybe a safe would be better. 😉 Ah better yet have
them out where all can see, use and enjoy. 🙂
I have been told that mice do not like hte scent of citrus. Infact I planted
orange-mint around my sheds to discourage the mice from inhabiting them.
(The mint
died in the shade of the sheds; the mice thrive inside the sheds). Still, I
would
consider mixing lemon/orange scented herbs to discourage mice before I would
use
newspaper or mothballs. The mice we have love to nest in paper (and
insulation, and
potting soil, and tractor engines…).
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 07:37:41 +0000
To:
Subject: QHL: circa 1930s quotes
I enjoy going to yard sales and flea markets, always hoping to find something
interesting. Last night I was looking through a box of miscellaneous quilting
papers I had been fortunate to find – the kind of stuff that usually gets
thrown out because it appears useless. But, when not thrown out, the owner
says it is really valuable because it is “old.” This was just things torn out
of magazines, sketches made by people, etc. – the kind of stuff I save and have
piles of, but is the closest I have come to finding personal journals and the
like.
The few things with dates say 1932 to 1937. Several sheets of notebook paper
have Alice Brooks newspaper patterns glued to them – the pictures for ordering,
not the entire patterns. On the back of one of the pages, someone had typed
the following paragraphs. By the way they are written, I am guessing someone
found this written somewhere, liked it, and wanted a copy – not unlike what we
do today, only we have easier means at hand. I found what she said very
interesting and hope some of you do too. Sorry, but it is fairly long. I
don’t know the original source for the quote, but feel it has to be from the
1930s or earlier. Anyone recognize it? Enjoy —
She made a patchwork pattern of pointed oblongs clear red on white; she set the
bright peaks around square beyond square in ranges that keep the eye climbing
upward. She named it the Delectable Mountainss, and it is an outburst of joy.
Only the guilt itself can give its effect. At the sight every face brightens.
How can mere pieces of cloth sewed together have this power to lift the human
spirit. No one can explain this; it is the mystery of art.
This mysterious power will chill you when you see these same pointed oblongs
set in a distrubing pattern of dark colors; they convey a feeling of fearful
uncertainty even before you know the pattern’s name: Kansas Trouble. It
speaks of those years of raids burnings murder and massacre in Bloody Kansas
before John Brown came out of them to raid Harpers Ferry and kindle war’s
atrocities from Canada to Mexico.
Then look at these two patterns. Lincoln’s Platform and Little Giant. When
the self-taught backwoodsman, rawboned Abraham Lincoln, met Stephen Douglas,
the cultured gentleman, in the debates that still are brilliant expositions of
American political philosophy their ardent partisans made these patchwork
patterns. Lincoln’s Platform is study, four square, crudely candid; the Little
Giant, firmly decisive, is elegant and subtle. Both are honest; the lines in
both are straight and in Little Giant the straight lines frame the firm center
in what seems to be gentle curves. Patchwork triangles never have been used
more skillfully.
The uses of triangles are inexhaustible though. Simply following each other in
rows they have such life and movement that on the Atlantic coast they are named
Ocean Waves while beyond the mountains the inland women call the Birds in Air
or Wild Goos Chase. Set triangles into triangles in widening rows, apply a
bias strip or bit of tape for a handle, and you have Flower Basket, a modern
design two centuries old. Triangles set into triangles in colored circles
blazing out from a round center make Rising Sun, or the wetern desert’s Blazing
Sun, or, when the circles split and the colored run to brilliant points, the
Star of Bethlehem or the Lone Star of Texas.
Square bits of cloth, cut across into triangles, oblongs, diamonds; with these
simple forms and scraps saved in the rag bag thousands of unkown women have
expressed their tastes, interests, emotions, beliefs, hopes, and fears; they
created a folk art and it becomes a record of American life & American history.
Only listen to the names of some of the patterns – Coronation, King’s Crown,
Brunswick Star, Bear’s Paw, Tomahawk, Log Cabin, Pine Tree, Birds in the
Window, Union Star, Potomac Pride, Washington’s Quilt, Martha Washington’s
Flower Garden, Dolly Madison’a Star, Mountain Pink, Lemon Star, 54-50 or Fight,
Oregon Trail, Kansas Trouble, Kansas Sunflower, Lone Star of Texas, Calaifornia
Star, California Poppy. Only a few and how much they mean.
Let us treasure as part of American culture the infinite variety of old
patchwork patterns that record their gallant lives, and honor as culture
bearers the thousands of housekeeping women who created and enriched this
heritage that is ours to carry on and leave, enriched, to our grandchildren’s
grandchildren.
Hi, it’s me again – hope some of you liked it too. What I liked is that this
wasn’t someone in 1980s or 1990s writing about how the women felt in 1930s, but
was their writing instead.
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 08:49:15 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: lending library
I have the info on the FEEDSACK BOOK for our list.
TEXTILE BAGS (The Feeding & clothing of America) Identification & Value
Guide. it ANNA LUE COOK .
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 08:56:07 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: library
sorry, hit the wrong button again..
ANNA LUE COOK 7892 Cross Pike DR, Germantown, TN 38138 it sells for $12.95 +
$1.00 p&h..total 13.00. she will autograph on request..I spoke with Anna
last night and she is setting aside 3 books to lend..if you feel you want to
own one for your collection contact her for buying it or having her send you
a NEW one if you have rec’vd a used one..right now they will be brand new.
This is an excellent book, in black and white, prices ACCORDING to dealers
so they are higher than what you would pay at auctions/yd sales..but there
are pictures so that you will recognize many of them, and history as well..No
matter how many I carry to my lectures, I sell out..Jane
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 09:58:47 -0500 (EST)
From: aardvark ime.net (A.A. Harkavy)
To:
Subject: QHL: Prewashing fabrics
Abby Fuller asked why subscribers prewash fabrics and how. I’m really
opinionated on this subject, so I’m going to risk boring some of you to tears.
- I hate unpleasant surprises. I want prewashing to be the worst thing
the fabric will have to endure.
- Fabric as purchased often has residues of detergents used to remove
excess dye (it often smells like Synthrapol), sizing to make it feel
stiffer, etc. I don’t want this stuff in fabric I store, and I don’t want
in my sewing area any fumes from chemicals on unwashed fabric.
- All fabric may not shrink in the same proportions, if it shrinks at all.
Prewashing assures that everything I put into a quilt is in about the same
condition from the get-go.
Here’s what I do:
- Contrary to popular advice, I wash all fabrics in hot water on the
theory that if I give away or sell the quilt this may happen. Since I was
quilts (even antiques) in hot water and use only cotton batts, this works
fine for me.
- Unscented, uncolored liquid detergent’s my stuff of choice. Orvus quilt
soap is simply concentrated detergent (sodium lauryl sulfate). If you use
that, then dilute the paste in a cup of water before adding to washer.
Orvus quilt soap is expensive unless you buy it (as Orvus horse soap) by the
tub at a feed or ag supply store.
- After a 12-minute wash cycle on hot, I use a cold rinse. After
wash/rinse cycle is complete, fabric still may smell like
industrial-strength detergent (such as Synthrapol). Whether or not it does,
the fabric gets a second rinse cycle in cold water. Then I dry on cotton
setting, which is higher heat.
Note: never have I lost the metallic stuff on a metallic fabric, and I have
had absolutely no disasters using this treatment.
Note: Wash lights and darks separately. Pretest dark fabrics by placing a
corner in a white bowl of hot water. Just because water colors, it does not
mean that the color will be deposited on other fabrics. In fact, it usually
will not be. But you can’t be sure … so when prewashing, make sure darks
and lights are nto washed together!
Addy
aardvark ime.net
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 97 10:42:10 PST
From: Sharon Harleman Tandy
To: “A.A. Harkavy”
Subject: RE: QHL: Prewashing fabrics
Addy makes an excellent point about the chemicals in unwashed fabric. My
best friend worked in a fabric store for several years and like many of us
had many allergies. Every Wednesday at work she would lose her voice, be
completely hoarse, had difficulty breatheing and nearly lost consciousness
more than once. The manager discovered this all happened within 30 seconds
of the new bolts being unwrapped after a delivery! I don’t know what it is
used for but there’s formaldehyde in new fabrics. (So my friend stayed in
the office during unloading and unwrapping and worked on the books.)
Apparently it is also in new carpets and guess what her husband did for a
living? Right, carpet layer. Any fabric I bring home goes to the laundry
before it goes to the sewing room as I also have too many allergies to
encourage a really dangerous one like that. Sharon in sunny, blue-skyed Boise.
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 13:48:34 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Fwd: Posted on Gardening Chat Board
In a message dated 97-01-06 09:33:41 EST, JackJumpUp writes:
<< Subj: Posted on Gardening Chat Board
Date: 97-01-06 09:33:41 EST
From: JackJumpUp
To: Baglady111
Subj: Re:herb repellent/Baglady111
Date: 97-01-06 09:28:24 EST
From: JackJumpUp
Baglady111 writes >>We are a group of quilters with a net forum dedicated to
the research and care of antique quilts..the preservation of our textile
history. Peopple think moths attack quilts (which are in most cases total
cotton) when in actuallity we are given to understand that silverfish can be
a serious problem. Years ago a friend (herbalist) concocted a repellent
using herbs that worked like a charm. I have no idea what was in it..so we
are looking for that answer as well as any other herbs that would protect
stored quilts, other antique fabrics as well..<<
Baglady/Jane posted another request that was more specific to silverfish,
but I found this one first. I don't ever recall seeing an herbal reference
specifically mentioning silverfish, but herbs were historically used with
fabrics for their ability to repel moths (as well as other insects), and some
were added simply for fragrance.
I've been reading a 'new' book (this was a Christmas gift), and was just
reading about 'Sweet Bags and Fragrancies.' I thought some of you might be
interested, so I'll post it a short excerpt.
This is from Magic Gardens, by Roberta Clarkson, The Macmillan Co., 1939.`
Note: Roberta Clarkson is quoting from an 1864 issue of ‘Godey’s Lady’s
Book.’ These were directions for perfuming clothes:
” ‘Cloves, in coarse powder, one ounce; cassia, one ounce; lavender flowers,
one ounce; lemon peel, one ounce. Mix and put them into little bags, and
place them where the clothes are kept, or wrap the clothes round them. They
will keep off insects.’
[Roberta Clarkson]… “Besides filling bags and pads with spices and herbs,
the crushed herbs mixed with freshly crushed cloves may be scattered among
clothes…Laying in the dried tops of some herbs is also effective, the tips
of santolina (lavender cotton), rosemary, southernwood, yellow melilot (sweet
clover), thyme, wormwood, mint, tansy, lavender, also flower heads of the
lavender, and dried and sliced roots of valerian and sweet flag. Choose what
combination you will and mix about two tablespoonfuls of crushed spices to a
scant pound of herbs. Southernwood used to be so universally used in France
that it was called ‘Garde robe,’ its modern name ‘citronelle’ coming from the
distinct odor of lemon which it has.”
Jane~ there were other herbs used like sweet woodruff, Florentine iris root
(more commonly called orris root), etc. I'd like to suggest a trip to the
library. Several of my older herb books (and a few new ones) list several
other herbs and recipes. You might also contact something like a textile
museum or Sturbridge Village, Colonial Williamsburg, etc. There's a lot of
information available, but hopefully this will get you started. ~JJUp
P.S. If you learn about something that works with silverfish, please let us
know. :-)
>>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Posted on Gardening Chat Board
Date: 97-01-06 09:33:41 EST
From: JackJumpUp
To: Baglady111
Subj: Re:herb repellent/Baglady111
Date: 97-01-06 09:28:24 EST
From: JackJumpUp
Baglady111 writes >>We are a group of quilters with a net forum dedicated to
the research and care of antique quilts..the preservation of our textile
history. Peopple think moths attack quilts (which are in most cases total
cotton) when in actuallity we are given to understand that silverfish can be
a serious problem. Years ago a friend (herbalist) concocted a repellent
using herbs that worked like a charm. I have no idea what was in it..so we
are looking for that answer as well as any other herbs that would protect
stored quilts, other antique fabrics as well..<<Baglady/Jane posted another request that was more specific to silverfish,
but I found this one first. I don’t ever recall seeing an herbal reference
specifically mentioning silverfish, but herbs were historically used with
fabrics for their ability to repel moths (as well as other insects), and some
were added simply for fragrance.
I’ve been reading a ‘new’ book (this was a Christmas gift), and was just
reading about ‘Sweet Bags and Fragrancies.’ I thought some of you might be
interested, so I’ll post it a short excerpt.
This is from Magic Gardens, by Roberta Clarkson, The Macmillan Co., 1939.
““`
Note: Roberta Clarkson is quoting from an 1864 issue of ‘Godey’s Lady’s
Book.’ These were directions for perfuming clothes:
” ‘Cloves, in coarse powder, one ounce; cassia, one ounce; lavender flowers,
one ounce; lemon peel, one ounce. Mix and put them into little bags, and
place them where the clothes are kept, or wrap the clothes round them. They
will keep off insects.’
[Roberta Clarkson]… “Besides filling bags and pads with spices and herbs,
the crushed herbs mixed with freshly crushed cloves may be scattered among
clothes…Laying in the dried tops of some herbs is also effective, the tips
of santolina (lavender cotton), rosemary, southernwood, yellow melilot (sweet
clover), thyme, wormwood, mint, tansy, lavender, also flower heads of the
lavender, and dried and sliced roots of valerian and sweet flag. Choose what
combination you will and mix about two tablespoonfuls of crushed spices to a
scant pound of herbs. Southernwood used to be so universally used in France
that it was called ‘Garde robe,’ its modern name ‘citronelle’ coming from the
distinct odor of lemon which it has.”
““
Jane~ there were other herbs used like sweet woodruff, Florentine iris root
(more commonly called orris root), etc. I’d like to suggest a trip to the
library. Several of my older herb books (and a few new ones) list several
other herbs and recipes. You might also contact something like a textile
museum or Sturbridge Village, Colonial Williamsburg, etc. There’s a lot of
information available, but hopefully this will get you started. ~JJUp
P.S. If you learn about something that works with silverfish, please let us
know. 🙂
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 13:12:27 -0500
From: RLHlink3 aol.com
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Prewashing fabrics
I would like to ditto Addy’s message (and others who have said similar
things) –with an additional emphasis on the personal sensitivity to the
chemical additives to fabrics. Another big plus I find in the prewashed
fabrics is that it is easier to hand sew/quilt!
Good day to all
Linda
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 14:17:12 -0400
From: tkorpita titanic.cs.umass.edu (Terrie Korpita)
To:
Subject: QHL: Quilting and economics
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
This thread on the connection between quilting and economics in the US and
Australia is fascinating. May I throw in a bit of personal experience? My
grandmother used to sew all the time, made most of my mom’s and aunts’
clothing throughout their growing years (through the depression and then
into the war years). This is in Massachusetts. My mom always has
associated sewing with saving money. I still have trouble shopping with
her because if I admire anything that costs more than twenty dollars, she
examines the hem and pronounces We/I could make something much nicer for
half the price. I first learned to quilt from an elderly neighbor when I
was a kid. When I asked Mom if Nana had made quilts, her reaction was to
the effect of “We weren’t that poor.” Clearly, quilting meant taking
scraps of clothing and piecing them together to patch or reinforce an old
worn out blanket. Luckily Mom is open-minded and admires new quilts for
what they are. She even took a quilting class with me once. But she
cannot get over the idea of people actually buying fabric to make a quilt.
She just shakes her head.
Of course we are not old “Yankees” which in Massachusetts means folks with
American heritage dating back 200 years or more. We are Irish and German
immigrants who only “just” got off the boat about 1870. I wonder if that
colors the perception. And yes, I have some connection to the heritage of
the textile mills, but through male weavers, not the women. (Sorry I can’t
elaborate, I only just learned that tidbit myself)
Terrie
tkorpita cs.umass.edu
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 97 14:07:25 PST
From: John & Cinda Cawley
Subject: RE: QHL: Durham Quilts
Hi Marie,
Janet Rae in Quilts of the British Isles, (E.P.Dutton, 1987)says
“Wales, Durham and Northumberland developed a reputation for fine quilting
and making whole cloth and strip quilts.” The book has a number of
references in the idex to Durham. You might also want to check out Quilt
Treasures of Great Britain(Rae et al, Rutledge Hill Press, 1995).
Cinda in Scranton
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 17:16:43 -0500
From: QuiltLine aol.com
To:
Subject: QHL: Re: articles on antique quilts and quilt storage
Regarding the idea for articles on antique quilts, what to buy, what to look
for…
Speaking as an AQS certified appraiser, such an article would be wonderful,
but can you imagine – with the numbers, types, kinds, eras, styles, etc. It
would really be a book, rather than an article.
When looking at quilts, one way to determine value is look at it with a good,
better, best viewpoint. , For instance: (assume that the condition on the
following quilts is the same – let’s say very good, assume time period and
fabrics are also the same.)
_
Good: A red and white Irish Chain quilt, 78×84, moderate amount of
quilting, 7-8 stitches/inch, in allover grid, pattern 1″apart. Binding 1/4″
applied straight edge of red.
Better: A red and white Irish Chain quilt, 78 x 84 moderate amount of
quilting, 10 stitches to the inch, all over grid in hanging diamonds,
3/4″apart. 4″red inner border and 2″white outer border. Binding 1/4″ applied
straight edge of red.
Best. A red and white Irish Chain quilt 78×84, moderate amount of
quilting 10 stitches to the inch, all over grid quilting pattern in the
pieced blocks 3/4″ apart, a 10″ diameter feather wreath pattern in the
unpieced blocks, with the wreath’s center of a hanging diamond grid. A
4″inner border of red, with chainstitch quilting and a 2″ red and white
sawtooth outer border with quilting to pattern. 1/4″ applied straight edge
red binding.
There is a relationship between the quilts, yet each one from good to best
took more thought in planning and in workmanship.
Another thing to consider in value, is rarity of pattern, collectability etc.
I could go on and on.
Another Certified Appraiser is lurking out there, Carol E. how do you feel
about this?
When I look for quilts, I take those I have to choose from and apply this
method. Good, Better, Best. No, you don’t usually have the senario which I
have described above to choose from, but you can tell what quilts have had
more thought, care and workmanship. These are the best quilts. I allways
consider, which quilt do I get the most of for my $$$ It’s hard to pass up
a quilt sometimes, because it’s a quilt, but frankly sometimes it pays to
wait, even if you have to spend a little bit more.
Now to another subject – the discussion on the muslin bags. It wasn’t
suggested that the quilts be left in a muslin bag inside a cedar chest or
anywhere else indefinately….it should have been made clearer that one needs
to inspect the quilts frequently, and just as you have to replace the
acid-free tissue paper, no less often than every year, you should wash your
muslin bag periodically, to get any acids off of it, then re-store your
quilt. Not to offend anyone, but, I really feel that the washing off of
every fingerprint on a quilt, it is not practical without a museum setting,
and the oils from one fingerprint most likely, will not ruin a quilt in our
or our grandchildrens lifetime. If we wish to preserve our quilts like this,
then we should donate them to museums to care for them. If we enjoy having
them, then we need to understand that after time….as everything does, as we
do, they will show their age, and in time, will fade away….nothing lasts
forever. I don’t want to sound cavalier, I try to take as good of care as
reasonably and affordably I possibly can of my quilts so that my daughter can
share them with her daughter. But there is only so much we can humanly do in
life – all things pass away. Does this make any sense?
I don’t want to leave on a sad note. On Penny Nii’s web page – you can see
part of the Esprit collection’s Amish Quilts. They are wonderful, even
though they are only 2″x2″. The page can be opened at www.penny-nii.com.
Also, with regards to collecting and buying quilts. At the AQS show in
Paducah in April, Gerald Roy (the Pilgrim/Roy collection) will be teaching a
class on Buying quilts: What to look for when buying and collecting antique
quilts.
Bye for now.
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 18:10:09 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: feedsack samples
The response to receiving feedsack squares for identifying has been
great..these wil be 3 sqs measuring 2 and a half ” you can keep these to
carry with you when out at yard sales/auctions and wonder IS IT OR ISN’T IT??
a 32cent stamp on a self addressed envelope will be fine..someone asked when
feedsacks came about..when the sewing machine was invented..til then
everything was stored in barrels, boxes,or tins..they wanted to use bags
because they were less cumbersom..it would be easy to throw a sack over the
back of a mule/horse..but with barrels, you needed a wagon.. no one was able
to sew a seam strong enough by hand to hold the content of the bag..as soon
as the sewing machine came on the market..in came the bags and out went the
barrels..the first man on the scene was J.M HURD of NY..but for some
reason,his bags just didn’t off..but JUDSON BEMIS of St Louis..was the
forerunner in bags..it wasn;t long till others entered the market, and then
the competition began..Jane
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 97 23:28:00 GMT
From: l.evans5 genie.com
To:
Subject: QHL: Unidentified subject!
Dare I say it? The best way to protect against mice is to get a cat,
allergies allowing…:)
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 19:55:01 -0500
From: HKnight453 aol.com
To:
Subject: QHL: Tied quilts
I have seen many tied quilts from the 30’s on in my area, and wonder why
they get no respect. Tied quits today are not eligible for most formal
competitions. However, in our pursuit of perfect craftsmanship, one must
remember that women then and today do not always (or ever!) have time to
create a masterpiece. Tied quilts often wash well when the ties are 3″ or
less. They take less time, cutting down on UFOs. They are good for everyday
quilts that are meant to be used and loved.
Sincerely,
Heather
HKnight453.aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 21:41:45 +0000
From: “The Garretts”
To:
Subject: Re: QHL: Tied quilts
In my part of southeastern PA, a bed covering made of 3 layers that are tied
together is called a comforter. In northcentral PA, if it is made out of wool
it is called a hap. Haps are usually pieced – out of scraps. A comforter can
be either pieced, appliqued, or whole cloth – I have seen all three in my
documentation work. We define a quilt as a bed covering made of 3 layers held
together by quilting stitches, either done by hand or machine.
Back around 1981, I had the good fortune to go to Vermont with my family and
got to go to a store called The Vermont Quilt Store – something like that,
anyway, Quilt was in the name. I was so excited that we could stop, but when I
got in the store, there was not a quilt in the entire store, by the definition
I knew. Every pieced top was tied to its batting and backing. I have no idea
if this is typical of that state, or was just the beginnings of the make it
quick for tourists, they won’t know the difference anyway, approach to selling
quilts. I since have seen pictures and books of beautiful Vermont quilts that
are quilted, often heavily, so I still don’t know the answer to why these
coverings were tied and advertised as quilts. I have never been back and don’t
know if the store even still exists. In my travels I have seen new quilts for
sale in many states – Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho –
and never have I seen a tied comforter advertised as a quilt.
I would be curious to know, and please post to the list, what bed coverings are
called in your area. It will be interesting to see regional differences, if
there are any. Please be sure to mention your state since e-mail addresses
give no clue to where you are from, and please mention if there is a difference
between historical quilts – which I date as before 1940 – and current quilts
for
sale.
Heather, where is your area which has numerous tied 30s quilts. Do you feel
most were tied, maybe half, or only a few from that time period. I am really
curious about regional patterns. Thanks.
Looking forward to continued interesting reading on QHL.
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 97 22:37:19 PST
From: John & Cinda Cawley
To:
Subject: QHL: Vermont quilts
Barb Garrett wrote about tied quilts. I try to get to the Vermont Quilt
Festival whenever I can (mid-July). It’s my favorite quilt show because of
the spectacular display of antique quilts they come up with year after year.
Each time we go DH and I manage to find a wonderful new corner of that
beautiful state. I too have noticed that almost all “quilts” for sale are
tied. There are often tied quilts in the antique display at the show
(never, of course, among the contest quilts). I think many old quilts were
tied in VT–a higher percentage probably than here in PA. In the book on VT
quilts Plain and Fancy by Richard Cleveland and Donna Bister (Quilt Digest
Press, 1991) a tied quilt is pictured on p.67. There is no index and I
don’t remember if the text discusses the issue of tying quilts.
Cinda in Scranton————————————
Name: John & Cinda Cawley
E-mail: cawley epix.net
Date: 1/6/97
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 22:07:25 -0700
From: lv2quilt frii.com (Heidi Hoff Wurst)
To: QHL cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: acid-free quilt storage
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Hi All,
I am new to this list and am thoroughly enjoying everyone’s comments.
Although I just started making quilts about four years ago, my maternal
Grandmother, and my paternal Great and Great-Great Grandmothers all did
patchwork. I am fortunate enough to have inherited some of their quilts.
Most are in realtively good shape and I plan to continue the ‘tlc’ quilt
care tradition, except nobody left me any instructions!
Judy in NJ (professional picture framer) is on to something important about
the “inherently harmful effects of wood and paper”. Her point about the
acid producing environment is well taken and maybe she can enlighten us a
bit more with her Museum quality framing expertise. I have done some custom
picture framing but it was a while ago and I am no longer up to speed on
the archival materials currently in the market place. There may be some
viable alternatives from the archival end of the picture framing industry
that can be applied to storing and preserving quilts. Michele in CA, is
another picture framer on this list – maybe her $ .02 worth will help, too!
We need some answers.
What about lining shelves, cedar chests, with 100% rag board? Would the
acid buffered mat boards or acid free foamcore boards, do just as well?
Would you need to seal the wood first and what is the best way to do that?
Also, give us the scoop on barrier papers. Any information that you both
could share with us will be greatly appreciated.
I live in Colorado where it is very dry, so no problems with moisture, but
the thought occurred to me to use desiccants (those little moisture
absorbing packets) in the folds of the quilts to minimize problems with
mold or mildew. Anyone have any experience using those?
Heidi Wurst
(more questions than answers!)
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 00:27:21 PST
From: psiera juno.com (Pam D Siera)
To:
Subject: QHL: tie quilts
OOOOOOO . . . I’m afraid tied comforters made me mad but also brought
up something I’ve been thinking about?
What is a quilt? What defines a quilt? Are we talking about
quilting i.e. running stitiches in patterns? Or are we talking about
piecing small pieces of fabric into larger blocks that make up a
——- what? Top? If it’s tied it’s not a quilt?
The only quilted i.e. running stitch blanket I have from my family of
quilters then is the first one my mother made with her grandmother, an
Sunbonnet Sue. It’s appliqued, not pieced except for the sashing and
it’s embroidered but it’s quilted.
My grandmother, under whose blankets I’ve slept all my life always
backed her quilts with flannel and tied them.
My mother never made another quilt that I know of. I’ve tacked,
tied, quilted in the ditch, and quilted by machine and by hand.
What is a quilt? I’m confused. Pam in Santa Rosa
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 00:12:14 PST
From: psiera juno.com (Pam D Siera)
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: pre-washing fabrics
I confess I always pre-wash my fabrics, separated by lights and darks,
in hot water, cold rinse and dry on hot. I don’t like surprised
either. And this is a habit I can’t seem to break.
However, I was talking to a major big quilt store owner who says that
the fabric companies put preservatives into the fabrics and when we take
them home and wash them, then, they sit on the shelf for years before we
use them, they are deteriorating as they sit there.
Also, I’ve been reading about cotton batting and unwashed fabric and
the really cute way it shrinks up and looks like an old quilt. Well,
I’m almost ready to switch to cotton batts and I might want one to be
cute and shrink up.
But except for the two bags of end rips I’ve bought and incorporated
into a “quick” quilt, everything is washed. I hate the sizing and the feel
of unwashed cotton. Why bother with 100% cotton if you don’t get to
work with that nice feeling stuff? Pam in Santa Rosa
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 1997 08:45:54 EST
From: debatqps juno.com (Deborah A Welch)
To:
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V97 #5
This is my two cents on the wash or not to wash question. I always tell
my customers and students to prewash fabrics. Most manufacturers use
different greige goods and they shrink at different rates. I wash all of
my fabrics in cold water, thats how I will wash the quilt, and if I am
questioning whether one will run or not, I thow them all in together a
second time. Its not whether they will run or not but whether the
lighter fabrics will accept the excess dye from the darker ones. I have
a blue and white quilt that the blue ran constantly, it didn’t matter
tho, because the white will not accept the excess dye. Also, the
chemicals used the the fabrics will dry your hands out like crazy as you
use them, which I never realized until I opened a quilt shop and handle
fabric all day! If you like, you can put the sizing back into the fabric
with a product call Sizing Magic, which you can find right next to the
Niagra Starch in the grocery store.
On a different vein, my relatives landed in Massachusetts in the mid
1600s. They came from England and no quilting still exists from them.
They were fisherman and landowners. My great aunt quilted but she came
from France in the late 1800s. The only quilting done that we have is
from my grandmother, who came to Mass from Nova Scotia in the 1920s, on a
boat all by herself when she was 18 to start nurses training! What guts.
I never knew this until after she passed away, I wish I had been able to
talk to her about it. Anyway, we have the beginnings of a Dresden plate
she did in the 30s and the beginning of a Wedding Ring that she must have
done about the same time.
Debbie in NJ
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 08:55:43 -0500 (EST)
To: qhl cuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Unidentified subject!
Hello All,
I have been following the thread on the difference between the
development of US and Austrailian quilting with great interest. It seems to
me that there are several factors and at least a few critical questions.
The first question is my mind is this: How far developed was quilting in
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany when people from those countries
began coming to the American colonies. There were counterpanes and there
were strip quilts–were there actual patchwork (as we think of it) patterns?
I know about English paper piecework, but who got the idea from whom, and
when? In other words, to what extent was patchwork developed in the U.S?
Where did we start from? If patchwork was largely developed here (and I
don’t know, must read the books that Cinda posted, thank you Cinda) then it
would not have been much of a part of Austrailian culture.
When did women begin quilting in Austrailia? Did they bring that
knowledge from England or were they influenced by outside information from
elsewhere (patterns in newspapers)? Are there patchwork patterns that were
unique to Austrailia?
I’ve tried to summarize some of the factors suggested in earlier
posts and add a few that I am wondering about.
1) Time of immigration (US earlier than AU)
2) People who immigrated (US–religious refugees[families],
fortune hunters, transported convicts, perhaps a few people
from the aristocracy appointed to government posts
or awarded large blocks of land for some service, poor
individuals and families—-AU–transported convicts
and later families???)
3) Social structure (a more “normal” social structure probably
developed earlier in the US colonies because of the
higher proportion of families that were here)
4) Poverty (There is a great deal of difference between working 15
hours a day and having enough to eat and working 15 hours
a day without enough food and without the security of
future food.)
5) Availability of fabric (What were the differences here?)
6) Weather?? (Would influence need and time available to work–in
our midwest winters, farm work was and is reduced to
livestock care–this would leave time for indoor work)
7) Proximity of others (I have it in my head, perhaps wrongly,
that ranches
and farms were further apart in AU, and any women in such
locations would have been more isolated and less likely to
learn from each other.)
Well, I’m sure that there were other factors as well, but this post
is already too long. Perhaps I may be forgiven as I so rarely post.
Exploring all of the avenues above would be about equal to a Ph.D
dissertation, but I plan to seek an answer to at least my first question.
Will start with Cinda’s books. If anyone would like to tackle any of the
others, please let my know. Perhaps we can get some organized research
going. long-winded Sue in Charlotte, NC
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 10:37:24 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
in regards to Heidi Wurst’s inquiry, contact Ann Russell with the HOLLINGER
CORP. at 1 800-634-0491..her company makes all of the acid free
boxes/tissue/items for storing..they deal with the Smithsonian and many other
wall known musuems..she will tell you everything you need to know..and she
MIGHT be able to send you a box, or at least samples of various productswith
info for your guild..but HURRY!! they are about to eliminate her job as they
feel there is NO CALL for such info among quilters..Jane
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 10:55:54 -0500
From: Baglady111 aol.com
My mother always said that bay leaves were great repellent for silverfish
and we had them when I was a kid. We lived in Arizona at that time and were
plagued with them then. Worth a try:)
karen
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 97 10:17:00 -0900
From: Nick Fuller
I agree with Addy’s theory to subject the fabric to stress before you use
it, in addition to removing any chemical residue. And it was someone else
who asked the original question, I’ve forgotten who, I was quoting her
question before answering it, I guess not all mailers show the quoted
part clearly. I wanted to add a suggestion: I often wash mine right in
with the family laundry, very easy; when you wash your darks, add a pair
of white cotton underwear (an old diaper would probably do), if anything
runs it will be picked up on the underwear! But you can still use it
after, who cares if it’s no longer white?
Abby Fuller
nickf xyz.net
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 16:00:23 -0500
From: RLHlink3 aol.com
As a follow-up to the message from Pam of Santa Rosa….
Some of the nicest old quilts I have seen have been made, not of new
fabrics or even of dressmaking scraps, but of the “still good” areas of worn
clothing.
Linda/N CA
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 16:05:14 -0500
From: RLHlink3 aol.com
…..and I meant to say, therefore unwashed fabric. But I guess that
inference was obvious. 🙂
Linda/N CA
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 16:47:25 -0500
From: SadieRose aol.com
Today on the SIMPLY QUILTS show on HGTV, the hostess Alex Anderson says “See
how a few teabags can turn a quilt into an instant antique.” (Note: today’s
show is with Alice Berg of Little Quilts).
I would like to hear what the long term effect of tea (tannic acid) dyeing is
on cotton (quilt) fibers?? My personal choice is to use darker fabrics, NOT
to tea dye, as I don’t care to take chances. Hope Rabbit or someone with
some technical knowledge can comment on this. Thanks!! Karan
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 18:49:29 -0500
From: “Judy Grow” <judygrow blast.net
The Jasmine hoop and stand that I ordered from Pine Tree Quiltworks (no
affiliation) came yesterday, and I spent 4 hours last night using it. The
current project is a 1930’s Brides Bouquet top on muslin with bright yellow
sashing & green setting squares and lots of green and lavender in the
bouquets. I quilted the sashing first, on my floor model q-snap. It is
really the best tool for the job, as I can do longish straight lines.
Now I am into quilting the 48 blocks. I designed a loopy continuous
line pattern to loop through the bouquet and handle, kind of like the
designs that are put out for continuous line machine quilting. Only I am
doing them by hand. I did the first 12 blocks in a 14 ” hand held hoop,
one a night, and thought it would take forever to get this quilt done.
Yesterday I did 2 entire blocks, with ease and pleasure on the Jasmine. I
love it!
I’ll go back to my q-snap and the sleeves I made for it when I get to the
5″ border. Every tool has it’s proper function. For individual blocks the
Jasmine is a Godsend!
By the way, the only change I would , and will, make to the Jasmine is to
glue felt to the bottom of the stand. We don’t cover our 1860 wide board
pine floors with rugs and DH wants to make sure they stay beautiful.
Moving the stand around in one spot at my chair would probably wear the
finish off the floor eventually. I have to give in to him. He spent a
year decorating the walls and the ceiling in the parlor and the dining room
with a gorgeous mural of a stone ruin, in the Gothic tradition. No matter
what I do in those rooms, they belong to him! (My sentiments, not his).
Judy in NJ
judygrow blast.net
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 97 00:30:00 GMT
From: l.evans5genie.com
First of all, tea dyeing isn’t great for fabrics but it isn’t nearly as
destructive as you might think – the real fabric killer isn’t tannic
acid, but harsh metallic mordants. It’s why black fabric before the
20th century always rotted first. The only effective black in those
days was created by boiling iron filings with a tannic acid source like
oak galls or sumac, and the iron just destroyed the cloth. One of the
reasons why Victorian crazies often are in shreds is because metallic
salts were used to weight silk to give it a nice swishy sound…and the
fabric rotted at a dramatic rate. I don’t think tea dyeing cotton will
particularly hurt it, especially if it’s a weak solution.
Second, someone asked about how developed patchwork and quilting were
when America was colonized. The answer is very highly developed in
terms of quilting and applique, and reasonably developed in terms of
patchwork.
Quilting has been known in Europe since at least the 12th century, and
was definitely known in England, Spain, Portugal and France by the
16th and 17th centuries when the colonies were founded. Most quilts were
done in linen or silk and were luxury items, so probably didn’t come over
with the colonists…but quilted petticoats almost unquestionably did.
Applique had reached a very high level in Germany and Scandanavia by the
Renaissance (there’s a magnificent appliqued funeral pall pictured in
Rose Verney’s book on applique; pall dates from the 14th century and
is elaborate enough that the average Baltimore quilter probably would have
cringed), and was certainly known in England. And as for patchwork –
there’s a patchwork vestment pictured in Jill and Andrew Liddell’s =The
Patchwork Pilgrimage= that contains no fewer than four patterns:
Star of Lemoyne, Forgotten Star, Roman Stripe and Snowball. There’s also
patchwork shown in numerous Old Masters, including works by Breughel,
Carpaccio, and Signorelli.
The earliest American-made quilts I’m aware of date from the 18th century
and seem to have been made and used by upper class families. Cruder
use quilts probably disintegrated. There’s been some interesting
research in =Uncoverings= about early quilt ownership as revealed in
wills and estate inventories – you might want to see if you can find a
copy.
A good book on early quilting is Averil Colby’s classic =Quilting=.
The Orlofskys’ book on quilting in America is also very good.
Hope this helps!
Lisa Evans
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 20:19:12 -0500 (EST)
From: Quilting Heritage ListServ QRSmail.albany.net
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Administrative Note
Message-Id: 2.2.16.19970107201658.303f56a2mail.albany.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
First, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome our new members. We
have been steadily growing in size, and I continue to be amazed at the level
of expertise we have and the extreme willingness of our members to share
their knowledge, their memories and – most precious of all – their books!
I am truly amazed at the generosity so many people have shown.
I would like to remind everyone, though, that we should limit our
discussions to our Quilting Heritage. The odd misplaced note is going to
happen, but this is not the place to discuss how to subscribe to another
list, or when an IRC chat will be held. Emphasis on the discuss. If
someone’s posting (including mine) makes you uncomfortable, or if you aren’t
sure if you should make a post, please send me a note to QRSalbany.net or
oldquiltalbany.net. Keep in mind that we do have a members page (which now
has links to all the other Quilting lists and IRC), let use that!
Kris
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 22:17:09 -0500 (EST)
From: Qltldy10aol.com
To: QHLcue.com, QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Just thoughts on things
Message-ID: 970107193104_439811758emout16.mail.aol.com
Hi all- I am an antique quilt lover and occasional buyer in Maine. More
often, though, I see an antique I like and can’t afford, so reproduce it to
get it. I don’t, however, quilt. I prefer to shop for fabric, design, shop
for more fabric, piece, shop for fabric, look at photo, shop for more
fabric… when the top is done, I decide what kind of quilting it needs, and
decide how much is still in my checkbook, and send it off for quilting- in
the same vein as “what determines a quilt?” am I a quilter? I quilted about
six inches once by hand, so I hope I’m now able to use the term when I
describe myself. Does it really matter, in the enjoyment of the quilt, if it
meets somebody elses definition of “quilt”? I’m sure fiber artists would
have an opinion here, as well.
In making or repairing quilts, sometimes I wash and sometimes I don’t. If
I’m using antique blocks, I prewash new fabrics to use with them. If I’m
using antique fabric with antique blocks (fabric that doesn’t seem to have
been washed) I don’t. If I’m using all new fabrics to create an old looking
quilt, I don’t prewash- I want the fabric to shrink in relationship to the
batting, and I control the look by the time in the dryer. I wash with cold
water, but that’s because that’s all i have hooked us to the washer. So some
of this is very intellectual, and some is purely environment/economics.
I don’t make utility quilts, I make user friendly quilts- they are intended
to be used and seen. I would like them to be cared for and appreciated, so I
store them in glass cases on painted shelves with layers of acid free paper
between. But honestly, if I take one to someone to show, I fling it over my
arm, toss it on the seat of the car…
And mother, forgive me for I have sinned. I hang them on the wall, and we
heat with wood.
I love quilts, and fabric. I love the feel I get just looking at them, and
the color, and the pattern, and the history. I want to make informed and
knowledgeable choices about what I do, but really, I want to be close to
them, and I have no guilt.
This is maybe, too long….:> Beth in Maine
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 11:00:54 -0600 (CST)
From: Phil & Lee Spanner philspanwin.bright.net
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: “QHL” Friendship Block Request
Message-Id: 199701081700.LAA27304bucky.win.bright.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Dear Fellow Quilters,
I am making this request on more than one list so if you are reading this
again, please delete now.
I am my daughter (Stephanie) subscribe to many quilt lists and enjoy them
very much. I have made some great friends via these lists. I have requested
and received your help many times, and have tried to help whenever I was
able. I thank you all for being there. I now have another request.
I can only ask now, and must ask you all to email me privately at
philspanbucky.win.bright.net if you are interested in participating. My
daughter is not subscribed to any of the lists right now because she is in
the process of moving. Therefore, it is safe for me to post this.
She is planning a wedding for June or July this year (will know date soon I
hope). I would like to make her a quilt with friendship blocks from all list
members who would be willing to make and send one to me. I would like them
to be 6 1/2″ blocks with a light color section that has your Name, City,
State, and Country written on it (and any other message you wish to
include). She is very new to quilting and is very fascinated with scrap
quilts right now. So, choice of color is yours.
If you are interested in sending a block, please email me privately and I
will give you my mailing address. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lee :^)
http://www.win.bright.net/~philspan/anilee.htmlDate: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 12:22:18 -0500
From: “Judy Grow” judygrowblast.net
To: lv2quiltfrii.com
Cc: “Quilt History Digest” QHL-Digestcue.com
Subject: Archival helps
Message-Id: 199701081821.NAA21968fireball.blast.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
All wood should be sealed if it will be in an enclosed atmosphere with
items you want to protect. Ragboard or acid free foamcore would work to
separate the items from the acidic wood, and are ph neutral in themselves,
so won’t harm anything coming in contact with them. But if they touch the
wood, they will eventually be spoiled because they are absorbant. They
will have to be replaced periodically.
I think I would lay down a barrier of mylar. Thin, transparent, and
will do just as good a job as the other materials just mentioned. Not
absorbant. It has the advantage of coming on rolls, and can be used to
completely encase shelves. What tdo others think?
Judy in NJ
judygrowblast.net
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 12:29:09 -0500
From: “Judy Grow” judygrowblast.net
To: “Quilt History Digest” QHL-Digestcue.com
Subject: use of dessicants
Message-Id: 199701081828.NAA22177fireball.blast.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
The dessicants mentioned are little packets of calcium carbonate, I think,
which do absorb moisture from the atmosphere. I would not use them in the
folds of a quilt, but I would put them in the enclosed space where the
quilts are stored.
I use them in my sewing machine cases (especially in my Featherweight
case). The old paper-covered board cases can sure pick up some awful moldy
odors when closed up — especially here in humid, New Jersey. I also use
them in leather briefcases and purses when I am storing them. Try them in
winter shoes and boots. I found them in the pockets of the leather coat I
bought when I brought it home.
There is a special glass I buy for my picture framing business and all the
boxes are packed with about a dozen of these packets. I have lots of them,
therefore.
Judy in NJ
judygrowblast.net
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 14:25:18 -0500 (EST)
From: Quiltfixaol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V97 #6
Message-ID: 970108141907_1890525812emout15.mail.aol.com
I was reading this issue and have a couple of comments.
Heidi Wurst is considering using dessicant packets to decrease humisity
levels in her quilt collection. After all the discussion she had regarding
acid-free environments, I want to point out that the packets themselves may no
t be acid-free. Also, would the chemicals inside leach out somehow? If there
was a water accident, would the chemicals melt?
Deborah Welch says she washes her fabrics, even after a store owner told her
that manufacturers put preservatives in the fabrics. Why do they do that?
Quite frankly, if I have to be concerned that the fabric will deteriorate in
a few years without the preservatives, I won’t use it. I’m quilting a c.
1900 quilt top, and the fabrics are like new with no deterioration
discernable. If the greige goods and dying processes of modern fabrics are
of good quality, I would think preservatives shouldn’t be necessary. I
always wash new fabrics in the warmest water possible (same for rinse) using
plain old laundry detergent, and then dry them in the dryer. My completed
quilts are washed with care, but I have no guarantee that some future person
won’t use a harsh method to wash the quilt. I want the quilt to have a head
start in surviving those ignorant of proper washing techniques.
Alan Kelchner
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 97 15:17:15 EST
From: “Bob Mills” decisiontigger.jvnc.net
To: “Quilter’s Heritage List” QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: NY Beauties
Message-Id: decision.1203142275Ctigger.jvnc.net
Pam in Santa Rosa asked me to write a paragraph on the book NY
Beauties:Quilts for the Empire State, Atkins and Tepper.This is part of a
project by the Museum of American Folk Art, NYC, with the project Director,
Ms. Tepper to locate, document, preserve and create an archive for NY
quilts. It is written in the context of the history of the state with the
stories of the women who made the quilts and includes some diary extracts
and photos of the quilters. There are 156 color plates and 56 halftones of
these beautiful quilts. I expect that the NY QHL folks are a lot more
knowledgeable than myself-and could add to this.
It is not a book on how to make the quilt “NY Beauty.”
Why couldn’t 5th grade history have been this interesting and fun and
beautiful? Well organized, thoughtful and a joy to read. I hope you enjoy
it. I am willing to loan it for those who can’t get it thru their library,
but Pam has first dibs.
And no, Pam, lots of us wouldn’t think that 57 degrees was cold!
Jan Drechsler in NJ
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 16:16:41 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Welsh quilts and the Amish
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Susan, i have a friend who has family roots in Wales. The early Welsh
quilts, some much earlier than our Amish quilts, could easily be taken as
Amish quilts.
English quilt historians now think that the Amish might have found the
source for their quilt designes from early Welsh miners to the
Pennsylvanic/Ohio region.
On another note, some years ago i bought an antique quilt made in Ohio. It
was a strippie quilt with wide plain strips of fabric alternated with
pieced strips. The pieced strips were squares on point, reminding me of
Trip Around The World, except the center squares all down the center
meeting point to point were red and the others were various scrap fabric,
mainly shirtings, etc. It had Baptist Fan quilting. A few years after
buying the quilt i saw one EXACTLY like it in Dorothy Osler’s book on
English quilting. The quilt in Dorothy’s book was said to be a Welsh quilt.
I have since given this quilt to my friend in England as she is always so
hospitable when i visit there.
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 17:03:36 +0000
From: “The Garretts” bgarrettpo.fast.net
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Welsh quilts and the Amish
Message-Id: m0vi676-0004KICfast.net
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
It is my understanding that the Welsh quilts probably do predate the Amish
quilts. The German immigrants – Amish, Mennonite, Brethren, Reformed,
Schwenkfelder – did not bring a quilting tradition to America. They brought a
weaving tradition – making heavy woven coverlets – and learned to quilt from
the English after arriving in America. That is why traditional Amish quilts –
those made between 1860 and 1940 – are machine pieced. As a group, they did
not start making quilts until after the invention of the sewing machine, and
therefore used it for their piecing. The Welsh/English quilting tradition
predates German immigration to America.
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 1997 22:56:14 -0600
From: Mary Persyn mpersynwesemann.valpo.edu
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Help identifying fabric
Message-ID: 32D47A6E.5A49wesemann.law.valpo.edu
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
At our guild meeting this evening one of my guild mates brought in a
tied quilt (comforter) that she recently purchased. It is a honeycomb
pattern made with approx. 3 in. hexagons. One of the little pieces of
fabric had HAVEPEACELETU printed on it (with the letters run together).
A little lower on the fabric it said NTWILSONG (the only part that we
could see). In between the two lines of printing were little
footprints, what looked like a hatchet, and another unidentifiable
image. Have any of you ever seen anything like this?
The quilt also had little 13 star american flags with the word Union
over them on white fabric and also another piece of fabric with Lady
Liberty holding an American flag. It looks like 4th quarter 19th
century fabrics. The American fabrics are maybe Centennial fabrics?
Any information or speculation welcomed.
Mary in soon to be snowy Valparaiso, IN
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 1997 20:46:41 -0900
From: Opalka mopalkaalaska.net
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Quilt Videos
Message-Id: 3.0.32.19970108204634.006f0df0alaska.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Kathy, I would love to see a listing of quilt videos. If it is “not
appropriate” here, would you mind e-mailing it to me? I’m sure that others
would be interested. Perhaps we need to not worry quite so much about
“appropriateness” and just share? Thank you, Susan in Alaska where it
has warmed up to minus 10 and we might hopefully get snow by the weekend.
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 08:23:33 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: History and other stuff
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Re: Australia – I guess we forget just how hard our pioneer ancestors
really had it in setting up new communities in a new world. We like to
romanticize the best parts and ignore the others. But it stands to reason
when England sent prisoners to Australia, they weren’t sending featherbeds
with them. Actually they were very neglected.
We also romanticize going west on a covered wagon in America. In that
public radio program, Quilts – Art with Heart, there was a romantic account
of women walking to Oregon and hand sewing quilt pieces as they walked.
Seems impossible to me! I would keep falling down and jabbing my fingers
with the needles.
NEW BOOK….i just got a wonderful new book. It is called Quilts Of
Provence – The Art and Craft of French Quiltmaking, by Kathryn Berenson. It
is a terrific quilt history of French quilts and quilting. the photos are
spectacular. For collectors of quilt history books, this is a must have.
The quilts are exquisite. The publisher is Henry Holt & Company, New York.
I am sure you can order it from a bookstore. It is pricey, $45, but worth
the price, hard back and beautifully done. I said that didnt i! any, enjoy.
Beth in Maine — I like the term user friendly quilts. fits better than
utilitarian…which almost sounds like unitarian, and is hard to roll off
the tongue. I make user friendly quilts too. mostly scrap quilts and quilts
for my grandkids, friends, etc. However, i love looking at the imagination
and creativity in the art quilts being made today.
Also..i was interested in reading some of the digests for the past week,
but can seem to access the digest page on the web. I know i am a techno
klutzo… can anyone give any advice on this?
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter 😉
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 10:18:27 -0500 (EST)
From: MHerron4aol.com
To: QHL-Digestcue.com
Subject: Help with a crazy quilt ?
Message-ID: 970109101823_1325294120emout01.mail.aol.com
Dear wonderful quilters,
This is my first time writing to you all. Part of why quilting appeals to
me is it is part of herstory. I got into quilting 3.5 years ago. My cousin
taught me to piece and my Aunt to quilt. I love it! It’s meditative,
relaxing a creative outlet, people love quilts you can give one to a baby or
someone of any age and it will be cherished. Then there is all the wonderful
herstory tied to it. You might be able to tell this is my passion. Any way I
just turned 35 January 3rd and it has to be one of the best birthdays ever
because I’ve been recieving beautiful crazy quilt squares made by my friends
and relatives–when they all come in I’ll have 9 with the square I’m working
on. They are gorgeous, velvet and silk scraps embellished with hand
embroidery and charms. My aunt made me one with a piece of my Grandfather
Herron’s bow tie in it and some scraps from the general store he and my
grandmother owned in Roswell New Mexico. My friend Karen included a piece of
a hankerchief that has the eiffle tower on it and says “Paris” that her dad
brought back as a soldier in WW11. I’ve worked in scraps of silk from some
of my husband’s old ties and my mother gave me a hand emboidered heron from
china to put in the quilt — I plan to use some scraps from Xmas dresses
from my girls–my friends have embroidered their names on the squares they
made and almost every square has a spiderweb and spider. I know
it’straditional in crazy quilting–I’m guessing because of the web
representing a network of friendship? That’s one question for you. The other
thing I need is advice…I’m on a limited budget, I want to do this quilt
justice and have it in keeping with traditional crazy quilts–what are my
material options for backing it? Do I use batting? I read somewhere that
many were tied, are there other options? Piece ;^) Mary PS I only get
the digest. If any of you would like to email me answers directly my email
address is MHerron4aol.com
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 15:49:35 -0500 (EST)
From: QRestoreaol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Help with a crazy qu…
Message-ID: 970109152812_1459447341emout13.mail.aol.com
MHerron;
The embroidered spider in the spider web that appeared so often in the
Victorian Crazys was a sign of good luck – many superstitions in those days.
Victoria Montgomery
QRestoreaol.com
Boise, ID
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 14:12:54 PST
From: psierajuno.com (Pam D Siera)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: need advice
Message-ID: 19970109.141257.17646.1.PSierajuno.com
DD (who is 18 this week) again asked to have the Sunbonnet Sue quilt
made by my mother in 1934. I told her that if she repairs it she can
have it. Now, the question is this: the backing, which is muslin, was
wrapped around for a binding. It is frayed in areas so that I can see
that a think cotton batting was used inside. How to repair the binding,
or lack thereof? Would it be ok to take muslin strips and make a new
binding for the whole quilt? She wants to use the quilt, it’s not
museum quality, but an important family heirloom. TIA Pam in Santa Rosa
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 18:20:28 -0500 (EST)
From: RFKerraol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V97 #7
Message-ID: 970109182028_272310522emout07.mail.aol.com
Barb in Maine asks “am I a quilter?” and it struck a nerve all the way down
here to South Ga! Anyone you puts as much enthusiasm and obvious love into a
quilting project should be able to proudly call themselves a quilter. There
are many reasons that people can not or do not want to do the entire process.
The defination should never be so limited as to exclude folks like you.
As a personal note, I had two wonderful great grandmothers who made
beautiful quilts until they died within a few months of each other at the age
of 94 and 95. These two women met when their grandchildren were married and
developed a special friendship. One loved to piece quilts and the others joy
was to quilt them. Over the next 15 years, these two women completed almost
60 quilts —– each working on the part of the process they enjoyed the
most. Neither was any less of a quilter for not completeing the whole quilt
themselves.
Just my .02 worth!
Mary Kerr
Pieced of Olde
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 08:36:11 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: videos and reviews…
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
well actually, i was thinking of the name the videos…and…a brief review
like the great book lists that were shared.
I am getting the Home & Garden channel on TV now and Simply Quilts has been
on more than one day. Is it a daily program? If it is i think i will start
recording it day after day for some continuous programs.
Someone said that the Home & Garden channel has a viewers guide to
subscribe to. I havent seen it advertised…..can you share that info again
please.
thanks 🙂
BTW…smile when you read my signature 🙂
It is a joke, really it is………
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter 😉
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 08:42:13 EST
From: debatqpsjuno.com (Deborah A Welch)
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Guazy muslin
Message-ID: 19970110.084210.4382.1.debatqpsjuno.com
Hi, I had a customer bring in a quilt to the shop yesterday that she dug
out of her attic, she knew she had it, but couldn’t remember where she
put it and found it while looking for something else. It is from the 30s
and the background is like a gauzy muslin. She wanted to know how to
wash it and if I thought the background would stand up to being quilted.
The background was literally see through, so I suggested the tub
method of washing and then to put a whole piece of good quality muslin as
a base, layer it with the batting and backing and then quilt through all
four layers. What do you all think?
This type of gauzy muslin is the same stuff that is in my grandmothers
Double Wedding Ring pieces that I am afraid to do anything with. Maybe I
should take my own advice and back the pieces with a good quality muslin
and go from there?
Why did they use this stuff?
Debbie at Quilting Possibilities in NJ
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 08:47:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Baglady111aol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: History and other stuff
Message-ID: 970110084746_978911706emout13.mail.aol.com
Maybe some of our Canadian readers can let us know the price of the book in
Canada, Jean..I will be up there in Sept on lectures and ‘holiday’ as they
say in Nova
Scotia..might be less pricey and I’ll bring one home..Jane
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 10:04:06 -0500
From: gridgeesalgorithms.com (Merry May)
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Crazy quilt backings; Quilts of Provence
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
I have an old crazy quilt (silks, velvets, etc.) with a gold-color cotton
sateen backing. It looks really nice because it has that somewhat shiny
appearance to it. It’s neither quilted nor tied. The front is turned to
the back for the edge finish.
I’ve seen some CQs that were tied from the back. The thread didn’t
necessarily go all the way through to the front, but caught the seams
between the blocks, and was tied on the back where it wouldn’t be so
obvious. Another CQ I have that’s dated 1904 is mostly wools and flannels,
is quilted and has a thin batting. Its backing is a dark, “homespun-style”
plaid.
A couple of years ago, Kate Berenson presented a paper on Quilts of
Provence at the AQSG seminar. Her presentation was wonderful, and her
enthusiasm infectious. I’m sure her book is in the same realm as her
paper. Hopefully my “birthday fairy” will be reading my wish list sometime
soon, because this book is definitely on it!! 🙂
Merry in southern New Jersey
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 10:31:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Baglady111aol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Guazy muslin
Message-ID: 970110103107_712753334emout14.mail.aol.com
sorry, read your post so fast, I thought you said it was feedsack..but I’m
sure the same applies..like anythng else..better or less quality..would be
interesting to see what the forum would say..or ADDY from AARDVARK..She does
testing on products..bet she would know why some is better/tighter than
others..Jane
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 10:33:49 -0500 (EST)
From: SadieRoseaol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re:SIMPLY QUILTS & prog guide
Message-ID: 970110103347_780600381emout07.mail.aol.com
Hi,
Will post this for everyone’s information. If you don’t get HGTV (Home &
Garden TV) – lobby your cable company – it is a great channel.
You can call and get a free sample of their program guide: 1-800-HGTV-ASK
(1-800-448-8275) When I called, I actually got 3 free pr. guides (they are
bi-monthly) before I had to subscribe to keep getting them. If you
subscribe, the cost is $9.97 per year. The program guide is 50 pages, color
photos, has articles about the shows, info on specials & new shows, etc,
besides the program listings.
SIMPLY QUILTS shows 2 programs each week, but these are repeated, so the
same show airs 3 times. Great if you aren’t around to see one, or your tape
runs out in the middle of a show!!
SQ is on Tuesday at 9:30-10:00am EST, and 2:30 -3:00pm EST. The Tuesday
show is repeated on Saturday 1:00-1:30pm EST.
SQ is on Thursday at 9:30-10:00am EST, again from 2:30-3:00pm EST. The
Thursday show is repeated on Sunday afternoon from 4:30 -5:00pm EST.
Be sure to watch & set your VCR to tape the show next Tuesday, Jan. 14th,
as it is the SMITHSONIAN QUILTS show with Mimi Dietrich (who is on QHL).
There are lots of other great shows on HGTV (this from a confirmed TV
hater)- decorating & interior design, home building & remodeling, gardening,
craft shows, etc. They did a wonderful Christmas special about Biltmore
Mansion. I taped it for a friend who had visited Biltmore on vacation, but I
enjoyed it too. They did special coverage of the Tournament of Roses
parade…which was far better than the regular networks.
So, check it out!! Karan from Iowa, with 2 inches of new snow, high
winds, artic cold and blizzard warnings. My boys are mad because they didn’t
call off school!!
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 14:56:29 +0000
From: Rayna Gillman RG2worldnet.att.net
To: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann), QHLcuenet.com
Subject: Re: QHL: videos and reviews…
Message-ID: <19970110145627.AAA25487LOCALNAME>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Jean Ann — you can e-mail HGTV at commentshgtv.com
The told me that Simply Quilts airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 am and
2:30 pm, eastern time. Tuesday’s shows re-air on Sat at 1:pm and Thursday’s
shows re-air on Sunday at 4:30 pm. They’ll send you a free issue of their
HGTV mag, but then you have to subscribe.
Rayna in NJ
RG2worldnet.att.net
Rayna in NJ
RG2worldnet.att.net
Date: 10 Jan 97 11:03:21 EST
From: Rabbit Goody 75444.1037CompuServe.COM
To: “INTERNET:QHLcue.com” QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Two things….
Message-ID: 970110160320_75444.1037_FHQ63-7CompuServe.COM
NOt true about black You need to read some dye receipes from the 18th and 19th
century concerning black ok The BRonson Book the Bemiss book look for
publication dates of 1790- 1850’s to find what they were really using Dont have
time to elaborate today but Logwood, madder, blue vitriol etc.
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 11:56:50 -0500
From: Ricki Maietta rmaiettacsrlink.net
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: crazy back & binding
Message-Id: 199701101656.IAA10159orbital.cue.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
MHerron asked about backing on the crazy quilt she will be putting together:
At the recent Quilt Restoration Conference, Beverly Dunivant stated in a
lecture that she often used black cotton sateen as a back for unfinished
crazy quilts. I thought this was a pretty good idea, & “filed it away” for
future reference. Also, the crazies that I have had contact with in our
local museum have no batting, are foundation pieced & tied, or some have
embroidery circles, almost like little round buttonholes, that tack the
layers together. And, all those special blocks from friends & family –
really a special gift – lucky you!!!
Regarding Pam’s Sunbonnet Sue that needs binding – is the rest of the
backing okay? I tend to be very conservative when doing quilt repair. If
it were mine, I would probably put new binding on, covering what is already
there, & removing nothing. One question, thought – if this is a special
family heirloom, are you sure you want your daughter to use it? My
experience is that a couple of years on a bed, & you will have major fabric
loss. Why not repair it & put it in some special place to enjoy (away from
sun, etc.), & you & your daughter work together to make a replica!! Sounds
like fun to me. . .
Ricki in PA
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 12:07:39 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: Re: QHL: crazy back & binding
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Ricki….thanks so much for the black sateen tip. I am restoring, (just one
very small black silk piece that was disintigrated) a beautiful Victorian
Crazy Quilt that is a family piece of a friend of mine. It was made in
- I also need to bind the edges. I will purchase some black sateen if I
can find it this weekend for the backing and the binding. I was undecided
about backing it until I got your suggestion. She plans to mount the quilt
to be a wall quilt and I feel a backing is necessary to protect the back.
The quilt is beautifully made. I wish I had such an heirloom!
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter 😉
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 13:35:03 -0500 (EST)
From: RLHlink3aol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: crazy back & binding
Message-ID: 970110133501_1991518672emout04.mail.aol.com
I, too, appreciate the tip re: the cotton sateen for backing CQ’s. Actually,
someone else had mentioned that earlier, I believe, or maybe I heard it
somewhere else. ANyway, appreciated more confirmation. When I was looking to
back my old crazy, I looked and looked locally and in a few catalogs for
cotton sateen, but to no avail. Was told by shop owner that it is very hard
to find, hadn’t seen any for years, etc. Does anyone have suggestions as to a
source? Thanks for any help.
Linda/N CA
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 13:57:22 -0500 (EST)
From: JQuiltaol.com
To: kaffee-klatschquilt.com, QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Discovery/Rememberance of Things Past
Message-ID: 970110135721_1857304009emout16.mail.aol.com
My tiny apartment looks like someone came in with a leaf blowing machine and
went through….
I decided.. because the footpath between my “stuff “had gotten so narrow..It
was either go thru and throw out..or walk sideways…
Of course this type of mission(should I decide to accept it) always leads to
a “Discovery/Rememberance of Things Past”
Does anyone need, for mailing purposes, styrofoam pellets, bubble paper,
cardboard boxes,slightly used wrapping paper, tan colored, paper
envelopes(complete with an address of the company that sent me something in
it)…Don’t go to Staples or Office Depot, just come to what used to be my
clothes closet…
I discovered I had enough batting(it was always bought on sale) to batt
enough quilts to cover The Badlands in South Dakota..Maybe all of South
Dakota…
I found the instructions and materials for the baskets I was going to make
..And enough ready made baskets to supply the Easter Bunny for all his stops
next Spring.
Wool….I sent it all to the Senior Center …They’ll be crocheting and
knitting mittens, hats and afghans until 2000…There’s one really older,
slightly forgettful sr.citzen at the center. who is still knitting scarves
for the Doughboys who are fighting so bravely in the trenches of the
battlefields of WW1….God Bless her and the Doughboys of her reality….
If I don’t fall and break anything climbing over the giant bags of ..”Give
away, send away and throw it out” stuff.
I ought to have my 2 room apartment, back to normal by Spring..well maybe
early Summer…
Have to go.. the Salvation Army, and I do mean army, is here to take some of
my treasures to a good home…
Jean Laino
jquiltaol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 14:53:52 -0600
From: R D holmrexecpc.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Book Question
Message-ID: 32D6AC60.57C8mail.execpc.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi all,
I have a book question that I need help with. Because of a mail order
mixup, I have a store credit in a store that is in another state. I
have decided that I would like to purchase one of two books. One book
is: Quilt Restoration by Camille Cognac, and the other is The
Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman. The problem
is that I’m sure that both books are excellent books, but I can’t
actually see them to make the decision. Does Barbara Brackman’s book
give a history of the block too, or just the name? If you are familar
with these two books, I would appreciate your input.
Please email me privately.
Thank you in advance,
Donna in Wisconsin
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 17:36:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Quiltfixaol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: Crazy Quilt & Us Guys
Message-ID: 970110172928_1242131190emout15.mail.aol.com
Can we change the way we describe quilting to “our”-story, rather than his or
hers? I pay close attention to male quilters past and present, and while a
minority, they’re still there. I even know of a quilt that has been passed
from the first male child to the next since the mid-1800’s!
But enough. I really really like this list. It has people talking about the
stuff I want to talk about.
Regarding the crazy quilt top – don’t use batting. These quilts
traditionally have a top and lining only, and were more often than not tied
from the back. The ties are sewn to the seam allowances, so they don’t
intrude onto the top of the quilt. Also, spend some money on good velvet
for the binding. Not only is it also traditional, but it can hold it’s own
against the top. As for the backing, well, are you planning on embellishing
it too, or putting the quilt history on it? If so, I’d splurge on a nice
fabric. Otherwise, I think a plain quiet fabric in the same tone as the top
would suffice, and wouldn’t detract from the top.
I also have a question for y’all. Last year, on the Sunday of the QRS
conference, I purchased the most striking silk quilt I’ve ever seen in
person. I almost left it there – who needs another UFRP (unfinished
restoration project). I have many and couldn’t justify another, but the
price was good and the quilt, well………I had to!! Anyhow, it is about
8’x8′, made of many colored silks, and in the baby block pattern. Only two
fabrics are affected by weighting. Unfortunately, one of the two fabrics is
the black, which predominates throughout. It was paper pieced. The back is
great. A 7’x7′ square of perfect green plaid silk (chiffon?)is surrounded by
a border of black. The black velvet binding was piped with green silk. Now
for the question: The quilt has five velvet loops, on the corners of one
short side and one long side. The remaining two loops are in the center of
these same sides between the corners. The loops and binding appear to be
original to the quilt. What are they for? I’d thought of hanging from the
wall/ceiling, or maybe as a bed hanging, but three loops is not enough to
support it . The only feasible idea I have gotten came from Nancy Kirk, who
speculated that they were used to tie the quilt to the bottom and one side
rail of the bed, in the style of European duvet covers. One side and the top
would be left untied so you could get in bed. Sounded even better when a
non-quilter pointed out that it IS silk, and since silk is slippery, this
would keep the quilt on the bed. Any other ideas? I like Nancy’s really
well, but will continue to take all theories.
Keep me in mind this weekend. My latest project should no longer be a UFRP
by Sunday!
Alan
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 97 23:00:00 GMT
From: l.evans5genie.com
To: qhlcue.com
Subject: QHL: Black Dyes
Message-Id: 199701102316.XAA07329relay1.geis.com
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Logwood was added sometimes to an iron-tannate dye to give it a dark blue
undercast along with more iron tannate and sometimes copper salts after
- Very early dye recipes were virtually all the oak gall/iron
filings recipe. There’s also something called dye failure black, whcih
involved overdyeing madder and a yellow dye like osage orange or weld
with indigo.
I’m learning pre-1600 dye recipes, which excludes the use of cutch,
logwood, and black walnut. J.N. Liles has some good recipes adapted to
modern use, and there’s always the Renaissance =Plictho=. The older ones
all use some combination of iron and tannin, and they always cause
fabric deterioration. They’re also quite toxic (though not as bad as
chrome yellow), which is why I don’t use them often.
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 22:50:22 -0800
From: nomad1ibm.net
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL:Colours etc.
Message-ID: 32D7382E.2E5Cibm.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear All,Hi there!I have decided to stop lurking and ask a question?
I am facinated as to how coluors got their names,e.g Elijah green? Madder
brown etc.I would enjoy learning what other such names exist and how they
came about.Its just so grand belonging to this list even though I have
only lurked so far.Our computer bill came in-$100 for this month.My
DH shrieked and groaned and said “Not only are we starving,spiders are
moving in with us and now we are going to end up in the poor house!!
Men are such Dramatist Artists!!
Kris,THANK YOU sooooo much for starting this up.Its lovely how quilters
all over the world are like one big happy family all stitched together
and not coming apart at the seams like some families are.
Big Fat Hug,
Hiranya Loder from chilly 20C (F?) Sydney Australia
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 19:40:38 -0500 (EST)
From: robsonpjra.isisnet.com (Peter James Robson) (by way of Quilting
Heritage ListServ QRSmail.albany.net)
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Books on Durham quilts
Message-Id: 2.2.16.19970110193826.272f787amail.albany.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
There are several books that have information about Durham quilts. The
titles are:
“Durham Quilting” by Brenda Marchbank, Dryad Press, ISBN: 0852197373
“Quilting” by Dorothy Osler, MerehurstLtd., ISBN: 1853911577
“Traditional British Quilts” by Dorothy Osler, Batsford Ltd., ISBN 0713447613
“The Quilts of the British Isles” by Janet Rae, Dutton Pub., ISBN 0525483411
Hope these are useful. Also if you ever get a chance to go to The Beamish
Museum they have a wonderful collection of quilts.
Let me know if you want Dorothy Osler’s address. She is a good friend and
lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She is an very knowledgeable on North Country
quilts.
Barbara Robson
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 00:18:52 -0500
From: “Judy Grow” judygrowblast.net
To: “Quiltnet” Quiltnetlsv.uky.edu, “QuiltBee” QuiltBeeQuilter.com,
“quiltart digest” quiltartquilt.net,
“Quilt History Digest” QHL-Digestcue.com
Subject: Washing wools
Message-Id: 199701110617.BAA25907fireball.blast.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Tonight I washed a couple of loads of wool from used clothing that I have
cut apart. I am planning a quilt of felted wool. Many of you will
remember that I was looking for ( and found with your help) the photo of a
black, red, and grey quilt in Michelle Walker’s book. Well, I stared at
that photo for about 2 months, and finally decided, after figuring out
templates, quick cutting and piecing too, that I didn’t want to make it. I
am going to use the same colors, but my own original, and just as simple,
design.
So tonight I put some absolutely grey Geoffrey Bean wool men’s suiting
samples in the wash with a black wool skirt. The black looks to be exactly
the same color it was before being washed, but all the greys have become
just the most luscious shade of soft blue! If I’d tried to dye them this
color I never could have gotten this shade. I guess the black was dyed
over a non-fast blue, which got completely covered, but was still there.
Spooky!
Judy in NJ
judygrowblast.net
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 05:45:50 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHL-Digestcue.com
Subject: felted wools
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
judy i was so excited when i read your email about washing mens suits to do
a felted quilt. I have been thinking of doing this for the past year and
have been reluctant to try it. Next trip to the thrift shop I am going to
see if I can get some really cheap men’s suits…or better yet, ask my
daughter who works for St. Vincent de Paul as a volunteer to bring home
men’s suits they can’t sell….quilters can cut around stains, tears, etc.
The blue sounds wonderful..can you snip a little piece and upload it to all
of us?
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter 😉
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 06:33:58 -0500
From: quiltmagmindspring.com (Jean Ann)
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: finishing old crazy quilt
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
Quiltfix..comments.
Regarding the crazy quilt top – don’t use batting. These quilts
traditionally have a top and lining only, and were more often than not tied
from the back. The ties are sewn to the seam allowances, so they don’t
intrude onto the top of the quilt. Also, spend some money on good velvet
for the binding. Not only is it also traditional, but it can hold it’s own
against the top. As for the backing, well, are you planning on embellishing
it too, or putting the quilt history on it? If so, I’d splurge on a nice
fabric. Otherwise, I think a plain quiet fabric in the same tone as the top
would suffice, and wouldn’t detract from the top.
Thanks for the tips quiltfix — i did not intend to use batting cause i
have rarely if ever seen an old quilt with batting. also plan to just tie
it from the back and very simply, just at the intersections of the blocks
and using black perle cotton..with such a tiny stitch on front that it wont
be noticed at all.
Was thinking of using black file for the binding, but now i think i will
switch to black velvet. I can get some good cotton velveteen for the
binding. But I want a light weight fabric for the back. I hope i can find
sateen, but if not will look for something nicer than broadcloth but a
natural fiber content if i can get it.
Jean Ann Eitel
America’s Favorite Quilter 😉
http://www.quiltmag.com
Let’s Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC – /join #quilttalk
http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 07:44:55 -0500 (EST)
From: AJSNGSaol.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Quilting books for sale
Message-ID: 970111074454_469986753emout20.mail.aol.com
Hi All,
I was looking at AOL Quilt Forum today and saw a post about books on quilting
that are for sale. The woman selling them says she has lots of books (many
out of print) about antique quilts. If any of you are interested, you can
e-mail her for a list. Her address is BarbAmishaol.com.
Just thought you might be interested. We might find some good ones to add to
our library.
Nancy in VA
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 00:22:26 +1100 (EST)
From: Jake Jacobs marinersnetinfo.com.au
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #29
Message-Id: 199701111322.AAA18894wilma.netinfo.com.au
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
With referance to quilting in Australia
We are very lucky to have a book written by Margaret Rolfe called
Patchwork Quilts in Australia first published in 1987 .Quilting in Australia
is influenced by both England and America ,convict women where given a bag
of scraps and needle and thread on leaving England and they where
enncouraged to sew on their long voyage to Australia . The results of one of
these voyages can be seen in the National Art Gallery in Canberra and is
called the Rajah Quilt ( named after the ship that transported them ) .There
are several other quilts displayed at the Art Gallery from time to time.
The Australian War Memorial ( also in Canberra ) has two quilts made
by internees from Changi prison in Singapore . The women made three quilts
one is in England and the others on permant display in Canberra .In the
book previously mentioned Margaret talks about these quilts in great detail.
Margaret is extremely interested in ANY old quilts around Australia
and is trying to catalogue information and where abouts if anyone has
information regarding any old quilts please email me and I can forward the
information on.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in the
history of Australian quilting . Ann-Maree in Canberra Australia
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 23:34:34 -0500
From: “Peter Kourtz” pkourtzrenc.igs.net
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Simply Quilts,Life Channel,Canada
Message-Id: 199701111532.KAA18499host.renc.igs.net
Hello,
Simply Quilts in on the Life Channel here in Canada, Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 10:30 and repeated that day again at 4. There is a
different schedule from the USA programmes. I used to get the
Lifestories newletter, but they are now changing for it. It would
not tell you programmes being run.
Their e-mail is
infolifenet.ca
Joanne in chilly Ontario
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 10:48:44 -0500
From: gridgeesalgorithms.com (Merry May)
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: Re: Durham Quilting
Message-Id:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
There’s one more book on Durham quilting that I haven’t seen listed yet.
It’s “Amy Emms’ Story of Durham Quilting” by Amy Emms, MBE; edited by Pam
Dawson, published by Search Press. ISBN 085532 669 7
To be perfectly honest, I really don’t remember where I bought it. It
MIGHT have been through the mail order place that mostly deals in used
quilt books……(something) Peddlers, I think. They also carry some new
books, too.
Gee, it looks like my CRS— syndrome is acting up again! 🙂
Merry
gridgeesalgorithms.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 08:17:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Michele Weise michelepeppertreestudios.com
To: QHLcue.com
Subject: QHL: silk baby block acquisition
Message-Id: 199701111617.IAA24281acme.sb.west.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
To Alan and his quandry about the loops…all I have to say is I’M JEALOUS!
Go know that I should ever have such a dilema! michele
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 15:13:13 -0800
From: Jody Bordner qltgrosegte.net
To: HKnight453aol.com
CC: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Tied quilts
Message-ID: 32D81E89.5C6Cgte.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear Heather,
Your comments on tied quilts bring up a very interesting point! I have
always said that we modern quilters as a group tend to be too picky, too
involved (right color? wrong color?etc, etc) in deciding the qualities of
our work and those that came before us! When I joined my local guild, the
president at that time deemed that anything LESS than 10-12″ per inch was
NOT acceptable and heaven forbid any machine piecing, let alone quilting!
LOL! Being the rebel that I am, I didnt get deterred by her opinions, but
always wondered how many potential good/great quilters we were scaring
off when she ponificated about her “standards”.
I have always looked at quilting as a labor of love and an art.
Therefore, if I LOVE it, who cares what others think and if it is an art
and I practice, then, I am BOUND to improve! From looking at the current
crop of truly magnificent machine quilts that must be true for everyone!
One reason that tied quilts are not eligible for most competitions is
that the people holding the show do not have a category for them. They
dont “fit” in the traditional quilt areas. I have seen some lovely tied
quilts and indeed, snuggled under LOTS of them as a child! They are truly
the “Rodney Dangerfields” of the quilting world! What do the rest of you
think??
Piece,
jody
PS All of the above is of course, IMHO! 🙂
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 15:43:40 -0800
From: Jody Bordner qltgrosegte.net
To: SadieRoseaol.com
CC: QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Tea Dyeing
Message-ID: 32D825AC.1308gte.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear Karan,
I have heard, though I cant clairify now where or when that the tea dying
long term is not too great for the fabrics. There is a product on market
available from various sources, called “Tea Dye” it is a dye product made
by Dylon that gives fabric a tea dyed, antique look. A friend of mine
used it and was very happy with results. It is available thru PineTree
Quiltworks, aardvarkmainelink.net (Addy Hardavy). I have ordered thru
them other things and was very satisfied customer. No affiliation,etc.
Piece,
Jody
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 16:53:53 -0500 (EST)
From: Sandy7827aol.com
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Infor on House&Garden
Message-ID: 970111165352_645042318emout09.mail.aol.com
Hello to everyone, Just find out about this wonderful digest.I’m so glad Kris
told me about it. Been reading all the great information and when I read
about H&G station (I’m so jealous to the one that can get it) we were suppose
to but someone lie! anyway I wanted to share with everyone that they have a
Web site:
http://www.hgtv.com
They do have a magazine you can get. And when the ones that can watch it
just remember me , because I can’t. Hope this help in some way. Bye till
later
Quilting
Frenzy
Sandra
(Sandy7827aol.com)
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 18:40:45 -0500 (EST)
From: QRestoreaol.com
To: QHLcuenet.com
Subject: QHL: Thimbles by Ami Simms (?)
Message-ID: 970111184044_201628195emout03.mail.aol.com
To the group;
I’m looking for information regarding Ami Simms and the thimbles she makes.
Anyone have an address, phone or e-mail information about this? I
understand she makes beautiful thimbles but I have so far been unable to
locate information about them. The QNM magazine lists information about her
books on quilting, etc and have an address for the publisher (I believe) but
I have not seen anything recently about her thimbles, unless I’ve missed it.
Thanks in advance for any information. . .
Victoria Montgomery
QRestoreaol.com
Boise, ID
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 97 18:36:26 PST
From: John & Cinda Cawley cawleyepix.net
To: Rabbit Goody 75444.1037CompuServe.COM, QHLcue.com
Subject: Re: QHL: Two things….
Message-ID:
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
I’ve missed Rabbit the past few days. I should have introduced myself
before since I’ve been posting occasionally. My name is Cinda Cawley. I
live in Scranton, PA. The week after the great blizzard of 1993 I spent two
days at a quilt dating workshop at Rabbit’s studio in Cherry Valley, NY
(near Cooperstown). I’ve always been interested in quilts in their
historical context and I am really grateful that I had that opportunity to
learn from Rabbit. Thanks to Rabbit I constantly ask myself why I think I
know what I think I know about quilts. History is much more interesting
than all the pretty little stories.
Cinda ———————
Name: John & Cinda Cawley
E-mail: cawleyepix.net
Date: 1/11/97
Time: 6:36:26 PM
This message was sent by Chameleon
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Wednesday two friends and I went to see the exhibits at the Newark
Museum and the museum at Rutgers U. in New Brunswick, NJ. What a
wonderful day!
Rutgers has about 30 Lancaster Co. Amish quilts from the Exprit
Collection (till Feb. 16). Some of them seemed like old friends, eg. the
Sunshine and Shadows that’s the cover of the first Pelman book and several
that are in Amish: Art of the Quilt. It was great to be able to see them
“in person.” I always take a 1/4″ graph pad to a quilt show and we had a
wonderful time drawing the quilting motifs.
The Newark exhibit (till Feb. 23) is from their own collection.
Thirty seems to be the magic # for quilt exhibits. Many of the quilts
shown are illustrated in a book of postcards published by Dover ISBN
0-486-28919-2, available in the museum giftshop. This was my first visit
to the Newark Museum and I was delighted. Everybody working there was
really pleasant and friendly and they have a lovely atrium cafe with nice
lunches. The only disappointment was that until I was literally walking
out the door I couldn’t find anybody who knew about the quilter who is the
artist-in-residence so we didn’t get to meet her.
This is a great chance to see lots of marvelous quilts. If you
live anywhere close by go.
Cinda in Scranton
