June 1 – 5, 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:
- Red River Valley Flood Relief for Quilters — Members organize donations of fabric, notions, and feedsacks for quilters who lost supplies in the North Dakota floods.
- Should You Ever Finish an Old Quilt Top? — A long-running debate weighs the historical value of leaving an antique top unquilted against the appeal of finally putting it to use.
- Watching eBay’s New Quilt Auctions — Members compare early experiences buying and selling quilts on eBay, including advice on checking a seller’s return policy.
- The Oklahoma City Memorial Children’s Quilt — Members recall an emotional exhibit of quilts made in memory of children lost in the Oklahoma City bombing.
- Quilts Made from Handkerchiefs — A member’s collection of old embroidered handkerchiefs prompts suggestions for turning them into quilt tops, including a dedicated reference book.
- The Trouble with Naming the Virginia Reel Block — A member trying to paper-piece a Virginia Reel discovers two websites showing entirely different blocks under that name, kicking off a debate about pattern-naming reliability.
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 1997 22:27:26 -0400 (EDT) | From: CToczek [at] aol [dot] com
Help! Does anyone know off the top of their head when beef/pork/poultry was
$.39 per pound? Why in the world?…..
My mom brought those blocks to me this weekend. Flea market find, 24 string
-pieced, colorful blocks from feed/flour sacks. Pretty in a bright way.
I’ve been playing Nancy Drew to figure out a date. Neat part is that I
found snippets, teensy pieces, of newspaper left on the seams. Of course,
there’s not ONE dated snippet! A couple of local government names I can
reference with my dad, plus a snippet with that $.39/lb advertisement.
As for the fabrics, I wish I had paid more attention to the list the other
day about fabrics with one white thread and one colored thread. There are
reds, blues, lavendars, pinks, browns and yellows of that description mixed
in with the feedsacks.
I remember a chambray reference to the early 1900’s and another to the
1960’s.
As for feedsack clues, besides the florals and checks, there are two distinct
*cowboy* prints, one blue and pink dragon print, one Easter bunny print and
*kid* prints. I think these are older than the 60’s, but there is one
suspicious bar of an orange, yellow and brown print that is strikingly 70’s.
Were those colors used together in earlier years?
Any help, ideas or input would be appreciated. (This is so much fun!<G>)
Carla in HOT west Texas
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 10:33:35 -0400 (EDT) | From: RBCochran [at] aol [dot] com
Earlier, an address was posted for sending contributions to quilters who lost
belongings in the horrendous floods in North Dakota. Unfortunately, I have
misplaced that address. Our guild is collecting materials to send. Would
you please provide the list with the appropriate information? Thanks.
–Rachel
in NJ
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 09:51:21 -0500 | From: “J,K,S&A Baird” <baird [at] rrnet [dot] com>
Because someone asked, I will fill you in on flood relief for quilters in
the Red River Valley.
The North Star Quilters Guild of Grand Forks is collecting any donations of
fabric, books, notions, etc. for quilters who lost their stashes. They have
a place where they can set everything out, and people who need things can
come and “shop.”
If you would like to send donations, ship to
Quilter’s Quarters
604 Main Avenue
Fargo, ND 58103
Items are taken from there once a week to Grand Forks, where many people
are still cleaning out waterlogged houses, and not ready to get new things
in yet.
Here in Fargo, where I live, about 200 houses were lost to the flood, but
all our quilters came through OK. Everything just happened too fast in
Grand Forks, and everyone had to leave with no time to save anything. What
a mess.
Thanks for your concern.
Kim
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 10:57:38 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
I have a friend that is willing to send feedsacks..think there would be any
interest in sacks? If you can tell me ALL of the affected areas I can see if
I have members in that region..Jane
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 11:27:56 -0600 | From: Elizabeth Richards <elizabeth.richards [at] ualberta [dot] ca>
The address for the Textile C onservation news group is:
texcons [at] simsc [dot] si [dot] edu
The topic of quilting old tops should generate lots of discussion. I think
the answers depend on who you asked.
If you asked our curator, Anne Lamberta, she would probably, always, say NO.
Her reasons would be that you change the historic significance of the top.
If you asked a conservator, her answer would probably be no, if you were
conserned with reataining the historic significance. She would also tell
you that once quilted you couldn’t examine the back.
I probably have a more liberal view than either of the above, because I
think that it depends what the top means to you. If if comes from a family
member and you want to finish the top and use it I would say – go ahead.
If you buy a top and know absolutely nothing about the maker and where it
cames from I personally don’t think there is any great historic significance
lost. You do, however, probably lower it’s collector’s value for the group
of collectors who don’t want quilt artifacts altered. The exception to this
would be quilts that are exceptional from an asethetic point of view or
where I thought finishing the quilt and using it would ruin the quilt – e.g.
unfinished Victorian crazy quilts which still have their paper templates in
them or which when on display in a modern house would fade.
I bought a quilt top at an AQSG meeting some year ago because it was not
beautiful (in fact rather ugly with really bright yellow patches every once
in a while), had lots of different pre-1900 fabrics in it, and looked like
it needed some stitching repairs.I have no idea where the quilt came from or
even who brought it to the auction. My friends were horrified that anyone
would but such an ugly quilt. It wasn’t until it was washed and I looked at
it carefully that I realized that the needed repairs were in reality just
many different quilters working on one top. There is machine stitching (
varies from 7 to 13 stitches per inch) and hand piecing ( varies from 3 to
10 stitches per inch). Some of the stitching is perfectly even and some is
really funny it’s so uneven. When I thought about the top I realized that
probably many people worked on the top and a decision was made NOT to undo
the poor stitching. I now use the top in my lectures as an illustration in
examination and for “stories” we can learn from quilts. I would still love
to quilt the top but now I don’t have the heart to do it.
–
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 11:30:53 -0600 | From: Elizabeth Richards <elizabeth.richards [at] ualberta [dot] ca>
Information on The Textile Conservation Group Newsletter in New York City
This is indeed the TCG in NYC, although we are all around the world now. The
subscription year begins in the autumn and is $15 for students, $18 for
regular, and $20 for foreign memberships. There is a bimonthly–soon to be
quarterly–newsletter which includes a writeup of any meeting that have
accurred since the last newsletter, lists of events, jobs, announcements,
conferences, etc, and several other features. We hold about 6 meetings a
year in New York, although this year we are actually having one in DC next
month. It is not too late to join this year if you want to get the
announcements for the next two meetings, and all the back issues of the
newsletter, or you can hold off until the summer to join. The membership
secretary is Gwen Spicer and her address is 305 Clipp Rd., Delmar, NY 12054
and her email address is Gwen [at] boojum [dot] asrc [dot] albany [dot] edu.
–
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 17:15:14 -0400 (EDT) | From: QRestore [at] aol [dot] com
To The Group;
I most definitely agree with Elizabeth Richards and her comments regarding
whether or not to quilt an old quilt top . . . I’d like to add another
consideration to this discussion.
It may be difficult for those who haven’t been collecting quilts, tops, etc,
for any length of time or have the time or inclination to study quilt
history, to comfortably determine whether or not a textile piece would be
considered historically significant. In order to make an informed decision,
I would strongly encourage obtaining a couple of quilt history related
sources (books). I will suggest one of many excellent choices out there,
*Clues in The Calico* by Barbara Brackman (the usual disclaimer, no
affiliation) as this has been mentioned in numerous discussions here on QHL.
Clues to dating textiles/quilts by observing fabrics, prints, colors,
styles, patterns, quilting, etc, are invaluable to making an informed
decision about your quilt finds and treasures. . .this book (as well as many
others) will help you through that process.
As owners of textiles and quilts, it’s okay to give ourselves permission to
make decisions about what to do with our family heirlooms (not all Christian
Dior pieces) and shopping treasures . . .educating ourselves will help give
us the confidence to do it. A quote by Camille Dalphond Cognac (author of
*Quilt Restoration, A Practical Guide*) sums it up best, “Who Owns The
Teapot?”
Victoria Montgomery
QRestore [at] aol [dot] com
Boise, ID . . .perfect upper 70’s and sunny skys!
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 97 17:44:42 +0200 | From: “Bob Mills” <decision [at] tigger [dot] jvnc [dot] net>
I have been following the e-bay auction prices for quilts since someone on
QHL mentioned e-bay. I would like to hear from folks who have observed the
auction for a while and can comment on the prices for which the quilts and
tops sell. Do they seem high for the general market? The really old and
well made ones seem to go for a bit more than I can spend.
If anyone has bought one, I would be interested in whether they would try to
bid again, based on what they received in the mail. Were things fairly
explained, including problems? Were you pleased?
My other question is about signed quilts-friendship quilts. I noticed that
the few friendship quilts seem to have faster and higher bidding. Are
signed quilts usually considered more of a collector’s item? If two quilts
were identical in all ways except one had signatures, would one expect to
pay more for the signature quilt?
I bought a large seven sisters quilt top, supposedly early twentieth
century,in clean unused condition, with the first names of women embroidered
in squares. I must admit that I am enchanted with the names- they are names
such as ‘Edna, Wilma, ‘Hen’, Dottie, etc.-and whenever I show the top to
quilting friends, everyone first wants to read all the names. So I am curious.
Jan Drechsler in rainy NJ and my vegetable plants aren’t in the garden yet.
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 18:48:49, -0500 | From: LWKB50A [at] prodigy [dot] com ( KEN AND TIFFANY REGAN)
Hello Fellow Quilters,
I live 1hr. and 20 min.s away from Oklahoma City and remember vividly
the day of the bombing. Seeing the survivors and family members on
tv after the verdict was read brought back all the emotions of that
fateful day two years ago. I decided today that before my family and
I move to Colorado in the Fall, I want to honor all the victims in a
quilt. I have never organized an effort such as this, or designed a
quilt of this magnitude, so any advice is welcomed. I think it is
important that all 168 victims have their name placed on a heart or
other shape, because they were so much more than just a number. I
would also like to acknowledge the 19 babies and children who had
their life so violently snuffed out. The date of the bombing and the
verdict are important in my opinion. If anyone is interested in this
project, or has design input, please let me know. I want to place
the quilt on the memorial fence at the bomb site, to be placed on
display indoors somewhere in the city, perhaps a church or Salvation
Army. I’m anxious to read feedback on this topic. To post to the
list: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com. For personal posts, my e-mail is
LWKB5OA [at] PRODIDY [dot] com.
Thank you,
Tiffany Regan
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 18:58:39, -0500 | From: LWKB50A [at] prodigy [dot] com ( KEN AND TIFFANY REGAN)
Has anyone seen the commercial for “Quilted ” Northern toilet paper?
The cartoon shows all these little old ladies quilting toilet paper
with knitting needles! Ridiculous! LOL!
Tiffany
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 19:41:42 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 1-JUN-1997 14:06:54.3 Peeks1234 said to JOCELYNM
> When is it proper to quilt an old top, and when should you *always*
>leave it as it is?
> Is there some rule I could follow? I keep seeing old tops for sale
>here and there, but don’t want to decrease any value by grabbing a
>quilting needle and going to town.
Janice,
I’m sure someone will give you an erudite answer, but mine is along the
lines of the ‘engagement ring as an investment’ thinking. If you want to
quilt the quilt because you want to use it, and you intend for it to be
yours for the rest of your life, who cares whether the ‘value’ is
‘decreased’ (for other people) if it’s what you want? OTOH, if you’re
wanting it as an investment, and hope\plan to sell it later, then worry
about how it will suit other people. But if you can imagine selling this
quilt only under the circumstances that you can imagine selling your
engagement ring (ie, you need cash BAD), then quilt it and use it, by all
means.
Jocelyn
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 21:10:39 -0400 (EDT) | From: LISA108 [at] delphi [dot] com
I quilted a Depression quilt (a Postage Stamp with that typical bubblegum
pink background) for my mother-in-law. The top itself was found in a dumpster
by my father-in-law! I used a cotton flannel blanket as the backing, tied
it lightly with cotton candlewicking thread, and gave it back for use as
a decorative object/occasional summer spread. It’s not a particularly
valuable top, but it’s pretty and lively and was in extremely good shape,
especially considering where it was found!
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 22:50:04 -0400 (EDT) | From: Peeks1234 [at] aol [dot] com
Jocelyn,
Thanks for you feedback. Some of the others on this list has been so
helpful, and have written individual emails such as yourself. I guess the
consensus is that each top should be evaluated individually as to whether or
not to quilt it. I would never cover up anything showing intricate work like
applique done in tiny hand stitching, or any English Paper piecing
techniques. These should be appreciated for what they are, and learned from.
I’m not in this for investment purposes. I just love quilts. And now, I am
falling in love with old quilts. If I bought any tops, they would stay in
the family, be loved and cared for, and to the best of my ability be
preserved. To me it’s a tie to the past, and all the love that was stitched
in, remains.
Thanks for taking the time to write, I think I’m going to love this list.
Janice
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 23:07:48 -0400 (EDT) | From: CToczek [at] aol [dot] com
Janice,
I’m in the process of quilting a Sunbonnet Sue top and repairing, soon to
quilt a c.1900 Double Irish Chain quilt of double pink fabric. All the
posts I’ve read here thus far on the subject have been intelligent and
sensible. I’d like to add my similiar view. While I do wonder now and
then about monetary value of my tops-turned-quilts, I feel that a quilted
top may, in fact, be loved and appreciated more over time than stacks of
blocks and single tops. Many of these unfinished items will never make it to
musuems; it seems that maybe future family members or even strangers might
take better care of the finished piece. Well, that’s how I rationalize it,
anyway. :]
Carla Toczek
West Texas
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 23:14:20 -0400 (EDT) | From: Lscmsw [at] aol [dot] com
There is another group of quilters from Montana who have been gathering
quilts, fabric, notions, etc. for those devastated by the flood. They have
identified a contact in Grand Forks. The receiving folks are a couple–she
is past president of the North Star Quilters. They own a mobile home park
that managed to stay dry during the floods. The address: Roger and Alice
Mattern, North Star Quilters/Internet Flood Relief, 4701 Golden Gate Drive,
Grand Forks ND 58203. Please mark your packages to assist them in
identifying what to distribute. For example, a box containing fabrics should
be marked FABRICS.
Greetings for a new member on the list!
Linda
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 21:06:06 -0700 | From: The Waites <swred [at] sedona [dot] net>
Quilters are such compassionate people! While attending Quilt Market in
Houston last October I saw the exhibit “Sewing Comfort Out of Grief:
The Oklahoma City Children’s Memorial Quilt Exhibition”. It was quite a
moving experience. I don’t know where the exhibit is now but there were
20 heart-tugging quilts. The sponsors were Fairfield Processing Corp
and Quilter’s Rule Intl, so perhaps they could give you a location where
you can see it.
Audrey Waite in Sedona, AZ
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 09:26:06 -0400 | From: Ricki Maietta <rmaietta [at] csrlink [dot] net>
Hi everyone. I’ve been quiet lately, cause I’m so far behind reading
digests from this & 2 other lists that I was afraid to answer! Figured that
by the time I answer, the topic is long over!
So glad to see some info on Durham quilts. The topic came up before & I
mentioned that one of the magazines had an article a couple of years ago –
Quilters Newsletter or Traditional Quiltworks – but I have yet to track it
down & just don’t remember!
I was interested in Lisa’s comments on the PBS show, as I have not been home
to see it – sounds a little disjointed. I am surprised to hear the
comparison of Amish to German fracturs, as I have always seen a similarity
in the red & green on white applique quilts of the mid/late 19th C. to
German fracturs!! Anyone else see a similarity there, or know of a
historical reference?
I have a question for all of you – I am tempted for the first time ever to
cut up a quilt top & make it into a “bog coat” type jacket. I have always
been opposed to cutting up quilts, but let me describe this one. Saw it
yesterday in an antique shop for $16 – it’s an unfinished crazy top. The
fabrics are gorgeous, the embroidery (also unfinished) is pretty bad, the
foundation fabric on the back is nothing special. If it had been finished,
it would’ve been a late (1915-20) crazy quilt in silks with terrible, thin,
pink embroidery – but it’s not even finished. Am I blaspheming my
historical interest by turning this into what could be a pretty interesting
jacket?? Any comments?
Ricki in PA
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 09:43:57 -0500 | From: “J,K,S&A Baird” <baird [at] rrnet [dot] com>
While we’re on the subject of whether or not to quilt old tops and use
them, I’d like to put in my 2 cents:
No matter how good the old top looks, and how little it has been used, it
is OLD. All the fibers are OLD. They are dryer and more brittle than new
fabrics.
The point is, if you start using the old top once it’s quilted, it will
wear out VERY QUICKLY. I’m speaking from experience, here, as well as from
logic!
So be aware that no matter how good the top looks, once you begin using it,
it will rapidly start to age. Be careful with it.
Kim
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 11:13:20 -0400 (EDT) | From: Peeks1234 [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 97-06-03 00:28:43 EDT, you write:
<< I’m in the process of quilting a Sunbonnet Sue top and repairing, soon to
quilt a c.1900 Double Irish Chain quilt of double pink fabric. All the
posts I’ve read here thus far on the subject have been intelligent and
sensible. I’d like to add my similiar view. While I do wonder now and
then about monetary value of my tops-turned-quilts, I feel that a quilted
top may, in fact, be loved and appreciated more over time than stacks of
blocks and single tops. Many of these unfinished items will never make it
to
musuems; it seems that maybe future family members or even strangers might
take better care of the finished piece. Well, that’s how I rationalize
it,
anyway. :]
Carla Toczek
West Texas
>>
Carla,
Your Sunbonnet Sue and your Double Irish Chain sound like wonderful projects.
How lucky for the tops to be worked on by somebody who loves them and wants
to repair any damage. I agree, a finished piece would be better cared for by
our decendents. Hopefully, never to fall into the hands of a stranger that
might use them to wrap an old fridge before moving. Yikes! Doesn’t that make
you crazy?
I have tried to educate my family about the value of any quilt, letting them
know that if they inherit any in the future, they must take care of them, use
them, and love them. Most importantly, they can never abuse them.
I hope with all my heart, that what I make today, will be treasured for many
tomorrows. And the love that I stitch into my quilts, can be felt by the
owner 100 years from now.
As for quilting old tops, I love the one I see which say started in 1920 –
finished in 1995. Just makes me smile. Of course, I won’t alter anything
with historic significance mentioned previously in other posts.
Janice – Massachusetts
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 09:33:34 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
Dear QHLers and Janice, Talk about moving a refrigerator with a quilt
wrapped around it! I just can’t resist telling about two old quilts I
had once. Long before I became a quilter and, eventually, a quilt
historian, I had two “nothing special” quilts; one, given to me by my
mother-in-law was fifties green, tied, no particular pattern, had been
used as the “play pen” surface in the back of my giant station wagon
during my child rearing years with puppies, babies, groceries,
fertilizer, etc carried on it for years and years. It was shredding,
had been well-loved and was on its last legs. The other I had won in a
bingo game (while visiting my MIL) and was newer, no particular pattern,
tied, had a dark pink flannel backing, and was warm and heavy, kept in
the car for the boys to wrap up in and had many years left in it.
Years pass……I am in the hospital and our dog died suddenly. He was
buried with full honors in the garden. DH had asked me what to wrap him
in and I said that old quilt in the back of the car. Guess which one he
used? NO, we did NOT dig up the quilt! (VBG!)
Sharon in Boise where it is grey today.
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 09:42:55 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
Dear QHLers, RE: signed quilts v. unsigned quilts; don’t you think that
we just have a curiosity to see the names? It would be a little like
reading someone’s mail plus we can feel a stronger connection to the
people involved in the quilt’s origins when we know their names. Having
the last names also would help in research and would add to the historic
value of the quilt. Just tracing the names through birth, death, county
rolls, etc would greatly increase the knowledge of a particular place,
time, and group of people. As to whether it increases its current value
is going to depend on how the purchaser feels about it. Will you be
doing the research, or will you just display the quilt and let the names
be a point of interest? Everything has a value set by the person
willing to put out the $$$ for it. If I were there I might outbid you;
then again, I might ignore that item and go for one you hardly noticed.
Friends who know me well will call me and tell me about a quilt with
pink and white, or pink, green and white, and expect me to rush right
out and buy it. But I never know ahead of time whether a quilt is going
to speak to me or not. Some shout, some whisper. Thanks for
listening. Sharon.
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 14:47:30 -0500 | From: R D <holmr [at] execpc [dot] com>
After the OK city bombing, a wonderful woman, Barb, in Pennsylvania
organized quilters across the U.S.(most were on the internet). At that
time, I was on AOL with her. Each volunteer quilter made a quilt for
every single one of the victim’s families. The quilts given to the
families had an angel theme (basic pattern was donated by Kindred
Spirits, but you could do any variation that you chose). Every quilt
had a poem on it about about a guardian angel helping their lost loved
one. I believe that quilts were made for the survivors too.
I was assigned the task of making a quilt for Baylee Almon, the baby
that the firefighter was holding in the sad picture. Life is very
funny. It is exactly because of little Baylee that we adopted our son
— the most wonderful thing that ever happened to us. In short, after
seeing Baylee that day, I cried about her and the others to a wonderful,
warm woman who is a foster mother. She set the wheels back in motion
for an high legal risk adoption that we had called off. Three weeks
later, we brought home our son. Shortly after that I was given Baylee’s
name to make a quilt for. That still brings on the tears.
Barb in Pennsylvania also had everyone make up 9 patch blocks in the
colors that were used to signify the bombing victims. (I wish I could
find my book that has the poem and the colors in it. I can’t put my
hands on it right now.) The colors that I can remember were purple,
blue, yellow and I think white. In each of the centers of the 9 patch
blocks, a victim’s name was written. Her local guild did the quilting on
the master quilt. This quilt (if I remember right) was to have hung in
OK City for awhile and then the Governor’s mansion. The Smithsonian
accepted this quilt as a remembrance of the victims, so that is its
final home.
A story about this woman and her efforts appeared in Quilters Newsletter
and in Quilt magazine. I also remember another group that made quilts
for the bombing victims too — but I don’t remember who. They had a
write-up in Quilters Newsletter too.
This wonderful organizer, Barb, also had us make quilts for each victim
of the Dunblane, Scotland shooting. A man opened fire in a kindergarten
class there. She organized a master quilt for the town hall there too,
with all of the victims names on it.
I know that Barb has probably organized other things too — she is such
a good person. There is a sad note to this story. After all of her
good efforts, her own town had a tragedy. Do you remember the plane
that went down off of the east coast of the US last July (Flight 880? –
I think)? A class of French students from her hometown of Montoursville
were on it. She didn’t personally know any of the victims, but her
grandchildren did. I think that she organized quilts for the families
of that tragedy too. It was about this time, that I went off of AOL and
lost touch with her.
Tiffany, if you want to make another quilt, please count me in.
Quilting is a wonderful, lasting legacy to show that we care about what
happened in Oklahoma City. You have a big heart!
Hugs,
Donna in Wisconsin
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 16:24:15 -0400 (EDT) | From: QRestore [at] aol [dot] com
Ricki;
< cut up a quilt top & make it into a “bog coat” type jacket.>>Having worked on Victorian silk quilts, my concern for your idea would be
whether or not the silks could or would hold up (re-sewing cut pieces
together), especially if you add stitches (either by hand or machine) in any
of the silk fabrics. . . .Unfortunately, most crazies have some silk that disintegrate, flake and fall
apart, due to the metalic salts used to add body, weight and that {{bustling
}} sound the Victorian ladies all loved so much. Not knowing the condition
of the silks in this quilt, I would just caution that it *could*, in time,
start to fall apart.Good luck with your decision!Victoria Montgomery
QRestore [at] aol [dot] com
Boise, ID
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 18:15:57 -0400 | From: “Phyllis Twigg” <ptwigg [at] radix [dot] net>The Annapolis Quilt Guild’s annual quilt show, “Quilts By the Bay,” will be
held this weekend at Annapolis Senior High School, 2700 Riva Road,
Annapolis, Maryland. Take the Riva Road exit (Aris T. Allen Blvd.) off
route 50. The hours are Saturday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday, June 8, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. Admission is $4.00. The show
features the work of guild members (their membership has topped 300), a
children’s exhibition, the “Annapolis Jewel” raffle quilt, 18 vendors, a
“country store” selling handmade gifts crafted by guild members, and a
chance to “Meet the Quilter”. Five lectures will be held with no extra
charge:
SATURDAY11:00 a.m.- Norma Campbell- Block Exchanges, All You Ever Wanted to Know
About Them1:00 p.m. – Susan McKelvey – Writing on Quilts Yesterday and Today3:00 p.m. – Jackie Janovsky – Adding Surface Texture to Your Quilts or
Garments
SUNDAY12:00 p.m. – Jean Fries – Antique Feedsacks2:00 p.m. – Frannie Meshorer – The Crooked Tree Hollow Doll ClubThe contact person is Hilke Reid at (410) 257-1990 or you may e-mail me at
ptwigg [at] radix [dot] net
Come and enjoy !
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 19:39:50 -0400 | From: “Phyllis Twigg” <ptwigg [at] radix [dot] net>The comments have been so interesting in regard to quilting old tops or
keeping them as they are. If I had made a top or two many years ago, and
died leaving them unfinished, the idea that someone in the future might
care so much as to quilt that top would be a thrill. I would know that
someone gave validity to my work. That someone cared so much and liked my
work to the extent that they were willing to put hours of their own time
(and money) into finishing what I had started would be a wonderful thought.
Cuddling up under an old quilt top just doesn’t do it !Phyllis
P.S. I have seen the word “foxing” in regard to the condition of old
quilts. Can anyone tell me what that means ?
Thanks !
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 19:21:27 -0500 | From: R D <holmr [at] execpc [dot] com>In an earlier posting today, I spoke about the flight that went down on
the eastern seaboard of the U.S. last July. I did have the flight
number wrong. The flight was TWA #800. This was the flight that the
high schooler students from Montoursville were on.
Donna
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 20:26:55 -0400 (EDT) | From: CTislander [at] aol [dot] comJan Drechsler asked for opinions about eBay Auction quilts. I’ve been
watching the auction for a couple of months now. It is so tempting to get
carried away bidding. I bought one quilt (the potholder one) and did pay too
much. It is a specialist collector’s quilt, not one for me to toss on the
bed when we have guests. I have it up for auction again and I don’t mind
taking a loss. I’ve purchased several books on the auction — some good
ones. I also bought a sewing machine and am very pleased with that purchase.I never knew there were so many grandmother’s flower garden quilts.
They seem
very popular on the auction. I really enjoy browsing through the items in the
Textile section. The ones with the photos are best. I check every day for
new items and then bookmark those that interest me so I can follow their
progress. Sometimes I am astounded by the prices. I also check the ending
today section every day.The important thing is to write to the seller and ask questions. Don’t just
guess about the condition of a quilt.
If the seller is not responsive to
your e-mail, don’t buy. Some people selling quilts on eBay don’t know much
about their merchandise. Also, figure out your limit and bid it (after you
have checked it out as best you can). The system allows for proxy bidding up
to your limit. I have put in a maximum bid and been happily surprised to get
the item for less. However, as they say, Buyer Beware!Christine Thresh in the California Delta
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 18:59:41 -0700 | From: nikdeb [at] juno [dot] com (Nick R Hofland)It also occurred to me that I am going to include a brief history with
each of my quilts (maybe include a snapshot) so my heirs will know at
least 🙂 as much as I know about each quilt!My mother-in-law made a quilt for us using Dresden Plate blocks given to
her by a friend who made them back in the 40s or 50s. (Not sure when) I
have to get her (MIL) to sit down and write out the history as much as
she knows it. We use it on our bed all the time (she took the blocks,
cut off the muslin–I don’t know why–, and machine appliqued them to
“trigger” (I think) and hand quilted the alternating blocks, and quilted
our family name onto both side edge panels. It’s quite attractive, and
a labor of love. So I’d really like to know how old it was when she
got it from her friend!So, not only do I have quilting projects to work on, I also have a
“history” lesson to work on too!!! I hope my descendants appreciate all
my effort?!!!!Deb in Spokane
where the rain drips from the eaves today!
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 07:21:05, -0500 | From: KKMK29A [at] prodigy [dot] com (MS KATHLEEN LUKENS)I just wanted to second Christina’s coments on the eBay auction and
add one additional comment. Make sure you ask what the seller’s
return policy is. I have sold several quilts on eBay in an attempt
to reduce the size of my growing quilt collection and I’ve been
suprised that VERY few people have asked any questions at all , even
though they are bidding several hundred dollars for these quilts.
I have a web pages showing the quilts I’m selling and I get many more
questions from people who look at my quilts there. I find the most
difficult thing about selling on eBay is accurately describing the
quilt so the buyer really has a good idea of what she is purchasing.
Even with pictures and a good
description, sometimes the quilt just doesn’t look like you thought
it would when you see it in person –or sometimes what one person
consider a “small” age spot or whatever seems huge to the person who
has just paid lots of $$ for it. I always make sure buyers know they
can return the quilt and was suprised to learn that many of the
sellers do not allow this. As far as prices, I did some research
before I tried to sell any of the quilts and found that there are a
lot of sites on the web selling quilts for well over $500 each (orat
least advertising them for that price, I’m not sure if they are
selling) so if the quilts on eBay going for the $400+ price range
area really in excellent condition it probably isn’t way off the
going rate. What I’ve found is that the buyers who bid the highest
for my quilts are almost always from the West Coast, so perhaps it
really is a regional thing.Kathy
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 06:48:18 -0500 (CDT) | From: Lisa Erlandson <erland [at] cooke [dot] net
Ricki:Whether or not you cut up an old quilt to make a jacket – this doesn’t
sound like a good candidate to me. Silks from that time are usually
brittle, and if it isn’t, when will it become that way? A jacket will go
through some wear and stress to the fabrics and I’m not sure this would
stand up to that. Would you be wasting your time creating something that
won’t last very long?The question of whether or not to cut up a quilt is a subject all its own.
There are very strong feelings on both sides. I have made pillows and yes –
even a teddy bear – out of quilts that I felt were totally beyond repair, at
least I saved portions of some old, worn out quilt for use today. But, the
more I study and learn about vintage quilts – the more I touch them and
wonder about their “life” – the less I find that I consider worthless enough
as a quilt to cut it into something else. They are usually in too poor a
condition to do anything else with. So, my quilt storage area has some of
these poor quilts that have holes and tears and non-existent fabric and are
too fragile to be cut into anything, but I still can’t just trash them. I
guess that in addition to running an orphanage for my “orphan” quilts, I
also run a “home for the old and broken down” quilts that have nowhere else
to go. !!! Sorry to ramble on like this. :^)Lisa in sunny Texas where the sun is just coming up
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 07:09:34 -0500 | From: cabhoney [at] juno [dot] com (Cindy A Honeycutt)
I, too, am fascinated by signature quilts and tops. I passed one up last
summer in Halltown, Missouri (it was a top). It haunted me all fall and I
had a heck of a time coming up with the phone number for the little store
that had it for sale. Luckily, I did, and weeks later, I had it in hand.
These signatures were only from 1959, but I feel like I have a part of
some groups lives or good intentions to start something. I will research
it someday. I know what you mean about the prices of signature quilts. I
have found several lately that weren’t in very good condition that were
well over $100. It breaks my heart that a family member didn’t keep them
in the first place. Cindy Honeycutt from Norman, Oklahoma
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 08:57:56 EDT | From: debatqps [at] juno [dot] comI too saw the Oklahoma childrens quilts at Quilt Market and I have to
tell you, I couldn’t look at them all. I think I made it through the
first 5 or so, and had to turn away, they just ripped my heartstrings.
One was a map of the US and had symbols for the number of the children
killed in the US by state, NJ was completely covered as were other
states.Debbie in NJ
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 08:07:28 -0700 | From: Frank & Inge Stocklin <stocklin [at] erols [dot] com>
Returned from Oregon in March and picked up two great books, Women’s Voices from the Western Frontier, author Susan Butruille $14.95
Women’s Voices from the Oregon Trail, same author $16.95 (Click on the pictures to order.)
What caught my eye were the quilts on the cover. I so enjoyed the books
and have personally spoken with the author in hopes of bringing her to
the East Coast to lecture on these books.
Inge
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 09:45:53 -0500 (CDT) | From: JP1311S [at] ACAD [dot] DRAKE [dot] EDU
Hello everyone,
I’m new to this list, but have really enjoyed reading all you have to say. I
just wanted to add my story on using old blocks. In 1990 I went to the NQSshow at Lincoln, Nebraska with my husband and mother-in-law. (I live near Des Moines,Iowa. Anyway, I had always wanted a Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt. Well,
at the vendors there I found 45 old GFG blocks for $25. I loved them The
colors were just lovely. After I got them home and really looked a them I
realized that they were coming apart. The seams were so tiny they were not
holding up and the individual hexagons were separating. So, I took one block
apart and then noticed that the sides were not always equal. So. My husband,
(a model railroader) made me some new templates out of plastic and I took all
the blocks apart, cut them down to 3/4″ sides, (some of them were about that
big) and I have now repieced all of those blocks and added a few more with
old fabric. Then I put new muslin around each block and I am making the
“path” with reproduction green. I didn’t know that I could have looked for
the real thing. (But I’ve cut out and sewed zillions of hexagons, diamonds,
and triangles and I’m not taking it apart to use old fabric.) I am now
putting the finished blocks together and just passed the 5th row out of 9
rows. This quilt will be finished. I have so loved working on it. But,
you know what? It looks new. my husband said that. Also, my three
daughters are fighting over who inherits it. Huh!
I have, of course, worked on other projects along the way and I got my
master’s degree in library science which took 1 1/2 years when I didn’t
let myself sew AT ALL. But I have loved these blocks. It has given me
great joy and peace hand-piecing the whole thing. I think of the person
who originally made them and I think she (or he) would approve.
Judy
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 18:45:53 -0400 (EDT) | From: LISA108 [at] delphi [dot] com
Well, I posted a message about the misdated quilts and the pseudo-fraktur
connection to the -American Visions- Web site…and a male poster told me to
calm down, take a deep breath, and stop worrying about such a trivial thing.
I so *love* being condescended to…and in case anyone else is interested,
the WEb site can be accessed at http://www.pbs.org. All their series have
individual Web sites.
As for Ricki’s crazy – if you keep the jacket for special occasions and back
it with cotton, I don’t see why not. The silks in those things go pretty
quickly, so make sure you keep body oils and sweat away from the fabric as
much as you can….
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 18:53:22 -0400 | From: cauch [at] cfw [dot] com
I have a collection of very old, embroidered handkerchiefs and was just
curious whether anyone knew of quilt tops made from them perhaps?
Christina in the Blue Ridge
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 18:17:26 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
cauch [at] cfw [dot] com wrote:
>
> I have a collection of very old, embroidered handkerchiefs and was just
> curious whether anyone knew of quilt tops made from them perhaps?
>
> Christina in the Blue Ridge
Christina:
I act as an advisor to the Dallas Heritage Society’s “Old City Park” and
their quilt collection and we have at least 2 handkerchief quilts. One
is all silk, one is cotton. With both, the handkerchiefs are treated as
individual quilt blocks. The silk one is very elegant and has some
handkerchiefs and scarfs from events around the country as well as from
the Dallas area all pre 1900. They are not quilted in the interior of
the blocks. A wool bat was used, supposedly so that the silks would
“stick” and not flap about. There may be more in the collection. We are
planning to go thru the entire collection in July & Aug. and make a
pattern book of those that we can.
Laura
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 1997 22:55:58 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
Dear all:
I finally had a minute to sit down and pull up Kris’e-mail Club list
with *all* the wonderful quilts & books listed. Harriet Hargraves book,
>From Fiber to Fabric is a very interesting read indeed. For those of us
interested in restoration/conservation & even quilt/textile history, she
has done a wonderful job of explaining in very plain English how thread,
fabric and batting is made. I had seen the photos of the Hobbs plant
several months ago at a guild meeting and wondered how Harriet would be
able to keep my interest on that one, but she did.(Now, that is not to
say that H.D. did not do a splendid presentation, as usual!) The
drawings of the machinery and the “trip” that the fibers take toward the
finished product are very enlightening. I always enjoy learning how
things I use on a daily basis are made. I highly recommend this book for
any guild library and for any one who enjoys including background
information in basic classes & lectures.
JM2CW…. Laura
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 08:41:49 +0000 | From: Mark Mashaw <mtm [at] snet [dot] net>
Hey all,
I’m working on a paperpieced quilt that I thought was a Virgina reel —
also known as snail trail. I went to the following web site
http://smartlink.net/~leverich/artquilt.html
and it shows an entirely different block as a virginia Reel.Which is
the REAL Virginia Reel? Does anyu one out there know because I’m making
this quilt for some Virginians and would hate to give them
misinformation, Thanks, Mary (mtm [at] snet [dot] net)
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 09:31:51 -0500 (EST) | From: Diane Krall <dkrall.inmu [at] incolsa [dot] palni [dot] edu>
Cindy,
You’re probably busy like the rest of us, but I encourage you to research
your signature quilt as soon as possible. This way you have a greater
chance of finding someone who signed his or her name to that quilt and the
reason for the quilt’s existence and information about some of the other
peoples’ signatures. It would make a great oral history project.
Diane Krall, Indy
On Wed, 4 Jun 1997, Cindy A Honeycutt wrote:
> I, too, am fascinated by signature quilts and tops. I passed one up last
> summer in Halltown, Missouri (it was a top). It haunted me all fall and I
> had a heck of a time coming up with the phone number for the little store
> that had it for sale. Luckily, I did, and weeks later, I had it in hand.
> These signatures were only from 1959, but I feel like I have a part of
> some groups lives or good intentions to start something. I will research
> it someday. I know what you mean about the prices of signature quilts. I
> have found several lately that weren’t in very good condition that were
> well over $100. It breaks my heart that a family member didn’t keep them
> in the first place. Cindy Honeycutt from Norman, Oklahoma
>
>
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 09:38:22 -0500 (EST) | From: Diane Krall <dkrall.inmu [at] incolsa [dot] palni [dot] edu>
Christina,
I have a book titled HANDKERCHIEF QUILTS by Sharon Newman (American School
of Needlework, 1992; ISBN 088195442X). This might give you some ideas.
Diane Krall, Indy
On Wed, 4 Jun 1997 cauch [at] cfw [dot] com wrote:
> I have a collection of very old, embroidered handkerchiefs and was just
> curious whether anyone knew of quilt tops made from them perhaps?
>
> Christina in the Blue Ridge
>
>
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 97 11:34:25 EDT | From: Suzanne Sindledecker <SSINDLE [at] NERVM [dot] NERDC [dot] UFL [dot] EDU>
I saw a quilt recently in a local quilt show where a woman had taken the
handkerchiefs she had been collecting for years and made a full size
quilt. She folded each to look like a butterfly, and appliqued each to
a pastel colored block. She also appliqued antennae and a few swirls
for the wind. She alternated these with solid blocks and handquilted
the entire quilt.
It was refreshing and spring-like and she was happy to have her collection
out where she could see it everyday.
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 09:45:49 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
Dear Mary, You’ve just encountered one of the facets of quilt study
that causes the most consternation. The fact is that the naming of
quilt patterns evolves just like language does. When patterns are
passed on by so many methods (from house to house, across the country,
sister to sister, etc.) naming becomes subjective. In the preface to
_The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns_, Barbara Brackman quotes
Florence Peto from her _American Quilts and Coverlets_, “It is not wise
to be didactic about the nomenclature of quilt patterns.” You will find
many patterns have not just one or two names, some have more than a
dozen. Conversely, some names are applied to more than one pattern.
Rest easy in using the pattern you know as Virginia Reel.
FYI, I am a quilt historian in Boise, Idaho. Happy quilting, Sharon.
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 12:37:25 -0500 (CDT) | From: j_finley [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com (JANET FINLEY)
Another comment on whether or not to finish old tops. I bought a hand
pieced Four Point Star (or Periwinkle) top, dating 1930-40’s, commodity
sacks (some blue lettering still showing which I interpreted as
charming), feed sack and scrap bag fabrics, etc. Very clean condition,
flat, no apparent finishing problems, quilter unknown except it came
from an estate sale in Grand Lake, Colorado. The pattern struck me as
graphically sharp – I liked it. And besides, there was no way I would
hand piece all those little Four Point Stars and so I thought the
asking price ($125) was a bargain when you think of all the hundreds of
hours already into this top. I wanted a project I didn’t have to think
too hard on so the next year was spent on quilting this top (though to
be truthful, there were moments when I wondered why I was doing this.
Quite a commitment.). It’s finished and I can’t help but think I added
to the value of this top. It is now at the The Capitol Quilt Show and
will be seen by hundreds of people. I feel the original maker (I always
had thoughts of her when working on the piece) would be pleased to see
it finished. By the way, if any of you are in Denver June 6 – July 24,
there are over 260 of Colorado’s finest quilts on display at the State
Capitol Building – quite a spectacular setting for quilts!
Janet Finley
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 15:26:52 -0400 (EDT) | From: JZgliniec [at] aol [dot] com
Dear Christina,
Yes, in fact a friend of mine, Sharon Newman has written a book , published
by ASN, I am sorry I cannot remember the title, about using them in tops and
quilts. Perhaps your guild has a copy, I am not sure if it is still in
print.
I have seen several beautiful quilts made with them used as embellishments,
blocks, and appliques. There are a great many possibilities.
Regards,
Julia
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 19:09:02 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 4-JUN-1997 19:00:57.4 cauch said to JOCELYNM
> I have a collection of very old, embroidered handkerchiefs and was just
> curious whether anyone knew of quilt tops made from them perhaps?
> Christina in the Blue Ridge
Christina,
In the BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS’ 501 QUILT BLOCKS, there are project
that use old lace and handkerchiefs.
Jocelyn
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 21:38:56 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 5-JUN-1997 09:35:51.1 mtm said to JOCELYNM
> and it shows an entirely different block as a virginia Reel.Which is
> the REAL Virginia Reel? Does anyu one out there know because I’m
>making this quilt for some Virginians and would hate to give them
> misinformation, Thanks, Mary (mtm [at] snet [dot] net)
Mary,
They’re probably both REAL reels.
Considering that women all over the country came up with designs and
named them, lots of patterns have more than one name, and lots of names were
used for more than one pattern. Considering the commonness of the Virginia
Reel as a dance, I’d guess that women all over the country might have used
the name, not just Virginians. Remember in GONE WITH THE WIND, how Scarlett
danced the Virginia Reel? So a Georgian woman could have made up a design,
thought it looked like a dance, and called it VR.
Jocelyn
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 22:26:12 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
Diane Krall wrote:
>
> Christina,
>
> I have a book titled HANDKERCHIEF QUILTS by Sharon Newman (American School of Needlework, 1992; ISBN 088195442X). This might give you some ideas.
>
> Diane Krall, Indy
> On Wed, 4 Jun 1997 cauch [at] cfw [dot] com wrote:
Diane: I just left Sharon. She’s in Dallas doing lecture & workshops for the guild. I’ll print off your threads and ask her Sunday when we get
together again.
Laura
texas_quilt.co. [at] airmail [dot] net
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 1997 23:51:17 -0400 (EDT) | From: LISA108 [at] delphi [dot] com
Amen to what Sharon said. Yvonne Khin’s encyclopedia of quilt patterns
has blocks with as many as six or seven names, or one name applied to two
or three blocks. There’s one called Windflowers, Windmill, Chinese 10,000
Perfections, and three or four other names…and most of us know it as
Swastika. Duck’s Foot in the Mud and Bearpaw are identical.
And so on and so on. Call your quilt Virginia Reel, and don’t worry about
the name – rejoice in the differences, and have a good time!
Lisa
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 22:55:09 -0500 | From: “J Bickers” <jbickers [at] prodigy [dot] net>
Hello!
I spoke with Terry Thompson today on the telephone and she asked me to post here her thanks for the beautiful Kansas Trouble Blocks. She received 46 blocks, and she commented on the beautiful piecing.
She also mentioned that she hoped that she would be going online herself and joining the list sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Jill
