October 11 – 21, 1998
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:
- Fabric Width History — Lively thread on when standard fabric width changed from 36 inches to 44 inches, with members sharing memories, pattern evidence, and historical context.
- Nile Green Color (Continued) — Ongoing identification of Nile Green, including Coats & Clark bias tape references, paint-department color matching, and comparisons to vintage kitchen utensil green.
- Enlarging and Resizing Quilt Patterns — Beginner-friendly discussion of methods for resizing quilt blocks, including photocopier enlargement, Jenny Beyer’s drafting book, and quilt design software.
- Baltimore Album Quilt Interpretations — A member asks how far you can stretch the definition of a Baltimore Album quilt and still call it one.
- Houston International Quilt Festival Plans — Members coordinate meetups and share booth locations for the upcoming International Quilt Festival in Houston, including an AQSG reception.
- Missing Quilt Alert — Notice circulated about a missing or stolen quilt, asking the community to watch for it.
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 22:47:31 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 10-OCT-1998 234650.5 oldquilt said to JOCELYNM
> Now my question is why was this quilt made? Why is it dated 1841 if the signatures are later? Why is it quilt number 1? Who are these people are where did they go?
Kris,
Maybe it commemorates something Ms. Peacock did in 1841, that was the first of a series? Founded an orphanage, maybe, or a hospital, that was called #1?
Jocelyn
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 23:52:36 EDT | From: JBQUILTOK [at] aol [dot] com
I had a chance to stop at the newly reopenned Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City, OK yesterday & they have a really nice display of antique quilts. Some go back to around 1840 & some are newer. Most are from the State’s collection & have been loaned for this exhibit. Included is a sampler quilt done in 1931 by representatives of each OK state district and a 1981 attempt to recreate the group effort. The original was done by ladies 60 & older. The recreation looks like it was done largely by ladies who had never quilted before. There was an 1869 friendship quilt given to Mrs. Athenious Fulsom Colbert by Choctaw, Chickasaw & Cherokee women. This is a Baltimore album style quilt with some really interesting blocks in it. I especially liked the heart pierced by an arrow & surrounded with laurel leaves. I couldn’t get exact dates for how long these would be up, but the ladies at the desk expected it to be at least thru the end of the year. If you’re close or passing thru northern Oklahoma, this would be a worthwhile stop. The whole museum is displays of women related artifacts. And the museum shop had copies of ‘No Time On My Hands’ in paperback – something I’ve been wanting to find and read!
Janet
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 06:36:02 -0700 | From: “Robert & Marlene Rasmussen” <mbras [at] netins [dot] net>
There are so many interpretations of the Baltimore Album Quilts that I am wondering just how far you can go and still call a quilt Baltimore Album. Just what are the quide lines? Hope someone can explain this. Marlene
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 18:52:09 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix [at] mail [dot] jax [dot] bellsouth [dot] net>
This url will take you to a site that tells how to preserve your wedding dress http://www.interlog.com/~keepsafe/doityslf.html
Thought you’d be interested.
Alan
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 08:13:14 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix [at] mail [dot] jax [dot] bellsouth [dot] net>
Xenia,
Not to be really specific (VBG), but I’ll try
The Victorian era had a sub-era in it called Aesthic, a reaction that started around the 1870’s to the overblown Victorian styling. The aesthic movement drew heavily from cultures other than Anglo-American for it’s design base. The major groupings I recall are Neo-Grec (classical greece), Anglo-Jap (no, not a racist usage on my part. It refers to a Japanese design base recreated by the white peoples. My favorite in this period.) There was also a Neo-Egyptian period also. Lots of figures, lotus leaves, and other motifs based on traditional Egyptian motifs. Remember, the Victorians were very into Egyptology. Would go out and dig up tombs, some more scientific in their process than others. But the study, as a major movement, began with the Victorians (I believe a Victorian decyphered the heiroglyphics), and would be a prime time for the color Nile green to be named. Tutenkamen’s to: mb caused that major stir in the 20’s because the treasure in his tomb was so absolutely spectactular. Oh – the curse helped too.
Just my thoughts.
Alan
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 08:18:36 -0500 | From: “Jeff & Sheri Lesh” <jefflesh [at] netins [dot] net>
Last year we had someone on one of the lists that scanned an old Coats and Clarks trading card for us that had the calendar on the back that would work for the coming year. I then printed mine out on card stock and laminated it and have been using it all year on my desk and just love that. Any one out there that has one of those and could do that, would LOVE to hear from you.
Thanks, Sheri
Jeff & Sheri Lesh jefflesh [at] netins [dot] net
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 12:08:30 EDT | From: Lalalawyr [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 98-10-11 002447 EDT, Birdsong [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net writes << I saw it mentioned also on the last digest as ‘mint’ green, but, isn’t Nile a more yellow-green?? >>
It’s always hard to describe colors with words, but personally, I would call Nile green a greyed version of a mint green hue.
Melissa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 12:35:49 -0500 | From: “Gail Richter” <richter2 [at] frontiernet [dot] net>
Hi,
I wonder if that is the same color green that you find on vintage kitchen utensils?
Gail R.
in NE wis.
> It was evidently a common color for interior decoration in the 20’s, and sometimes is called “kitchen
green”
> because it often showed up in period kitchens.
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 23:33:45 -0700 | From: khayes <khayes [at] superior [dot] net>
I had the chance this pas weekend to stop at Rider U and see the Russian Quilt Show. WOW! They were spectacular! They are all very contemporary and use a great deal of mixed media, it makes them wonderful. There are quilts and clothing in the collection. The only draw back is the location. The quilts are displayed in the Student center. The first time I stopped the quilts in the Art Gallery couldn’t be seen because they were having a banquet, but I saw the ones in the
Multi-cultural center. The next time I stopped I was able to see the quilts in the
Art Gallery but the Multi-cultural center was in use. I did manage to see them all and since I was there for 4 days and only one town away I was able to return.
Calling ahead and making sure the rooms are open would be wise if you are traveling any great distance. Thought you all would like a little feedback since
I found out about the show thru the digest. It runs for afew weeks more and if
I get back to NJ I plan to stop again. They were very inspirational to me.
Yours Dee/NY
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 06:57:04 EDT | From: QLTmaven [at] aol [dot] com
Hello.
Just looking through the May/June ’98 issue of Quiltmaker magazine. On page 28 they have a quilt called “Palm Leaf”. The pastel bluish green is known as Nile green, dating this quilt to America’s Depression years. Does this look accurate to some of the experts on the list?
Eileen
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 06:50:08 -0700 | From: “fall” <fall [at] teleport [dot] com>
Just a note…
Coats & Clark still makes bias tape, thread and other products in a color called “Nile Green” – it’s a bit greener than seafoam, not quite a mint, but still very light. You might want to contact them and see if they have any background info on the color – and how long they have carried it (forever, from what I understand). This might give additional clues.
Happy Quilting
Cheryl
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 19:00:40 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow [at] blast [dot] net>
On an old (not quite antique, I think) cotton bandana I bought yesterday is a wonderful medallion design that just cries out to be done as an applique quilt. I’ve never done one and have been searching for something I would want to do, that would be original to quilting. I am a great adapter of designs, but rarely can something spring fully realized from the get-go from my brain.
The bandana is 20″ square, and I want to enlarge it to somewhere near 80″ square. This will also make what are now 1/8th inch drawn lines into appliqueable widths. No embroidery needed. It is now just red/orange and indigo blue on white, but I may play with the colors, once I get the design up an running.
I just found out that our local copy mega-store has a machine that will enlarge and print up to 36″ wide by however long you want – 72″ is close enough to 80″ and I can always add a border! They charge by the square foot. I am going to be knocking on their door first thing tomorrow AM. There are all kinds of things I’ve looked at that are now very do-able! I’ll report back on the procedure and the cost of the enlargement. I was to: ld it is not a blueprinting machine, but a true xerox type copier.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow [at] blast [dot] net
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 20:27:28 -0600 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
To: ghs [at] islc [dot] net
CC: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Hello troopers,
Might as well answer this here, OK? The QHL pin, available from our ‘listmother’, Kris Driesson, is the “mysterious black-centered Log Cabin” block. The pin is over an inch square, you won’t miss us who’re wearing it!
Thought I’d also put in 2 cents here re I too am leading a Round Table discussion at AQSG/Charleston, West Virginia, on ‘Cleaning Quilts.’ (Xenia, I AM including your point of view! (;D ) Funny how I am just as excited about this conference as the one in Omaha last month. Laura, Texas, and I are trying to figure out how we can have a regular ‘fix’ of this type of thing, it’s so good for the adrenaline! See many of you there, Sharon.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 00:02:34 -0500 | From: rshink <mcr2 [at] musica [dot] mcgill [dot] ca>
QHL-Digest-request [at] cue [dot] com wrote
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 07:25:32 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Sharon Harleman Tandy wrote
> Good morning, I have only been into the quilting world for about 4 months, everything is new to me, and there are not enough hours in the day me. What is “QHL”, how can I get a pin, and AQSG?
And I am constantly looking for patterns/ designs for pieced quilts. I did buy the 501 quilt disigns, and it is great, however, how do you make them big enough? When I am not on the computer discussing quilting, I am at the sewing machine putting squares together, not I think I need stronger glasses, a back brack, and a math chart! Well, these are the Happy times, have a great day , GWen
Please visit my web sit www.islc.net/~ghs
> Hello troopers,
> Might as well answer this here, OK? The QHL pin, available from our ‘listmother’, Kris Driesson, is the “mysterious black-centered Log Cabin” block. The pin is over an inch square, you won’t miss us who’re wearing it!
> Thought I’d also put in 2 cents here re I too am leading a Round Table discussion at AQSG/Charleston, West Virginia, on ‘Cleaning Quilts.’ (Xenia, I AM including your point of view! (;D ) Funny how I am just as excited about this conference as the one in Omaha last month. Laura, Texas, and I are trying to figure out how we can have a regular ‘fix’ of this type of thing, it’s so good for the adrenaline! See many of you there, Sharon.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 13:08:42 EDT | From: Lalalawyr [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 98-10-14 081221 EDT, ghs [at] islc [dot] net writes << I did buy the 501 quilt disigns, and it is great, however, how do you make them big enough? >>
As you know, the 501 Quilt Blocks book is specifically designed to make small (4″) blocks, and it can indeed be quite difficult to re-size the blocks. In fact, it can be difficult just to make those blocks if you use rotary cutting instead of templates, because the math on 4″ nine patch blocks is really screwy.
But there are many other resources for larger block patterns. Rather than drive yourself crazy, why not get another book, and use the 501 Block book for inspiration, applique patterns, etc.?
One good basic block pattern book I would recommend is “Around the Block” by Judy Hopkins – 200 block patterns, with rotary cutting dimensions to make each block in 6 different sizes.
Melissa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 14:19:02 EDT | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
just trace the block you want… and then take the traced paper to a photo copy store and enlarge it 100% and you will have an 8 inch block… or enlarge it 150% and you will have a 12 inch block..
jean
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:31:19 -0400 | From: “John and Cinda Cawley” <cawley [at] epix [dot] net>
I don’t have the Quiltmaker magazine in question. I do want to note that color reproduction in books and magazines can sometimes be way off. The only sure way to know what a color looks like is to see it “in the cloth” providing, of course, that said cloth has not faded, disintegrated or otherwise changed over time.
Cinda in Scranton
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:49:47 EDT | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
I saw the piece in the quiltmaker magazine…. placed a piece of solid color fabric that had Nile green printed on the end of the cardboard bolt, and the two colors matched exactly…
jean
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 20:34:31 -0400 | From: Anthony Jones <ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com>
Did you know that if you take a color sample to a paint department that does custom color matching, they can scan it into their computer and give you a precise formula for mixing that color? Some time back, I wanted to match the golden-yellow yolk color from the picture of a sunny-side-up egg in a mag ad. They came remarkably close and gave me the color formula in case I wanted more.
I’m only a beginner dyer, but I’d think fibre reactive dyes would have colors that you could match to the formulations. Of course, you’d have to experiment around with the densities, but, it’s a start.
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 22:12:16 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow [at] blast [dot] net>
I took my 20″ bandana ( that I am thinking of translating into a full sized quilt) into the frame shop with me today and pin mounted it to foamcore board, making sure it was perfectly straight and symmetrical. It finished at 19.5 inches, so each quadrant was 9.75″. Then I took it to my super copy center — Triangle Art Supply in Lawrenceville, NJ to have the 36″ copies made.
At first they said it couldn’t be done because I had mounted the textile, and the large copier did not have a flat-bed scanner, but fed the original through. I had to tell them it would work if they made an 11 x 17 xerox from the original bandana, making sure they got all of 1/4 of the bandana on the copy. I didn’t care whether it was color or not. So they did that, and then took that copy to the super copier. I also had them make a copy of the center medallion. (I think an unmounted textile, ironed to freezer paper might feed through their machine)
They blew everything up 370% so 1/4 of the bandana was enlarged to 36″ — approximately. Those first two copies (1/4 of the entire design plus the entire center medallion) cost $1.95 a square foot or $17.55 each. I then had them make 3 more copies of the 1/4 design which only cost $.40/psf, or $3.60 each.
So, any of you pondering any design from almost any source, for translation to an applique quilt — the design can be enlarged quickly and easily to almost any size you desire by this method — without any fuss, muss, or inordinate amounts of time. You’ve just got to find a copy center with this special copier.
Yes, it cost a lot, but think of the time it saved, and what is my time worth? Surely more than I paid. I was in the store for only 1/2 hour, and as a bonus I might have recruited an employee for my store while I was waiting for my work to be done.
I was chatting with the cashier, a bright young thing, gave her my card, and to: ld her to come into the store. She was asked if I was hiring. I smiled and nodded. I didn’t tell her that I’ve had a help wanted ad running for 2 weeks with not one reply. We’re desparate! If we don’t hire soon there might be a thing called too much business. My regular staff is now working an average of 45 hours/week! And Christmas season is coming!
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow [at] blast [dot] net
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 22:26:20 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow [at] blast [dot] net>
And I am constantly looking for patterns/ designs for pieced quilts. I
> > did buy the 501 quilt disigns, and it is great, however, how do you make them big enough?
Instead of buying a book, although they are nice and I probably have thousands, and since you already have a computer, I would opt for the Computer Program “Block Base”. It is the computer version of the Barbara Brackman book and has literally thousands of blocks, complete with history of each , which can be printed out as quilting patterns, full blocks, or templates, to practically any size you want. Contact the “Electric Quilt” to buy it, or go to your local quilt shop. EQ has a web site, though I don’t know it off hand. The program is around $70.00 I believe — I could be wrong. I use it all the time!
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow [at] blast [dot] net
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 22:17:21 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com wrote
> Good morning, I did just that today, I spent 7 dollars haveing
patterns enlarged! Well, next I am going to try ruled paper by the square inch, and enlarge it myself, I hope>
thank you, and have a great day, Gwen
…………………………….
> just trace the block you want… and then take the traced paper to a photo copy store and enlarge it 100% and you will have an 8 inch block… or enlarge it 150% and you will have a 12 inch block..
> jean
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 11:30:48 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
Gwen, If you can find it, Jenny Beyer wrote a book ….almost 15 years ago that is an excellent beginners course in pattern drafting….Patchwork Patterns, I used to teach several courses on pattern drafting based on the information that she gives. Very simple easy to understand directions on everything from a simple 4 patch to drafting curves and Mariners Compass..using plain paper as well as graphed..(look for quadrill paper at the art or drafting supply store – you can also find it in desk pad sizes if you check around at the office supply houses)..Anyway, the book is .well worth searching out…..Nope, cant have my copy <G> BTW, 501 was written by two of my former shop employees….Lynette Chiles and Joan (Padgett) Lewis. Ya’ll will get a kick outta this….. Joan walked into my shop wanting to sell a wonderful SWest colorscheme wall quilt (long before SW was popular)…she’d been making wall quilts while recovering from a double radical mastectomy and chemo….Lynette inspected it (she was my primary teacher ) and offered to sign her up for our next beginning sampler quilt class <G> They were immediately best friends. Shortly before I sold the store (to stay at home with now 13 Yo DD…she *may* make it to 14 in two weeks) they started a pattern business called To: morrows Heirlooms and opened a shop in Lewisville, Tx ……Joan was in remission for about 9 years but the cancer came back ….unfortunately, she was so ill when the book came out that she couldn’t enjoy the fanfare! She passed away shortly after. I can still hear her laughter and silly puns! Lynette has started teaching again, now that all her kids are grown….she’s a very talented and creative artist!! Just thought you’d like to know…. BH&G does their best to dehumanize their authors! Oh, I saw it in paperback at Borders today!!!
Laura
At 1017 PM 10/14/98 -0400, Gwen Shapiro wrote
>JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com wrote
>> Good morning, I did just that today, I spent 7 dollars haveing patterns enlarged! Well, next I am going to try ruled paper by the square inch, and enlarge it myself, I hope>
>thank you, and have a great day, Gwen
>…………………………….
>> just trace the block you want… and then take the traced paper to a photo copy store and enlarge it 100% and you will have an 8 inch block… or
enlarge
>> it 150% and you will have a 12 inch block..
>> jean
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 08:13:08 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Laura Hobby Syler wrote
> Good morning ,
Thank you for ALL the excellent information. I will go to the library and book store today. Also, someone told me about freezer paper, then take it to a copier to be enlarged. There seems to be many ways to do this, and I am an artist, and said to myself , Self you can do this, now I am drawing, all the things I want to make a block , and turning it into a measured pattern, WOW. Thanks a lot for you help.
See my web site, Gwen www.islc.net/~ghs
____________________________________________________
> Gwen, If you can find it, Jenny Beyer wrote a book ….almost 15 years ago that is an excellent beginners course in pattern drafting….Patchwork Patterns, I used to teach several courses on pattern drafting based on the information that she gives. Very simple easy to understand directions on everything from a simple 4 patch to drafting curves and Mariners Compass..using plain paper as well as graphed..(look for quadrill paper at the art or drafting supply store – you can also find it in desk pad sizes if you check around at the office supply houses)..Anyway, the book is .well worth searching out…..Nope, cant have my copy <G> BTW, 501 was written by two of my former shop employees….Lynette Chiles and Joan (Padgett) Lewis. Ya’ll will get a kick outta this….. Joan walked into my shop wanting to sell a wonderful SWest colorscheme wall quilt (long before SW was popular)…she’d been making wall quilts while recovering from a double radical mastectomy and chemo….Lynette inspected it (she was my primary teacher ) and offered to sign her up for our next beginning sampler quilt class <G> They were immediately best friends. Shortly before I sold the store (to stay at home with now 13 Yo DD…she *may* make it to 14 in two weeks) they started a pattern business called Tomorrows Heirlooms and opened a shop in Lewisville, Tx ……Joan was in remission for about 9 years but the cancer came back ….unfortunately, she was so ill when the book came out that she couldn’t enjoy the fanfare! She passed away shortly after. I can still hear her laughter and silly puns! Lynette has started teaching again, now that all her kids are grown….she’s a very talented and creative artist!! Just thought you’d like to know…. BH&G does their best to dehumanize their authors! Oh, I saw it in paperback at Borders today!!!
> Laura
> At 1017 PM 10/14/98 -0400, Gwen Shapiro wrote
> >JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com wrote
> >> Good morning, I did just that today, I spent 7 dollars haveing patterns enlarged! Well, next I am going to try ruled paper by the square inch, and enlarge it myself, I hope>
> >thank you, and have a great day, Gwen
> >…………………………….
> >> just trace the block you want… and then take the traced paper to a photo copy store and enlarge it 100% and you will have an 8 inch block… or enlarge it 150% and you will have a 12 inch block.. jean
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 15:35:58 -0400 | From: Regina Harris <76726.1471 [at] compuserve [dot] com>
I have found the quilt software programs such as Electric Quilt and QuiltPro make the task of resizing blocks very simple. It doesn’t take lo= ng to draw in blocks from books such as 501 Quilt Blocks using a grid orient= ed to: wards the 4″ blocks shown. Once entered, you can print the block and templates any size you want. Sometimes, I need odd size border or filler blocks and you can readily get them. Many blocks can be readily used for foundation paper piecing and you can see if suitable by having the quilt program try and number the individual pieces.
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 16:31:28 EDT | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
there is a website…. http://www.quiltguilds.com…maybe that would help.
jean jquilt [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 16:45:37 -0400 | From: Vivien Lee Sayre <vsayre [at] nesa [dot] com
Hi,
Below is information about a missing quilt. If anyone should come across it please notify one of the people listed on the web page. It was stolen in Arkansas.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Vivien Sayre
>Subjectbaby quilt URL
>Vivien,
>The information on the missing baby quilt is at
>http://www.nesa.com/babyquilt.html
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 22:44:25 EDT | From: JBQUILTOK [at] aol [dot] com
I was Oklahoma Quilters State Organization’s SouthEast Director for a couple of years. I found that just trying to find all the guilds in my 1/4 of Oklahoma was impossible. Some want to stay very private & personal. Others want to recruit but don’t know where to start advertising. To get an estimation of the growth in the number of quilters, I’d suggest getting in touch with some of the guilds who post notices on the internet & asking them questions like when they started, how many members they started with, how many they had 5, 10, 15 yrs ago. It may tell you more about how many quilters want to network with other quilters than how many are actually putting needle & thread to material, but would be more accurate than just guessing.
Janet Bronston
Newalla, OK
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 08:23:05 -0500 | From: Merry May <gridgees [at] algorithms [dot] com>
Hi! I’m back, after falling a month behind in reading my digests. My buddy, Lynn, and I are beginning to gather information on the impact of the rotary cutter on 20th century quiltmaking. We have a survey for anyone who would be interested in participating to complete. If you’d like, we can email it to you… just fill in the blanks and email it back. Or, if you’d prefer, you can send a SASE to: Merry May, PO Box 305, Tuckahoe, NJ 08250-0305. Please indicate *somewhere* that it’s for the survey (I get a lot of mail – and email – from all over the place, asking for all kinds of things!).
Thanks! I’m looking forward to hearing from lots of you! 🙂 Take care. (Wish I could be in Charleston this weekend, but had a prior commitment, darn it!)
Merry
🙂
—
Merry May (a.k.a Inspector Cluesew & Jessica Four-Patch)
Schoolhouse Enterprises
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 22:50:07 -0400 | From: Mary Beth Goodman <mgoodman [at] albany [dot] net
Is there any documentation available on how other quilters felt about the “star” quilts of their day?
For example – how did other quilters feel about the Baltimore Album quilts and their makers?
Were crazy quilts a source of wonderment/amusement/derision? I’d be glad to get some bibliographic material on quilt references along these lines.
Thanks in Advance.
And I just got my new book on dating fabric! WOW! Thanks Kris!
Mary Beth
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 07:48:38 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Sharon Harleman Tandy wrote:
> Please tell me how I can get one of the black-centered Log Cabin Pin>
It sounds like it has a lot SHOW BIZ about it.
Thanks Gwen Haynsworth, P O Box 1522, Beaufort, SC 29901 ghs [at] islc [dot] net
………………………………………..
> Hello troopers,
Might as well answer this here, OK? The QHL pin, available from our
> ‘listmother’, Kris Driesson, is the “mysterious black-centered Log Cabin” block. The pin is over an inch square, you won’t miss us who’re wearing it!
Thought I’d also put in 2 cents here re: I too am leading a Round
> Table discussion at AQSG/Charleston, West Virginia, on ‘Cleaning Quilts.’ (Xenia, I AM including your point of view! (;D )
Funny how I am just as excited about this conference as the one in
> Omaha last month. Laura, Texas, and I are trying to figure out how we can have a regular ‘fix’ of this type of thing, it’s so good for the adrenaline! See many of you there, Sharon.
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 10:17:40 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen [at] yahoo [dot] com>
I put in a link to the secure store on the home page, http://www.hickoryhillquilts.com/qhl.htm.
Kris
—Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net> wrote:
> Sharon Harleman Tandy wrote:
> > Please tell me how I can get one of the black-centered Log Cabin
Pin>
> It sounds like it has a lot SHOW BIZ about it.
> Thanks Gwen Haynsworth, P O Box 1522, Beaufort, SC 29901
ghs [at] islc [dot] net
> ………………………………………..
> > Hello troopers,
Might as well answer this here, OK? The QHL pin, available from our
> > ‘listmother’, Kris Driesson, is the “mysterious black-centered Log Cabin” block. The pin is over an inch square, you won’t miss us
who’re
> > wearing it!
Thought I’d also put in 2 cents here re: I too am leading a Round
> > Table discussion at AQSG/Charleston, West Virginia, on ‘Cleaning Quilts.’ (Xenia, I AM including your point of view! (;D )
Funny how I am just as excited about this conference as the one in
> > Omaha last month. Laura, Texas, and I are trying to figure out
how we
> > can have a regular ‘fix’ of this type of thing, it’s so good for the adrenaline! See many of you there, Sharon.
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 19:31:15 -0700 | From: Audrey Waite <awquiltr [at] sedona [dot] net
Lisa:
Quilter’s Newsletter magazine along with International Quilt Market and Festival commissioned a survey in 1994 and again in late 1997 of U.S. quiltmakers and found there are almost 14 million. You could probably get more details from them:
http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com
Audrey Waite Sedona, AZ http://www.quiltcamp.com
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:02:36 +0000 | From: Shirley McElderry <tigersoup [at] lisco [dot] net>
To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Subject: QHL: Ely&Walker
Message-ID: <362C51A8.49E5 [at] lisco [dot] net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
To Katie McD and others: Ely&Walker was a dry goods company based in (as far as the information known now) St. Louis, MO. In 1926, their brand of Quadriga cloth was already registered. I have several samples of Quadriga solid color cloth; 3 blues, a pink, a red and two greens that are all marked on the selvages with the name in dots: “E&W Quadriga Cloth.”
E&W is not listed under “cotton manufacturers” in a directory of companies that dealt in textiles, so -and this is a guess- they were a purveyor only (at least by 1933) of cotton fabrics. That is, they probably had a company or companies make this cloth for them. Quadriga cloth from E&W was not advertised in any of my collection of early periodicals, as Peter Pan cloth was.
Have a large sample book dated 1932 from E&W; there are many prints, polka dots, etc. but no solid colors! On the front of the book is printed: “Guaranteed Fast Colors, 36 inch bookfold, about 25-30 yards to each piece. Special pre-shrunk finish. On account of its superior quality, styling and finish, Quadriga Cloth has become a real favorite. Shipment from St. Louis. Ely&Walker Dry Goods Co. St. Louis”
Shirley Mc from IA
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 17:05:48 EDT | From: QLTmaven [at] aol [dot] com
Hi Everyone.
Our guild had planned to have a guest lecturer at our meeting on November 18, 1998. 9:30 am to 11:30 am. However, it looks as though we cannot get the person we had planned.
I wonder if any of you on this list do lectures for guilds. Might someone be able to come to Southeastern PA on that date with a quilt-related topic for us?
We are a small guild (under 50 members)—–25 to 30 usually attend meetings regularly. Our meeting place is Spring City, PA. (About 20 minutes west of Valley Forge) We have recently raised some funds for guest lectures and programs. Even if you are not available on Nov 18, please contact me with your information if you might be interested .
Eileen
QLTmaven [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 19:58:24 -0500 | From: “Quilts, Inc. – Education” <education [at] quilts [dot] com>
To Quilt Festival Enthusiasts:
Want to make plans to meet with other Internet friends at International Quilt Festival in Houston? We can offer you a table in the Prefunction area at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This area is on the third floor and directly in front of Ballrooms A, B, and C. The Festival Supply Store in located at one end of this area and chairs and tables are set up in the remainder of the area. We will have a large sign at one of these tables that reads “On-line Friends Meet Here.” Anytime the Convention Center is open this area will be open and available for your use. We are happy so many of you are planning to attend the Houston International Quilt Festival and have signed up to take classes. If you have not registered for classes and would like more information, visit our web site located at
http://www.quilts.com
for current information. It’s going to be a great show. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 04:12:23 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen [at] yahoo [dot] com>
There is a website called http://www.crazyquilt.com you might check….I haven’t been there for a while, I don’t know if they get into legends or not. In any case, I can bring it up on the QHL list, maybe someone there would know.
Kris
—Sdizzy [at] aol [dot] com wrote:
> In a message dated 98-10-20 14:41:22 EDT, you write:
> << Dear Bees: Does anyone recall hearing that spiders and webs are symbols of good luck in crazy quilting? Do any of you know the origin of this belief–I think I heard something about it being
based
> on Greek mythology, but can’t recall the details. >>
> Hi friends
> I’d like to know about the spider web too! Have a great day! Stephenia in OK
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 07:43:58 EDT | From: PElkovitch [at] aol [dot] com
Could someone please tell me when they stopped making fabric 36″ wide? I acquired 2 1/2 big trash containers of an assortment of fabrics yesterday and the cottons are in 5 – 7 yard lengths and 36″ wide.
I’m guessing this fabric is from the 1950’s as I haven’t seen some of the other dress good fabrics except in clothing my mother wore. However it peaked my curiousity about when it changed over to 44/45″ wide.
Thanks,
Patty
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 07:50:52 EDT | From: ZegrtQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
For all of you going to Houston for Festival, my booth is 1336.Please come by and introduce yourselves. I will have a group of wonderful quilts and tops for sale at very good prices. I am working hard to phase out the inventory part of my business so that I can do more work like the show at Morehead State University., Kentucky Quilts: Roots and Wings It opened Sunday and will be up through the end of February . There is a small catalog available for 5$ from Morehead. I will have some with me at Festival.Shelly Zegart
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 11:08:08 -0500 (CDT) | From: Nancy Evans <nevans [at] nebnet [dot] net
At 07:43 AM 10/21/98 EDT, you wrote:
>Could someone please tell me when they stopped making fabric 36″ wide?
It seems like it was in the mid 60’s that 44″ fabric became available, but I’m thinking the 36″ was available for a while after the 44″ came out. I’m sort of fuzzy on this, because I was just a young-un ;o) (maybe 13??) back then, but I was into sewing so it was something that affected/interested me. I have wondered this same thing when I try to date fabrics, and I’ll be interested to see what the answers are. Nancy
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 09:24:11 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen [at] yahoo [dot] com
When I was in high school, I learned to measure things against my body. If a bolt reached from the floor to the top of my legs, it was 36″ wide fabric; if it reached over that, it was 45″ wide fabric. It strikes me as I type this that doesn’t make too much sense – bolts are folded over fabric and my legs are more than 18″ long. Not MUCH longer, I grant you, but still….
Kris
—Nancy Evans <nevans [at] nebnet [dot] net> wrote:
> At 07:43 AM 10/21/98 EDT, you wrote:
> >Could someone please tell me when they stopped making fabric 36″
wide?
> It seems like it was in the mid 60’s that 44″ fabric became
available, but
> I’m thinking the 36″ was available for a while after the 44″ came
out. I’m
> sort of fuzzy on this, because I was just a young-un ;o) (maybe
13??) back
> then, but I was into sewing so it was something that
affected/interested me.
> I have wondered this same thing when I try to date fabrics, and I’ll
be
> interested to see what the answers are. Nancy
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 12:31:02 EDT | From: HKnight453 [at] aol [dot] com
ello all-
I think the change over took place in the late 60s onward in the US. A lot of English fabrics, eg. Liberty are still 36″/90cm wide. This is from studying vintage pattern evelopes. I was born during this changeover, and have no memories for backup.
Heather
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 12:33:02 EDT | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
Maybe fabric was manufactured 36 inches wide, so that if you bought a yard ….you would have a square…
I remember that when I was sewing clothing,not yet quilting…”Calico” fabrics were still 36 inches but everything else was 42-44…. One can still buy 36inch unbleached muslin at Joann Fabrics jean
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 12:59:42 EDT | From: MiamiQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
Would like to extend an invitation to all QHL members who attend Houston. Please join the AQSG at the Four Season’s hotel from 5:30-7:30 pm for a reception hosted by IQA on Thursday the 29. Please bring any and all friends that you might be traveling with so we can let you know what AQSG is all about. The reception is light refreshments and it is free. Please RSVP for rough headcount to IQA or AQSG office at 1-402-472-5428. Pam Pampe
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 13:14:36 EDT | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
Maybe, when salesman used to travel and sell fabrics to women in their homes …it would have been easy to measure a yard of 36 inch fabric…just by folding a right angle….
jean
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 12:28:56 +0000 | From: Jocelyn <jocelynm [at] sw1 [dot] socwel [dot] ukans [dot] edu>
> It seems like it was in the mid 60’s that 44″ fabric became available, but I’m thinking the 36″ was available for a while after the 44″ came out.
Nancy,
I remember shopping with my mother, and one of her questions being, ’36 or 45?’ when buying fabric. During the mid 60s, that was a common question, but after we moved to Kansas in 1967, we started expecting 45″ to be the width of all fabrics. And it wasn’t TOO much longer before the 60″ double knits came in! <G>
Jocelyn
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 13:25:16 EDT | From: PElkovitch [at] aol [dot] com
I have been washing and pressing fabric since yesterday.
I even called a woman I know that makes dolls and asked if she would like some of the fabric and she decline. The nerve of her not to want to become a little old lady with a house crammed full of fabric.
She said she can’t move around in her sewing room as it is now.
I also remember 36″ wide fabric from the 60’s. . . . . not that I want to be dated . . . .
but the reasoning behind 44″ would be interesting. Doesn’t Liberty of London come in 36″ wide today?
I can’t remember but the fabric on the rolls seem about that size.
Does the Regent of Dorothy have an explanation on this one? Hope he watches his mailbox (hehehehehe) Some men’s patterns (smoking jacket) from the 30’s are coming his way; and to think they were only 35 cents.
Patty
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 13:56:38 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett [at] fast [dot] net
I have a Simplicity pattern for a toddlers’ playsuit with a printed copyright date on the directions of 1957 that lists on the envelope yardage for 35″ or 36″, 39″, and 44″ or 45″ fabrics. I remember in junior-senior high buying fabric for clothing and always checking the width because it could be either — that is late 50s, early 60s.
Barb in southeastern PA
<bgarrett [at] fastnet [dot] com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 14:26:25 EDT | From: BrickWks1 [at] aol [dot] com
As of a few months ago, QNM’s e-mail was not in operation. I don’t think they’ve started it up again, either. Lisa, you could call (303) 278-1010, and explain what you need, though.
Cindy Brick
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 15:28:22 +0000 | From: Jocelyn <jocelynm [at] sw1 [dot] socwel [dot] ukans [dot] edu>
I also remember 36″ wide fabric from the 60’s. . . . . not that I want to be
> dated . . . .
but the reasoning behind 44″ would be interesting.
Patty,
According to Webster’s, 45″ = 1 ell. This unit of measure for fabric was in existance as early as the 12th century.
You may recall a fairy tale with the evil stepsister having an nose 5 ells long. (Sorry, I don’t remember the title! <G>) Why 45″ for cloth, rather than a yard, I don’t know. Fabric was pretty narrow at that time, probably not more than half an ell. 45″ would make a pretty decent length of tunic or chemise, so that might have something to do with it.
Jocelyn
