December 23 – 27, 2000
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:
- Candlewicking vs. Boutis Technique — Members compare the construction methods behind candlewicking and the French whitework technique boutis, and later return to explain what actually distinguishes candlewicking’s corded knot stitch.
- Tracing a Family Heritage Quilt — A newcomer asks for help locating a historical heritage center that could speak to a family quilt inherited from her late father’s grandmother.
- Amish Culture, Humor, and List Etiquette — A joking cartoon reference touches off an extended, sometimes prickly, discussion of Amish youth customs, community practices, and how humor about the Amish lands on the list.
- What Makes a “Civil War Era” Quilt — A long-running debate over the loose use of the phrase “Civil War era quilt” pushes members to dig into cotton and batting availability, dating precision, and what evidence would support calling a quilt authentically from that period. (see the article on a Civil War quilt)
- Distinguishing an Authentic Amish Quilt — In a related thread on authenticity, members weigh in on what criteria (maker, era, intended use) separate a genuine Amish quilt from an Amish-style one.
- Clay’s Choice and Henry Clay — A brief exchange confirms that the Clay’s Choice quilt pattern takes its name from pre-Civil War politician Henry Clay.
- A Hmong Textile Encounter — A member describes the fine appliquéd storytelling panels on a Hmong textile she came across at an Asian goods store in Merced, California.
- Thimble Lore Begins — A member researching a guild lecture on thimbles asks the list for stories and folklore, kicking off a thread of personal thimble memories.
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 09:16:55 -0600 | From: bettina havig < bettinaqcsocket.net>
I agree with Darwin, I have never encountered encouragement of such ‘outside’ activities. That is not what the lifestyle is about. While some behavior of this type may occur, the more cloistered the community the less likely this is going to be. This is why I have often said that Pennsylvania and even the more notable Indiana and Ohio communities are not where one would observe conservative Amish life style. If you repeated this thoery to the head of an Amish household in most Old Order Amish homes they would be appalled to hear that anyone would think that this would be sanctioned or encouraged. In my experience most youngAmish men and women would not want to do anything so hurtful to their parents or church group since what one does reflects on the group. Let’s not continue to pass this sort of anamoly along as ‘the usual’. Bettina–hoping to speak for many Amish friends
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 09:48:48 -0600 | From: “Avalon” < malthausidcnet.com>
Was Clay’s Choice a pattern that was made during Civil War times? A friend is “on the verge” of starting a Civil War era quilt, is a traditionalist, piecer not appliquer, a lover of details and deeper meaning significance, likes to combine two blocks and play with secondary designs. Thanks, Mary in Wisconsin
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 | From: DDBSTUFF@
In a letter on today’s list I read this phrase, “A friend is on the verge of starting a Civil War era quilt.” OK, folks, how on earth is someone, today, going to make a Civil War era quilt? This is like a non-Amish quilter trying to tell us that she just made an Amish quilt. Now, I know what was meant by this statement but for much of my Antique Quilt collecting days, some 26 plus years to be exact, I have heard statements like this and my reaction has always been the same as when someone scrapes their finger nails on a chalkboard. Whether it was someone telling me that their quilt was an antique, even though they had just quilted from an old top or from someone who wasn’t Amish, telling me they had just made an Amish Quilt. Now, most of us on this list are quilters, quilt collectors, dealers, quilt historians and quilt restorers and some of us are a little bit of all these things. Isn’t it time we start talking in actual terms? No non-Amish person can make an Amish quilt but only a copy of one. No body can make an antique quilt no matter how old their fabric is and no body can make an antique quilt out of an old top although I have been shown plenty. These are new quilts because they are newly quilted. I’m sure all of you must know this and yet some ofyou continue to make these statements. Is there anyone else who is bugged by this type of language or is it just acceptable among quilters? Am I missing something? If you were writing an English term paper, an article or a book, you would never be able to get away with using this kind of English language so why do some of you persist? (Actually, I have seen articles that used this kind of language and it drove me insane why else would I be writing this?) There, I got that of my back and boy do I feel better
Thanks,
Darwin
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 12:03:15 EST | From: aol.com
Yes. The pattern was named in honor of pre-Civil War politician Henry Clay. Karen Evans
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 10:13:47 -0800 | From: “Ellen King” <eskingrcsis.com>
Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a close look at a rather common Hmong textile at an Asian store in Merced. The appliqus were 1/8 inch wide cotton in intricate designs along with story pictures. The quilt in the front window of the store on Main St. tells the story of refugees coming to the US. I searched the web for other examples, and there is a collection at UC Irvine that can be viewed on line. The other sites and references were too numerous to list, but a search of “Hmong textile” will bring up hundreds of other sites. This kind of needlework is very different than any I’ve seen, and very beautiful. If anyone knows, I’d love to be able to see a large collection that is not too far from home. Merced is apparently one of the largest Hmong populations outside of Asia, but it was my first visit there, other than passing through…. The stitched panels of cross stitch or appliqu or both were made of tiny, detailed, traditional designs, priced much less than an American quilt with comparable intensive work. Even the most simple design was just beautiful. Ellen King Sacramento
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 13:14:02 EST | From: Hazelmacc@
Sorry to upset you all. By now l think most of us know about the Amish culture. l was attempting to relate a story found in our paper — the cartoon stated: “An Amish Bachelor Party”. A lady on a table quilting — wouldn’t you relate that to quilting? l had to look hard to find how it might relate to the inquiries that came that day to this newspaper column. As l stated this cartoon is quite funny yet very belittling. l was merely pointing out how a quilt was used in a cartoon — and, of course, it was belittling to the Amish culture. Sorry my report took on a whole misunderstanding. Hazel
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 23:12:13 EST | From: DDBSTUFF@
In a letter on today’s list I read this phrase, “A friend is on the verge of= starting a Civil War era quilt.” OK, folks, how on earth is someone, today,= going to make a Civil War era quilt? This is like a non-Amish quilter tryin= g to tell us that she just made an Amish quilt. Now, I know what was meant by= this statement but for much of my Antique Quilt collecting days, some 26 plu= s years to be exact, I have heard statements like this and my reaction has always been the same as when someone scrapes their finger nails on a chalkboard. Whether it was someone telling me that their quilt was an antique, even though they had just quilted from an old top or from someone who wasn’t Amish, telling me they had just made an Amish Quilt. Now, most o= f us on this list are quilters, quilt collectors, dealers, quilt historians and quilt restorers and some of us are a little bit of all these things. Isn’t it time we start talking in actual terms? No non-Amish person can make an Amish quilt but only a copy of one. No body can make an antique quilt no matter how old their fabric is and no body can make an antique quilt out of an old top although I have been shown plenty. These are new quilts because they are newly quilted. I’m sure all of you must know this and yet some of you continue to make these statements. Is there anyone else who is bugged b= y this type of language or is it just acceptable among quilters? Am I missing= something? If you were writing an English term paper, an article or a book, you would never be able to get away with using this kind of English language so why do= some of you persist? (Actually, I have seen articles that used this kind of language and it drove me insane why else would I be writing this?) There, I got that of my back and boy do I feel better=80=A6 Thanks, Darwin
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 10:44:32 EST | From: Hazelmacc@
Amen, Darwin. You left out the Baltimore Applique Quilts. Hazel
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 19:37:03 -0600 | From: Hollis E McCright <
Xenia, you brought up some excellent points. In reading Texas
history, seems like I remember that Texas cotton was sent to Mexico
and then was on to the Northern Mills. Again, my memory is faulty *alas*
but that is what I remember. The quantity may not have been very
great, but a trickle of cotton may have gotten through.
Hollis
In Lubbock, where we had 8″ of snow over 1/4 inch of ice and 2 days off
from library work!
(we aren’t used to as much snow as y’all are up in snowy areas so please
ignore the
whine 😉 BUT I was able to complete my challenge for the 1st guild
meeting of 2001)
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 21:58:02 EST | From: HearthSpark@
In a message dated 12/27/2000 7:19:34 AM Eastern Standard Time,
@aol.com writes:
> Others may
> be interested in other eras (Depression quilts, crazies, medieval quilts,
> etc.), other countries, and so on.
This is off-topic to this particular thread, but it did remind me… I’ve
been wanting to learn more about medieval quilts and was wondering if any of
you could point me in the right direction for study– both websites and books
would be appreciated! Thanks in advance…
Andrea
Atlanta GA, USA
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 21:59:12 EST | From: HearthSpark@
> So…the question is, if during the Civil War there was not a lot of
> cotton fabric being produced, and not a lot of wadding or batting, then
> were the quilts we refer to as “Civil War” quilts really reflective of
> fabrics from 1861-65? Or were they more likely made of saved fabrics
> and dressmaking cuts from the 1850s?
>
Oh, how fascinating… I’m looking forward to hearing some answers to this!
Do any of you have suggestions on accurate books dealing with the history of
Civil War era quilts? Also, I’m new to the Atlanta area… if any of you are
familiar with Atlanta, can you tell me if there are any exhibits, etc. that I
should check out?
Andrea ~*~
Atlanta GA USA
>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 23:03:49 EST | From: DDBSTUFF@
>
As a collector of Ohio Amish Quilts, I believe a true Amish Quilt has to be
one made by an Amish person for use by themselves or their family and not
made for resale. For me, it has to have been made before 1940 and made of
cotton or wool and in the typical colors used during this period.
It might interest some of you to know that in Ohio Amish Quilts, there were
three stages of color use. Most quilts made before 1900 were done in earth
tones. Lots of browns and greens but also on occasion, blues and reds. At
or about the turn of the century (almost exactly), the Amish started to use a
lot of black, mostly as a background color but also in their patterns as
well. During the late 20’s to early 30s, the use of pastel colors can be
seen and this color use runs up to the present day. Never in a pre-40s Ohio
Amish Quilt do you see printed fabrics used, not even on the back.
The colors used in the quilts reflects the color of the clothing that was
worn at the time. I don’t know why these colors changed and changed when
they did but it may have had something to do with their religious beliefs or
it may have simply been a matter of what the fabric salesman had for sale.
Maybe someone else out there has the answer to this question?
Now from what I’ve seen, an Amish style quilt can be anything with dark solid
colors made by anyone. It doesn’t seem to matter weather the proportions are
correct or that a traditional Amish pattern is used. Just look at the
magazines. They are full of what they call Amish Quilts and unless they are
exact duplicates, to a collector like myself, they no more remind one of an
Amish quilt than the man in the moon.
An artist can paint a copy of a Van Gogh painting or he can paint in the
style of Van Gogh but he can never paint a Van Gogh Painting, only Van Gogh
can do that.
Darwin
