October 14 – 21, 2001
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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:
- AQSG Williamsburg Recap — Members who attended the American Quilt Study Group seminar in Williamsburg share highlights, including a well-received paper on contemporary Korean quilt making.
- A New Record for Oldest Dated Quilt — News of a newly identified quilt claiming the record for oldest dated example prompts discussion among the group.
- Flying With Sharps, Continued — More post-9/11 reports on quilters’ experiences bringing scissors, needles, and other sharp notions through airport security on recent trips.
- Is There Really a ‘Never’ Rule in Amish Quilts? — Bettina Havig addresses the popular claim that Amish quiltmakers deliberately include a ‘humility block’ or error, calling it a myth with no basis in any quilt reference.
- Keeping Busy Without a Needle — Pepper Cory and others swap ideas for staying productive on quilt research and writing during a stretch without sewing time.
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 10:41:13 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
I can concur with Ann on Goo-Gone and Undo. We sell both at The
Container Store and both work well for removing adhesive residue. If
you
cannot find these products, you can also use WD-40…just remember
that
they are oil based and need to be washed out accordingly.
Laura
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 23:14:21 -0400 | From: Nancy Manning <nemanning@>
Thanks to all for your suggestions. I decided to wash and dry the
fabric and see what happened before I tried treating it (risky, I
know). Surprisingly, the adhesive seems to be gone, and so does some
of
the shinier finish! I will inspect it closer, but it looks pretty
good.
The other fabric I had similar trouble with was a lavendar cotton
quilt
top from the 40s or 50s. That pinwheel quilt now has a small adhesive
mark embedded in the border.
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 22:12:17 -0700 | From: “Debbie Guidi” <dlguidi@>
Hi everyone,
<img align=”left” border=”0″ height=”140″ src=”http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1574271180.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg” width=”105″/>I am curious – what is the new title to the book done by the
Wisconsin quilt research project? (Ed; <b class=”sans”>Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in the Stitches) </b>By the way, I have been lurking for the past month or so,
so since I have that question, I’d better introduce myself.
My name is Debbie Guidi. I live in Sun City, AZ & have been quilting
for 15 years. My tastes lean more towards very traditional quilts & I have
started a very small collection of vintage items, which includes 16 13″
Sunbonnet Sue blocks from the 30’s & approximately 40 butterfly appliques from
what look like 1920’s fabrics along with the original pattern that the
quiltmaker used to cut them. I do mostly bed-sized quilts, but I like the
smaller
ones, too. I am currently doing a lot of early 1800 & Civil War
reproduction items, so I have really been enjoying the conversations
going
on. I like these types so much, that when I had a chance to take a
year-long study course on quilts from 1770-1840 with Eileen Trestain
through
my local quilt shop, I jumped at it & it really hooked me!
I also collect, fix and use antique sewing machines. I just finished
a
dresden plate quilt for my niece’s wedding in 1930’s reproduction
fabrics
that I pieced, appliqued & quilted on my 1905 Singer treadle sewing
machine.
I have 11 machines, ranging from a German 1880’s handcrank all the
way
through my new Viking Rose.
Thanks for letting me ramble!
Debbie Guidi
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 13:17:02 +0000 | From: “Karen Bush” <karenbush11@>
HI everybody! Well, as usual, I’m wayyyy behind reading the posts,
but, I
have a question for all of you travelers/teachers,etc. What are you
going
to do now that you’re not going to be able to take your handwork with
you to
the airports/planes??? I was sitting here, meditating life in general
the
other night, and thought of this…YIKES!!! The wait is going to be a
Long
one at the airports to just check in, and, I was wondering about
this??? kb
http://www.karenbushquilts.com
Karen Bush
It only takes me One day to get a month behind :/
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
http://explorer.@/intl.asp
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 09:30:30 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
Hello QHLers!! Back from the AQSG in Williamsburg in one piece,
albeit with a
strained neck from lifting two very heavy boxes and the migraine that
often
accompanies such abuse to myself <g>, but hey, it’s all in the name
of good
quilt research fun, right! One box is full of items I bought at the
auctions
(ephemera items, of course, for research…oh yes, and three binders
of
repro-fabric swatches!!) and one of photos albums I took to share.
<g> There
are so many many stories from the seminar! Maybe I can share them in
“chapters” so that I don’t overwhelm the list, plus I hope others who
went
will share their stories too! (Hint, hint!) <g> It was so great to
meet so
many of you!! Now if I can just put names and faces together the next
time I
see you! <g> (I can remember quilt history better than names! <g>)
My first
story is about how we quilters can impact the staff of the hotels we
meet in.
Never underestimate the opportunity to expose someone to the joy of
quilts
and quilting history! Besides the invitational quilt exhibit I
curated, I
was also in charge of audiovisuals. The hotel audiovisual personnel,
(Dave
C., a young male [ok, good looking!] late 20-something who “trained”
me on
the AV equipment, asked me a lot of questions about “who we were” as
a group
and why we studied quilts of all things! I explained “why quilts?”
just “a
bit” to him. [HA! I don’t do things “in bits” when trying to convert
the
uninitiated to quilting history! <vbg>] At the end of the first day
he
commented to me that he was blown away by all of us, and our “riotous
fun-loving ways” (“You all never stop talking and laughing! The
elevators
will never be the same!” he said.) AND our incredible quilts. The
Quilts! He
LOVED the quilts! He even brought in a quilt to show us the 2nd
morning that
his mother had given him about 5 years ago. (Now I was “really”
impressed!) I
asked him if she had made it. No she had bought it, he said. (I
suspected she
hadn’t made it after just a 2 minute look at it.) I told him I
suspected it
was an import. I called over my friend (and AQSG Board member) Bunny
Jordon
and explained to him that she was a candidate-quilt-appraiser and
could give
him the “real” skinny. Bunny told him the same thing (it’s an import)
but was
much more thorough. (I had an exhibit to hang. <g>) She also pointed
out the
cutoff end of the import label. He was astounded that we could “read”
this
quilt and tell so much about it in a matter of minutes and asked how
we could
do this! <g> Bunny gave him a great thumb nail lesson in fabric
dating and
“clues in the calico.” <g> He decided to hang around and listen a bit
to the
first paper presentation, and the next day asked all kinds of
thought-filled
questions. The 3rd morning he arrived on the scene to check the
audiovisual
equipment as we began hanging the 2nd half of the exhibit, and simply
walked
over and started helping us hang the quilts. (His help was very much
appreciated since he was tall and we were climbing on chairs to put
the poles
in place. <g>) At the close of the conference, when he came to pick
up the AV
equipment, he asked, “How old is the oldest quilt?” We then explained
that we
would have to qualify the question to, “How old is the oldest
‘documented’
quilt. [see Williamsburg stories #2 coming up <g>] We were amazed
that he
wanted to know still more about quilt history!! Later he approached
three of
us with a huge grin on his face and said, “Well, next time I see a
quilt I am
going to say, “This cheddar orange indicates a time period of … and
this
double pink fabric was first produced in …and has been reproduced
again and
again, etc, etc” We dropped our jaws. He had actually picked up some
of the
fabric dating quilt lingo that Bunny and others had shared with him
and had
retained it! <g> We kidded him that he was going to have the most
usual line
for “picking up dates” that any girl had every encountered…. quilt
history! <g> Never underestimate the impact you can have on hotel
staff
anywhere!! <g> Karen Alexander
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 09:40:32 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
Are you ready for this? A new record has been set for the oldest
quilt with
a date on the quilt! Bridget Long from the British Quilt Study Group
shared
at AQSG in Williamsburg at Show & Tell that she had recently found a
quilt
with a date of 1718 on it while “out and about in England” (can’t
remember
all the details and if I get any of this wrong, someone please
correct me).
It was then purchased with BQSG funds and is now in their
collection!! It has
since been partially studied by experts in England at V&A. Their
conclusion
is that it has fabrics from as early as the late 1600s in it! She
showed us
a slide of it, and (I heard) got permission to leave a copy of the
slide in
AQSG’s care for the time being! Can someone who was at in
Williamsburg give
us more details about the description of the quilt? It was a
medallion quilt,
was it not? (My brain is still rather blurred from sensory overload
and I did
not take notes during Show & Tell.)
Karen Alexander
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 17:41:45 EDT | From: @aol.com
A medallion would make sense, especially around that time period; the
McCord
Quilt up in Montreal is from 1726 and is, yes, a medallion with a
Mariner’s
Compass variant in the center. If you hear more or learn of a link
to a
picture, post it! This sounds wonderful!
Karen Evans
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 20:53:12 -0500 | From: “Leigh Fellner” <hcquilts@>
Just got back from flying Pensacola/Houston/Chicago and back. NO
sharps,
including needles, permitted in your (one) carry-on.
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 07:53:13 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
Whenever I hear of a State History book I try to get it on the Quilt
History website. The URL is http://www.quilthistory.com/state.htm
and you can get there from the link on the Articles page. There you
will find the Wisconsin book available for purchase at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574271180/quiltweb/
If anyone has any books they would like to add, feel free to E-mail
me! I would like that page to be a good resource for all of us.
Kris
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals.
http://personals.@
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 12:47:40 EDT | From: Kathlash@
Wow! I have received many followup e-mails asking what the new title
is. It
was renamed “Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in the Stitches” by Ellen
Kort, Howell
Press. I ordered it from BN.com for $23.96 plus shipping and
handling. They
don’t have it in stock so there is a 1-2 week lead time. I think this
book
was just being printed either in September or October 2001.
Several of the e-mails I received asked about Old World Wisconsin.
You can
get more information on our living history museum at
www.shsw.wisc.edu, click
on historic sites link to get loads of information. This weekend,
October
20-21 is our “Autumn on the Farms” event, the last of our 2001
regular
season. I will be hosting a “Quilt Turning”, a mini-quilt show, where
a dozen
quilts from the OWW collection will be shown. Join us if you can!
Scheduled
times are Noon, 1:30PM and 3:00PM both Saturday and Sunday at the
Caldwell
Farmers’ Club Hall on site.
Kathleen Lashley
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 13:07:38 -0400 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Hello all-I am (as is Bobbie-) living proof that you can live without
a
needle in your hand for up to 10 hours on a plane. On a recent trip
to
Kansas (lovely people, good classes) I was cautioned no thread
nippers,
clippers, long pins or anything sharp. Putting together a sewing kit
with
those limitations was a hassle, so I picked up a good book and gave
myself
permission to read and sleep.My usual reading matter is mysteries and
science fiction but I’ve been unable to focus on these subjects since
the
September tragedies. So, I saw the Harry Potter books and thought,
“Why
not?” For anyone who hasn’t read them, they’re excellent. Besides I’m
preparing myself to be in the know for my nieces and nephews who are
rabid
Potter-ites and know exactly what they’ll be this Halloween. From the
sunny
but windy Carolina coast-
Pepper Cory
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 13:47:20 -0500 | From: Joanna Evans <jevans@>
When I flew to Virginia last week for the AQSG conference, I took my
quilting in my carry-on. I precut my thread and wound it on a piece
of cardboard. If I had had more time, I would have threaded a bunch
of needles. Then, I put a pair of kid’s Fiskar scissors in my checked
bag. They are sharp and cheap. I figured that if they were
confiscated I wouldn’t care. They weren’t.
Happy travels.
I’ll add to the rave reviews of the AQSG conference. I had a grand
time. The early 18th century silk quilt that has us all buzzing
contains silks that have been dated as early as 1620! Some of the
silk on the back had been previously used in garments. In the corners
of the top were fleur-de-lis in 8″ blocks (most of the blocks were 4″
blocks as Xenia stated). These designs were paper pieced (not
appliqued) in the traditional English paper piecing manner. I can’t
wait to read the reports on the research they are currently doing!
Joanna Evans
Bloomington, IN
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 16:07:32 -0700 | From: Gail Ingram <GIngram@>
Re Pepper’s suggestions for those times when we cannot ply our
needles and
when our old reading material just doesn’t seem to meet our present
needs or
our minds won’t stay focused for long periods of time: Isn’t it
wonderful
how “children’s” books serve us in our most difficult times as
adults?
Pepper mentioned Harry Potter. May I add “The Wind in the Willows,”
“Charlotte’s Web,” and the dear old Pooh books? Such wonderful
reminders of
love and friendship and community. And then there is “Alice In
Wonderland”
and “Through the Looking Glass,” both of which deal with trying to
make do
in a world that we have not quite figured out yet—not books I liked
as a
child, but ones I enjoy as an adult.
Also what about Garrison Keillor–“Leaving Home,” “Lake Wobegone
Days,”
etc–for reminders of how to use and enjoy the mundane gifts that
sustain us
in times of anthrax and pestilence?
Anne mentioned Patricia Cooper and Norma Allen’s “The Quilters,” now
out in
a new paperback edition—-easy reading, good examples for getting
through
hard times. A little different, but also readable in short spurts and
also
offering good models, is “Women’s Diaries of the Western Journey” ed
by
Lillian Schlissel.
If you like poetry in the more conventional modes (i.e., written for
non-academic, “real” readers) any volume by Mary Oliver will gladden
your
heart.
There is a terrific, “under-discovered” tiny book of verse by North
Carolina
poet Dannye Romine Powell called “At Every Wedding Somebody Stays
Home” that
deals with women’s lives more truly than anything I’ve encountered
since
Mizriz Em’ly Dickinson. Pub’d U. of Arkansas Press.
Anyone driving south to Houston for the quiltfest down there? Ruston
is on
I-20 and our house always offers strong coffee and Louisiana
hospitality.
Gail Ingram
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 18:22:09 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
I don’t know if this has been discussed but thought I’d pass it
along.
An auction of quilts, made by breast cancer survivors, to support
survivors and the research that helps them to survive. . .
http://www.thequilt.com/
Darwin
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 04:45:52 -0400 | From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <cupp5@>
I just returned from a trip to Nebraska. I was asked if I had
scissors
or other sharp objects. I was able to truthfully say I didn’t. I
used
the Clover thread cutter that can be worn as a pendant or inserted in
a
spool of thread.
I also enjoyed reading for a change of pace from handsewing. Jimmy
Carter’s boyhood memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was very relaxing
and
interesting…I wished it hadn’t ended, but he had to grow up
sometime
and become our 39th president. :>
Debbie Cupp
Virginia Beach
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 05:29:34 -0500 | From: “Ann G. Hubbard” <ahubbard@>
3 years ago when we got back from a trip to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton,
PE
Island, I read all of Lucy Maud Montgomery Books about that area-Anne
of
Green Gables. There are probably 2 dozen books by her and all very
good
stories. When they were published, everyone read them including the
King
and Queen of England. they are available in paperback in the children
section of Barnes and Noble for one. Another great series would be
Laura
Wilder Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie. I have usually read on
long
overseas flights even, as I am a klutz. I am forever losing needles,
pins,
thimble, or scissors even when we are driving. Things will calm down,
but
it is obvious that it will take awhile. My Welsh friend Gwen is not
coming
and we are not going to Houston together this year. Very sad state of
affairs for everyone, but it only goes to show how interconnected our
lives
have become across the world. Peace to all. Ann
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 12:56:38 +0000 | From: “Karen Bush” <karenbush11@>
I did a show this past weekend, sales were down, but, BOY did I have
fun!! I
was strolling through the other booths, found lots of ‘stuff’ and
wanted to
bring my U-haul and someone Else’s Visa card, but…..decided to be
good and
not just ‘buy’ for the sake of it. Because of the show, I missed TWO
estate
auctions in town, sigh…..oh well, BUT…..
As I was strolling, I spotted RED AND GREEN!????? Now, this has
been my
fantasy, whether it was a Baltimore Album,..or not. A Red and Green
(why is
it..I DON’T like the traditional red and green at Christmas,but, give
my eye
tooth for a QUILT in red/green??)…Well, spotted this, what I
figured was a
print on white. Like a 40’s tablecloth. In fact, the sign read ‘could
be
used as a nice table cloth’…ALMOST walked by it.
Got closer (the ‘ole tri-focals just HAD to get
closer)….ohhhhhhh MA
GOSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! It was a QUILT TOP!!! RED and GREEN!!!!!?????? I
took
it off the display, hands shaking, trying not to let them ‘see me
sweat’…clammy palms,..ok, now, kb,…do your stuff. You can DO
this,
unfolded, TWELVE blocks, Plus sashing, where’s the holes, where’s the
stains,….WHERE’s THE PRICE TAG!!!!!??????????
ooooooooooooohhhhh……it
was from a seller who didn’t ‘do’ quilts! She was going to just hem
the
edges and casually ‘throw it over her table’ but decided to bring it
to the
show.
Ok,…calm down, get the check book out…..eeeeeeeease it
out,…$225.00 you say??? uuuummmmmmm….well, Awfully lot to pay for
a
‘tablecloth’…(as my mind was whirling/swirling) FORGET the ‘sugar
plums
dancing in my head….gotta HAVE this MINT prize!!!!!! ok,..well, the
seller
was Really wanting to sell and get down to her REAL business of
selling her
glass-ware. Customers starting to come up and take her attention for
the
glass ware ….uh,…would you take $$$ for this? no……but, she’d
take
$$$ (less than I offered to ‘get it off her
hands’………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was…get this,…her
GREAT
GRANDMOTHER’S!!!!! She diddn’t know if GGG had pieced it, but, it had
been
in her trunk all this time, NO fold creases, NO stains,….NO
fading!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, now, here I sit, fawning, petting, fondling and it’s MINE,
ALLLLLL
MINE!!!!!
so….all of you experts out there, did I make a DEAL?????? Well,
doesn’t
really matter, except….this top AINT gonna go on Ebay! I need to
know the
date/etc, and want to have it appraised in Writing….just for
myself.
WEll…I ‘say’ just for myself, with the attorney’s etc…that all
might
change in the near future,…they DO want their $$ for the
pending/not
pending divorce (still up in the air on that one)…but, ……
Would it decrease the value if I were to hand quilt it??? Anyone
got
ideeeeers on the design I should use for the hand quilting? I know
there
were plenty of wreaths/feather plumes,etc on the Baltimores, but,…I
don’t
‘see’ this top having that type of design. I was thinking l/2″
grid-style…??? AND, one more question, WHERE do I find the thin,
Thin
vintage muslin??? I’m going to use a creamy cotton muslin NOT the
perma-press…….aaaaaachhhh…and would LIKE to find the ‘real’
thing….?? kb HERE’s the GEM!!! (Click on the thumbnails)
<img border=”2″ height=”75″ src=”images/redgreen2_small.JPG” width=”100″/> <img border=”2″ height=”75″ src=”images/redgreen3_small.JPG” width=”100″/>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 11:23:19 -0400 | From: “anne” <datkoa@>
This is not a history question but I hope list members can help. My
friend
and maker of my guild’s raffle quilt for next year’s quilt show
requires
additional fabric but has been unable to locate any at the usual
places we
try. The particulars: Hoffman Windsor Collection, color number 9167,
background is antique black and mauve variegated, Jacobean flowers
with
small bluebells. She purchased yardage last year when the fabric was
released but didn’t know she would want to use it in this quilt and
hence
did not buy enough. She needs 3 – 6 yards. Any suggestions for
locating
this?
Replies to datkoa@ or 301-949-9458, or to Sharlene Jackson
at
301-843-1127. Many thanks. AnneD
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 10:09:12 -0500 | From: cducey@
<img align=”left” border=”0″ height=”140″ src=”http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0803213182.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg” width=”90″/> There is also a new book out, called “Quilting Lessons: Notes from the Scrap Bag of a Writer and Quilter” by Janet Berlo, that is a wonderful read. It’s about a period of upheaval in Janet’s life and how she got through it by focusing on quilting. I found it very warm-hearted and funny and sad – I highly recommend it!
Carolyn
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 12:53:19 -0400 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Hello all-About a week ago, one of my friends passed away and she
might be
known to some folks on this list. My friend was Alex Dupre from Long
Beach,
NY. She was a crackerjack quilter, an amazing sample maker (for
companies
like RJR and Michael Miller), a quilting teacher, an author, and all
around
great person. She was one of the people I called up when I was in the
dumps
and she never failed to either cheer me up or kick me in the rear end
(figuratively) so that I hung up the phone feeling recharged and
inspired.
In Susan McKelvey’s and my Signature Quilt book, Alex was the maker
of the
plaid sampler. In Mastering Quilt Marking, she did the original
applique
sampler quilt My Own Folk Art on page 16 and No More Monkeys Jumpin’
On the
Bed on pages 17 and 71.
Alex was diagnosed with lung cancer on September 5 and died early in
the
morning October 15. She was 48 years old. She leaves an ex-husband
Richard
and a 14 year-old daughter Chrissy. If you’d like to send a
condolence card,
here’s the address:
Chrissy Dupre
319 East Penn Street,
Long Beach, NY 11651.
Chrissy spoke at her Mom’s funeral and I wish I could have been
there–I
miss her terribly.
Pepper Cory
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 15:37:41 -0400 | From: mreich@
Those of us who attended the AQSG conference in Williamsburg had an opportunity to overdose on the most amazing collections of the quilts
of our heritage. As a first timer, I would like to extended my thank you
to all who made me and the other women with blue ribbons feel so warmly
welcome. To the QHL members in attendance, it was great fun to
connect names and faces. This contact will make sharing future quilt history
information more personal.
Attending an AQSG conference has always been a dream of mine. Over
the past ten years, I have been involved with the Connecticut Quilt
Search Project in documenting, researching and writing about the quilts and
quiltmakers of Connecticut. It was with great pride that I was able
to bring the advance copy of Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut
to AQSG for its debut. Published by Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA., I
hope that you will find the quilt photographs beautiful and the
stories of the quiltmakers and Connecticut’s textile history charming and informative. Schiffer promised that the book will be arriving in Connecticut in two weeks. It is available through the Connecticut
Quilt Search Project, 176 Walek Farm Rd., Manchester, CT. 06040 for $29.95
plus $3.95 for shipping and handling. Connecticut residents must pay
6% sales tax.
Upon arriving home, last weekend, I received our manuscript
submitted one year ago to Howell Press in Virginia. They are the publishers of
the Wisconsin book which will be available in two weeks. Jim Howell, president of Howell Press ask that I pass on to quilt history authors
his company’s desire to publish the state documentation books. He
would like to encourage that manuscript be submitted to them. He seemed genuinely interested.
Schiffer Publishing has now published many textile and quilt documentation books. Our Project cannot speak highly enough of the incredible working relation they provided. Their photographic
facility is top notch so important with textiles. We will be always grateful
for their guidance and enthusiasm in producing the CQSP book.
There was much discussion at the AQSG conference about the decrease
in the publication of quilt history books. These are two publishers very
much interested in this market.
Sue Reich – Back home in Connecticut, where the fall colors are at
their peak.
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 15:35:14 -0500 | From: “Leigh Fellner” <hcquilts@>
patterned fabric, particularly before 1900? I was of the
understanding that
solid was the rule of the day; somebody else is insisting that
other-than-solids were used “for quilts, decor and rugs”.
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 17:32:22 EDT | From: @aol.com
*appreciative whistle* That *is* a beauty. I don’t know about the
hand
quilting, but at the very least I’d line it. It looks more like a
Pennsylvania German quilt than a Baltimore, so if you decide to quilt
it, the
grid would probably be fine.
Very, very nice find. Now, why can’t I do something like that? 🙁
Karen Evans
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 22:02:54 -0500 | From: Joanna Evans <jevans@>
One of my favorite papers at AQSG last weekend was about contemporary
Korean quilt making in a distinctly Korean style. One of the quilts
(which was inspired by the designs in Korean ceramic roof tiles)
Barbara Eikmeier studied during the two years she just spent in Korea
appears on the cover of this year’s Uncoverings. When I opened my
mailbox this afternoon, I was thrilled to see that same quilt on the
cover of the winter issue of American Quilter. Has there ever been an
AQSG cover quilt on the cover of a popular quilt magazine at the same
time before? Anyway, for those of you who didn’t make it to
Williamsburg and haven’t yet received Uncoverings, there is a tiny
slice of Barbara’s research in American Quilter, along with some nice
photos. Enjoy.
Joanna Evans
Bloomington, IN
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 09:39:14 -0500 | From: Bettina Havig <bettinaqc@>
There is no such term as never in any quilt reference. The Old Order
Amish
prefer solid fabrics, almost never use any prints, but you will
occasionally
but rarely find a quilt with a very small print. Often, if that
choice was
made, it would be on the reverse side of the quilt. Bear in mind
that some
of the strict oral traditions are reinforced by the local leadership
and
some variances can come about. You can be most certain of the
provenance
when you acquire a quilt in a direct line from the maker, for example
in one
case that I know of where the daughter of the maker related that her
mother
found this very tiny print on sale at an irresistable price and used
it on
the back of the quilt. As for rugs, at least today, I see many woven
rag
rugs made by the Old Order that contain torn strips of print fabrics
but
they are virtually unrecognizable in the rugs. I have far less
exposure to
PA Amish than others, but this is my experience in study and work
with
Midwestern Old Order Amish. They are a dynamic society even though
the
perception may be otherwise. Even in conversation with Amish
quiltmakers you
might not get a definitive answer….
Bettina Havig
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 01:01:17 -0400 | From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
Ann,
Twice, I have had luck in finding a favorite fabric, which i had
purchased
several years earlier with this website:
www.Missingfabri@/missing
You write a description and if possible scan a sample to send to
the website. Other individuals or shop owners see the request and
you may
get an e-mail that someone has some to sell. It worked for me.
Haven’t been there in a while so hope it is still valid.
—
Jan Drechsler, who still hasn’t quite come down from the Williamsburg
high.
In stunning Vermont where the yellows and reds of the leaves are
shocking
against the blue sky. If only they would stay up there!
Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher
www.@/~bobmills
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 19:37:34 -0700 | From: quilter@
in light of all of the posts about flying with our quilting
paraphernalia,
i thot you should know about the following incident.
CHICAGO –
The war on terrorism look a sad turn Friday as airline officials at
O’Hare International Airport refused to let a 73-year-old grandmother board her plane because she had in her possession two, six-inch knitting
needles. Apparently authorities were worried that she might knit an afghan.
sorry, i just had to do it.
dutchrose —-{-
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 00:00:59 -0400 | From: “Sharon McQuistion” <smcquistion@>
Please…is there any way at all that the complaints about what do
while in
flight nowadays can just stop. Believe me, I’ve been known to take a
knitting project, needlepoint and hand-piecing along with a book on a
plane
(had a set of knitting needles taken from me and given to the pilot
for
safekeeping 15 years ago!!!!), but in light of the tragic events,
these
postings are frivolous and make light (however unintended) of the
seriousness of safety in the air. Read a book, do crossword puzzles,
sleep.
Thanks.
Sharon McQuistion
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 15:37:53 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrowrcn.com>
Sharon,
These postings are NOT frivolous! And they are not complaints. We
are all
learning how to cope with new and sometimes ridiculous rules in our
lives.
Humor eases the transition.
The world has always coped with tragedy by using humor. Humor helps
to
heal the spirit. Folks who post with humor are suffering just as
much as
you obviously are with the after-effects of the 9/11 attack on the
United
States and the continuing fear of more and different ways to either
kill us
or disrupt our society.
I am sure that others on QHL, like me, hope that soon you too will be
able
to find some humor in the ludicrous situations we find ourselves
forced into
these days. Life goes on.
We make the best of it.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ
judygrowrcn.com
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 17:14:39 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawleydmv.com>
AQSG was wonderful! What better place to spend a warm October
weekend
than Colonial Williamsburg–although I was inside most of the time
because
there were such fabulous quilts and interesting people in the hotel.
I agree
with Xenia that the food was much better than one usually gets at
conventions.
What did I like best:
The textile conservation lab was fascinating. I was especially
impressed by the purpose-built worktable which has pie- shaped
sections that
can be removed so that while one part of a textile is being worked on
the
rest of the item is totally supported. Neat!
Karen Alexander did an amazing job, under difficult
circumstances, of
hanging two exhibits of quilts by Virginia quiltmakers . What a
thrill to
see Jinny Beyer’s Ray of Light and Anne Oliver’s Tin Ceiling hanging
with
Linda’s Lace by Linda Poole and quilts from the Shenandoah Valley and
other
wonderful antique quilts.
Show and Tell is always heartstopping at AQSG. Hazel Carter’s
Dating
Club showed off their earliest quilts. We saw chintz, red and green
applique, an album or two. It was bliss. Merikay Waldvogel showed
slides
of quilts which were copied from quilts entered in the Sears contest
and
illustrated in Patchwork Souvenirs.the book she wrote with Barbara
Brackman
(if you don’t have it, get it).
We heard about a project sponsored by the University of Delaware
called
Save Our Stories which involves interviews with quiltmakers. Check
it out
at www.quiltcenter.org.
I had another adventure before finally getting home last night.
I’ll
tell you about that later.
Cinda back on the Eastern Shore where it is 80 degrees and a whole
new set
of birds seems to have arrived while I was away.
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 19:35:35 -0700 | From: Gail Ingram <GIngramtcainternet.com>
I agree with Judy that a sense of humor redeems dark moments. I
myself am a
white-knuckle flyer who has responded to nothing but a little pill my
doctor
prescribes for my airborn moments. But I’ve spent time in medical
waiting
rooms stitching blindly away. So I know it’s not frivolous to
consider what
to do with one’s hands and heart in tense situations. And could
flying be
other than tense right now?
As a teacher I could not survive without laughter. Take today, for
instance.
When I walked into my classroom this morning, there was a huge potted
chrysanthemum plant on my desk, beautifully wrapped. Glorious yellow
and
russet. Attached was a thank-you card from two boys who have been my
students since they were sixth graders and whose National Merit
applications
I had recently overseen. Attached was a brightly colored card.
Usually boys
just sign their names to such cards, but these two obviously felt
moved to
say something.
This is what I read, “Thanks for helping me with the application.
Without
your help through all these years, I have had so many successes.”
Below, the second kid had written, “Me too. I agree with every word
he
said.”
I had driven to work hearing of anthrax fatalities. I have a child in
Northern Virginia, another who must fly frequently in her work.
Frankly,
that mum plant did not alter my mood all that much. But the laughter
I got
from the card changed my day. Of course, I am hoping the writer
really did
omit “could not”—as he vowed and he declared he had done.
I don’t think anyone on this list has complained about the airlines’
restrictions. It’s just that as we stand in longer lines and get to
airports
earlier, we have time to consider the events of September 11.
Playing
needlework games diverts our attention from the obvious. As every
student of
literature knows, there is a fine line between tragedy and humor.
From the hills of North Louisiana where the air is cool and the kids
are
good looking,
Gail Ingram
P.S. Thanks, Cinda, for the tasty morsels from AQSG convention.
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 21:46:12 -0500 | From: Charlene Shanas Davis <cspdavisiame@>
Thank you Cindy for the words on AQSG — I really did want to go, and
your descriptions helped — maybe next year.
Thank you Gail for the mum story — I’m sure your student did not
mean
to omit “could not” — he just relied on his spell check!
As for the flying comments: remember everyone can think ANYTHING they
want; can say anything they want, with some reasonable exceptions;
but
can not always take action on these beliefs. Your rights end where
they
infringe on mine! Very hard to find the dividing line!!
Now my soapbox: please, please remember WHO is to blame for all these
inconveniences.
Hey Gail, can you tell that I was a teacher — of Government?????
Does anyone want to tell me more about AQSG?
Charlene in Louisiana
Hi,
I just read an article about when a man celebrated his 21st
birthday, the
New England Freedom Quilt was presented to him. It was a token of
independence, which symbolized his freedom to leave home. Do you
know
where I would find a pattern for this quilt?
Thank you,
Carol Henry
carollbh@
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 08:13:24 -0400 | From: Judy White <jawhiteinfi.net>
I knew I had heard about that somewhere. On page 192 of “Old
Patchwork
Quilts and the Women Who Made Them,” Ruth Finley speaks about
freedom
quilts: “…this was called a Freedom Quilt in commemoration of a
boy’s
twenty-first birthday.” When a boy reached legal age and could be
independent of his parents, he was “free.” Wealthy parents made a
big
deal of this milestone in the young man’s life with a large
celebration. In families “of more modest income, a party was given
where the young man wore his “freedom suit.” “Even bound boys were
given a new suit of clothes by the master…
“The ‘Freedom Quilt’ was the gift of the lad’s feminine friends.”
Finley says that an afternoon quilting was held and the boy’s mother
or
sisters and their friends put together the boy’s quilt which would be
put away until the time he was married the quilt would go to his
bride
to be.”
When I was reading “Call the Darkness Light” by Nancy Zaroulis, think
the main character talked about a freedom quilt being made for one of
the young men in the book.
Ruth Finley has much to say about this custom – much too long to
write
here – it was not a certain pattern called “The Freedom Quilt” but
rather a Freedom Quilt made from whatever pattern that the makers
chose
to make.
Judy White – Ct
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 08:55:05 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xecordnetusa1.net>
Foot” or “Rolling Stone” design, lest the young man leave home and
never
return!
Xenia (who owns a “freedom” quilt, made in 1888)
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:28:33 -0700 | From: quilter@
well, i promised that i’d report back on my “downey” recipe and how
it
worked. two people sent me the same basic recipe. equal parts of
downey
ultra and water. soak white cotton fabric for fifteen or twenty
minutes,
rinse with clear water for ten or fifteen minutes. dry. iron onto
freezer
paper, cut into 8 1/2″ X 11″ and feed thru printer. allow to dry for
24
hours, heat set.
so i did this and made an extra one to play with. one i didn’t heat
set,
one i didn’t wash, one i did the way the directions said. the results
were
very disappointing. altho the black printing did fine (which i knew
it
would), the color washed out almost completely. there is a vague
impression
of the rose and heat setting didn’t seem to do anything at all for
colorfastness. so i’m wondering if perhaps my printer is the
“problem” and
maybe another brand using different ink would change the results. i
use a hewlett packaard deskjet 950C, but am thinking of asking
friends if
they’d mind trying their printer to see if the results change.
dutchrose —{-
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 16:21:03 -0700 | From: Gail Ingram <GIngramtcainternet.com>
Foot” or “Rolling Stone” design, lest the young man leave home and
never
return!
Xenia (who owns a “freedom” quilt, made in 1888)
My paternal grandmother, who believed both in quilts and the power of
suggestion, included “Drunkard’s Path” with “Wandering Foot” as
quilts
proscribed for these uses: 1) gifts for boys when they left home
(i.e., the
freedom quilt), 2) cover for ANY of her grandchildren who were still
unwed
and unsettled.
Consequently I always wanted to make a “Drunkard’s Path” quilt, but
to this
day, I think I would feel as if I were tempting fate if I slept under
a
quilt made by that pattern. Powers of superstitions die hard.
Gail
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 19:37:49 -0400 | From: [from unknown]
Kudos to Jinny Beyer for her $60,000.00 award win from the Zheng
Zhang-U.S.A, a China based company that manufactures quilts among
other
things..
They ‘copped’ her quilt pattern Ray of Light and was being used as
the
design source for thousands of copies, selling then to QVC, B-Mart,
and
other U.S, retailers.
Part to their agreement was that ZZ paid her attorney fees of
$15,000.00,
immediately halt the production and sale of the copied quilts, and
agreed
to donate the already made quilts to Habitat of Humanity..
The $45,000 left from the lawyers fees is to be divided between
Alliance
for American Quilts, Va., Quilt Museum, AQSG, N E Quilt Museum, San
Jose
Museum, Museum of Quilts & Textiles, and Quilters’ Hall of Fame. She
hopes
that by donating to these places will encourage more attention on
copyright
laws. BRAVO!!! JINNY BEYER..
Jane of The Feedsack Club
baglady111@
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 16:35:58 -0700 | From: “Kimberly Wulfert, PhD” <chrisajetlink.net>
Linda Otto Lipsett, in her book on brides and wedding quilts in
the19th
century, wrote that the wandering foot pattern use to be the pattern
of
choice for brides. Then the meaning behind ‘wandering’ caused them to
reconsider the appropriateness of this particular tradition and they
stopped
it dead in their tracks! (forgive the bad pun). The book is called
To Love
and to Cherish, Brides Remembered, pub. in 1989.
Kimberly Wulfert, PhD
www.antiquequiltdating.com
Email: quiltdatingjetlink.net
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 20:31:20 -0400 | From: mreichattglobal.net
The Benoni Pierce Quilt, c.1850 at the Smithsonian Institution
(better known as the Groom’s Quilt) was supposed to have been made for Benoni
Pierce of Pawling, N.Y. for his twenty-first birthday. This quilt is
signed by 60+ women most of whom were Quakers from that area of New
York. There is little documented about the quilt but it is recorded
that Benoni’s mother had died before the quilt was made. It is a
sampler quilt with no specific pattern.
sue reich, Connecticut
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 20:52:08 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawleydmv.com>
Right after AQSG I went to Ithaca, NY to give a talk at the
DeWitt
Historical Society which is exhibiting quilts made to celebrate the
Bi-Centennial (it’s 25 years ago, yikes!) and a sampling from the
Society’s
collection. One of the antique quilts is a huge Lone Star (circa
1840) with
Mariner’s Compasses and parts of Compasses between the legs of the
star. A
very sharp-eyed member of the audience recognized that the background
fabric
of that quilt was the same as a fabric used in several blocks of a
Chimney
Sweep quilt that was part of my lecture. My quilt, also circa 1840,
was
made in Salisbury, MD; the Star was made in Trumansburg, NY. The
common
fabric is an ombre blue on white printed in a sort of chicken wire
design.
I suppose the Salisbury lady got her fabric from Baltimore and the NY
lady
from NYC and that it was imported from France (maybe England, but it
looks
French). I think it’s neat to find this connection between two
quilts made
so far apart so long ago.
A real curiosity in the exhibit is a pair of Crazies. Each quilt
measures about 7 feet by 4 feet. The top 4 feet of each is composed
of
Album blocks (the kind used for Friendship quilts); the bottom
section of
each quilt is a typical Crazy with lots of beautifully painted
flowers and
lovely embroidery. Each quilt had a wide satin border embroidered in
gold
thread with a flowing floral design. The only wear on either quilt
was
fading along the sides where they might have met if they were used as
draperies. Has anybody got any ideas about how these quilts were
used?
NQR but is anybody watching Victoria and Albert on A&E? Try to
catch
the reruns; it’s marvelous. I’m a big fan of Queen Victoria and, at
least
in part one, they did her justice.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 21:11:14 -0400 | From: “Alan R. Kelchner” <quiltfix@>
I know where I’m going next time I visit my folks …. Thanks Cinda
–
hadn’t thought of the DeWitt Historical Society.
If anyone is in the area, there’s a town about 1/2 hour from Ithaca,
called
Montour Falls. The historical society has a gorgeous crazy there
(it’s
under a cover on a bed upstairs) that’s mentioned in the
acknowledgments of
Carole Samples’ “Treasury of Crazy Quilt Stitches”.
When I went looking for it last time I was in the area, the lady
looked at
me as if I was nuts ….. Little did she know !
Alan
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 06:05:14 -0700 | From: “Carol Berry” <cberryelite.net>
Cinda’s post about two crazy quilts which measured 7 feet by 4 feet
sent me to Barbara Brackman’s Quilts from the Civil War, as I recall
soldier’s quilts were often made long and narrow to fit a cot or
hospital bed.
According to the text in Chapter 4, which is entitled _Heart and Soul
in the Cause: Quilts from Soldiers’ Aid Societies:
An 1861 request for donations listed _Quilts of cheap material about
seven feet long by fifty inches wide._ Another directive wanted
_comfortables 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, of cheap, dark prints, wadded
with cotton.
(This information came from Virginia Gunn’s research.)
While it seems unlikely that a soldier would have been given a crazy
quilt that consisted of painted flowers and lots of embroidery–and
even more that it would have survived the war–it’s interesting to me
the similarity in sizes between Cinda’s crazies and quilts made for
Billy Yank or Johnny Reb.
Regarding the Queen Victoria movie on A&E, I watched it both nights
and enjoyed it thoroughly. I’m looking to buy the new fabric which
is
imprinted with Her Highness’ likeness. Believe the collection is
called Victoria’s Crown.
Carol Berry
Merced, CA
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 10:51:00 -0500 | From: “Carol Butzke” <butzkenconnect.net>
Xenia, please tell us more about your freedom quilt (1888). What was
the
pattern chosen? Does it contain signatures? What do you know of its
provenance?
Thanks,
Carol Butzke
Wisconsin where the last of the autumn gold is falling from the
maples.
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 15:51:05 EDT | From: Cml791@
If you are going to Houston and would like to see a quilt made with
the
‘Poster Girl’ or ‘Colonial Ladies’ quilt blocks discussed recently on
QHL
drop by the AQSG booth #3025 and say hi. The quilt will be one of
the
backdrops. The booth will be manned by Judy Buss and if any AQSG
members
have an hour or two to spare she would appreciate the help. You can
contact
her at the office or me via e-mail to sign up (or just stop by the
booth.)
This will be my first time to go to the market before festival opens
because
my sister has opened a quilt shop this year. People tell me we will
be
exhausted before the quilt show opens but I’m still looking forward
to it.
Carolyn Miller, N. Texas
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 17:15:04 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xecordnetusa1.net>
Carol asked for more information on my “freedom” quilt. It is a Log
Cabin in a version of Barn Raising, with some interesting variations.
Sort of looks like a stylized 4 leaf clover (for luck?) Very narrow
logs, small blocks, red, blue, brown predominating, with white on the
other half. In the center in red quilting stitch it says “Eli F.
Robards 1888.” There are no other names on the quilt, which is
quilted
in small “Baptist” fans over the entire surface, with lines about
1/2″
apart. Eli was from Carroll Co., IN, next county over from me, and
in
1888 he turned 21 and was a schoolteacher. Also in 1888 he married
16
year old Laura Bryson, who was one of his students! Try that today!
They lived a long and happy life together, and when he quit teaching
school he was a motorman on the interurban train lines. I have a
copy
of a picture of him in his uniform, standing with Laura outside their
home – a log cabin!
Xenia
