March 4 – 18, 2002
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:
- Sanitary Commission (Civil War Charity) Quilts — Members identify the ‘WSC’ initials as the Western Sanitary Commission and discuss Civil War-era charity fundraising quilts. (see the article on a Civil War quilt)
- “Old Sleepy Eye” Flour-Sack Fabric — An eBay find of printed cotton muslin confirms an earlier reference to fabric from the Old Sleepy Eye milling company.
- Signature Quilt Genealogy Research — A member researches the initials and dates on a circa-1900 signature quilt (LOTM, Hive 58/59/60) using genealogy resources.
- 1854 Signed Trapunto Quilt — A detailed eBay listing and photos of a trapunto/appliqué quilt signed and dated by Amanda J. Quisenberry draw appraisal commentary.
- “Robe Print” Fabric Dating — A member offers the term ‘robe prints’ — a turn-of-the-century fabric group — to help date a puzzling cotton print. (see the article on dating quilts)
- Regional Quilt Shows & Museum Exhibits — Announcements cover the Kalona, Iowa quilt show, the NE Quilt Museum, and the Virginia Quilt Museum’s display of Mrs. Robert E. Lee’s quilt. (see the article on quilt museums)
- Mystery Sewing Tool Debate — Members debate whether an eBay-listed tool is really a “sock darner” or a mechanical pinker.
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 04:58:10 | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
Wasn’t there a quilt recently with the initials WSC on it that people
were
asking about? WSC was Western Sanitary Commission, which was a
branch of
the Sanitary Commission during the Civil War. Organized to help
create
better sanitary conditions in the Northern war camps, and also to
ensure the
soldiers had adequate supplies. The Sanitary Commission raised some
$490,000 + in funds, and gathered some $15,000 in supplies. Sure
doesn’t
sound like much today, but at that time, it must have been huge! The
South
did not have any similar organizations, but the North did have some
others
as well. Love and light always, Annie
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 07:12:00 -0500 | From: “Alan Kelchner” <quiltfix@>
Thank you Jennifer – I’ve never known that much about the machines,
except
that this one has the most gorgeous straight stitch you ever saw <g>.
I’ll
have to go back and look at the mechanism – all I do remember is that
the
needle is side-loading. And I do have others to use (I think I own 4
or 5
treadle-style machines).
Alan
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 06:52:45 -0600 | From: “leigh/hcquilts” <hcquilts@>
Just stumbled on this ebay auction, which should confirm what at
least one
QHLer said about the “Old Sleepy Eye” reference in a quilt auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item 07317230
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 08:25:21 -0500 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee@>
It occured to me, after the talk about the WSC and all, that it would
be helpful to have a list of organizations that commonly used initials
to represent themselves – like ARC (American Red Cross), LOOF (Loyal
Order of the Odd Fellows), etc.
Does anyone know of a list, already compiled? If so, kindly point me
in the
right direction.
If not, would you be interested in sharing what you might already
have, and
I will compile a list?
dee
www.deestark.com
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 08:51:38 -0500 | From: Judy White <jawhite@>
I am sorry to post to the list but have lost my addresses. Would
someone out there please send me the addy of the Quilting Traders
Newsletter or if Dawn Nakrosis is on the list, please get in touch
with
me?
Thanks so much.
Judy White
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 08:54:05 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Great idea Dee…and
While we are on the subject….
MANY years ago I had a signature quilt in my shop that (if memory
serves
me correct) was Circa 1900…and had the initials LOTM and Hive 58,
59
and 60 embroidered on it. No provenance other than it came in a box
of
old fabric someone “dropped off …cause we knew you fixed up old
quilts
and could maybe use some of this stuff” (those were the days!!).
Unfortunately, it was part of the shop inventory when I sold the
store
and I’ve lost track of the quilt, but the mystery surrounding the
initials and Hive numbers has always haunted me…
Any one have any ideas on this one???
Laura
In frigid N. Texas where it was again in the 20’s, but supposed to do
the typical Texas weather thing and be in the mid 70’s by tomorrow!!!
Dee Stark wrote:
>
> It occured to me, after the talk about the WSC and all, that it
would be
> helpful to have a list of organizations that commonly used initials
to
> represent themselves – like ARC (American Red Cross), LOOF (Loyal
Order of
> the Odd Fellows), etc.
>
> Does anyone know of a list, already compiled? If so, kindly point
me in the
> right direction.
>
> If not, would you be interested in sharing what you might already
have, and
> I will compile a list?
>
> dee
> www.deestark.com
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 20:04:15 | From: “Ann-Louise Beaumont” <albeaumont@>
Dear Marcia,
I have had a copy of “300 Years of Canada’s Quilts “(1975) by Mary
Conroy
for about 3 years now and am very glad to have it. It was bought from
Capricorn Books & Ephemera after locating it on abebooks.com. I find
it is
like Brackman’s “Clues in the Calico“- a bit much to swallow at one
sitting,
but wonderful to go back to again and again. I must give you some of
the
foreword:
“This book was written because I was angry. The desire to study and
record
Canadian quilts stemmed from a paragraph by Averil Colby in her book
“Patchwork”: “Most of the designs of patchwork made in Canada are
common to
both England and America and have gone to Canada from either.
Certainly,
nothing has gone to either of them from Canada.”
This last sentence was in italics which I can’t seem to make. Conroy
includes (Italics mine.) after this last sentence
She goes on to say that this statement was her reason for studying
Canadian
quilting . She believed “that it is no more true to say that there is
nothing distinctively Canadian in quilting than it is to say that
there is
nothing specifically Canadian in the English spoken here. The
differences
are subtle, but they are real.”
If you want more info, such as chapter titles, to give you more of an
idea
of the book, just let me know.
Best Wishes,
Ann-Louise Beaumont
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 12:40:08 -0800 | From: “Maureen Flanagan” <flanagan@>
Mary Gall inquired recently about feedsacks and the Kent Bag Company.
In
response you may enjoy Anna Lue Cook’s Identification and Value Guide
to
Textile Bags (The Feeding and Clothing of America), published 1990 by
Books
Americana, Florence Alabama, ISBN 0-89689-080-5. She cites a variety
of
published materials on cotton bags and feedsacks which I was
surprised to
find were manufactured as late as the mid 1960s! She also cites a
corporate
history of the Percy Kent Bag Company (Kansas City, MO) called “Our
First
One Hundred Years” that was published in 1985. A couple of years
ago, Kent
sent me a copy of this booklet that was informative and interesting
as well.
Best regards,
Maureen.
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:34:29 EST | From: Laurajbr@
A good friend of mine here in Tampa asked me what to do with this
quilt top
she has agreed to hand quilt. Before giving her any advice, I
thought I’d
ask all of your opinions. Here is her note. Please reply to me and I
will
forward your suggestions to her:
I have an old quilt top made by my great grandmother in the 1930’s
that I
volunteered to hand quilt. It is a scrap quilt with scraps my mother
recognizes from her grandmother’s dresses. In preparation for
sandwiching
it, I washed it in cold water. Unfortunately there were 2 scraps of
a red
sateen that must have been new and unwashed which bled into several
adjacent
white feed sack pieces. I am not sure what to do now — I could take
out the
areas that have been bled on and lightly bleach them and then sew
them back
into the top. I could treat the red patches with Retayne to assure
they do
not run any more. Does anyone have any suggestions for treating the
entire
top without taking it apart? Thanks for your help!
Linda Masters
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 06:50:22 -0500 | From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <cupp5@>
I wonder if this page would help you with LOTM and the hive ….
http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/flaghold/flag002.htm
Debbie Cupp
Laura Hobby Syler wrote:
>
> MANY years ago I had a signature quilt in my shop that (if memory
serves
> me correct) was Circa 1900…and had the initials LOTM and Hive 58,
59
> and 60 embroidered on it.
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 10:04:36 -0500 | From: “Kris Driessen, QuiltBus.com” <oldquilt@>
Yes, I have this book. It is the one that comes with a box of patterns, but they aren’t listed in the auction. It is not too easy to find, I
would bid on it if I were you.
Kris
At 06:54 AM 3/5/2002 -0800, Sharyn Woerz wrote:
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1078769121
>It says “devoted to vintage needlework” and it’s one I’m not
familiar with.
>Blessings, Sharyn in Kalama
>”I believed in myself” ~~Mary Engelbreit
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 10:54:03 -0500 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judysue@>
I second that . . . but wait for one with the patterns. There are a
number
of these around. I have an extra set if anyone is interested, write
me.There are so many patterns for historic quilts, samplers, you name
it .
. . it is quite a bargain. The patterns are given for nearly every
piece
pictured in the book – incredible! Plus the book is a fairly accurate
&
concise history of American needlework. Rose Wilder Lane is the
daughter of
Laura Ingalls of the House on the Prairie books.
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 09:49:03 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Debbie…I think that’s IT!!! Now if I can just locate the quilt <G>
Too bad the internet wasn’t this extensive in 1985!
Thanks again.
Laura
Lynn and Debbie Cupp wrote:
>
> I wonder if this page would help you with LOTM and the hive ….
>
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/flaghold/flag002.htm
>
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 16:35:09 -0800 | From: Chris Flynn <lovechris@>
Hello, and again I have to tell you how much I enjoy and learn from
this
group!
Now…. I’ve just purchased a number of beautiful redwork quilt
squares and
want to sash them together with vintage turkey red cotton, NOT
reproduction
fabric. Any one know where I might find some? I’ll probably take
these
squares and the “W.R.C.” redwork to Paduca for appraisal. (The WRC
does
stand for Womens Relief Corp.)
Thanks so much,
Chris in Boulder Creek, CA
Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2002 22:30:33 -0600 | From: Marilyn Woodin <woodin@>
For all of you that cannot go to Paducah and are close to Iowa we, of
Kalona, Iowa invite you to our 31st annual Kalona Quilt Show and
Sale,
beginning April 25–6pm to9pm, April 26–9am to 6pm, and April
27–9am
to 5pm.
This show, which is composed of all quilts for sale, will hang
approximately 320 quilts. Half of the quilts in the show are new
handquilted American quilts and the other half are antique from
1860-1940.
The show is held in the community center in Kalona and about 3-4
thousand attend each year. We are the largest Amish/Mennonite
community
West of the Mississippi and are very proud of quilting in this
community.
We also have a new museum building built especially for quilts and
will
have a Lincoln memorabillia and Log Cabin Quilt display that is
great.
It includes quilts from 1860-1940.
These two quilt shows in the Heartland may be small but they are
mighty! Come see them and if you need any information contact Marilyn at Woodin Wheel–3196562240 or woodin@–or Brenda at Kalona Antique Company–3196564489–kac@.
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 13:19:32 -0600 | From: “leigh/hcquilts” <hcquilts@>
About the middle of last month I posted a bunch of URLs of some
cotton
fabric I’d acquired which had stumped me as far as dating. A lot of
the
prints looked *something* like c.1900 stuff, but the colors were just
wrong – the double-pinkish print was too lurid, the “Garibaldi” reds
were
too blue, and there was a vaguely Deco feel about many of the
designs. The
consensus – thanks to you all – was that they probably dated from
1915-1925.
(Unfortunately I’ve deleted the pics, so I can’t re-share them with
you.)
They were unused and quite strong, and identical in weave and hand to
all my
c.1900 calicos.
Well…I decided to wash the blocks yesterday and yikes! Even in
plain
lukewarm water – I hadn’t added anything to it yet – those pinks gave
off
color like wet teabags. The “double pink” is now a pale, blurry
blush; to
call the formerly vivid magenta “bubblegum” is to overstate the case.
So I
washed in Synthrapol – *twice*, which IME at least has stopped this
sort of
thing without distorting color. Result? They’re still hemmorhaging,
although the fabric itself is in fine shape and nice and clean 😉
Of course I’m relieved I didn’t pay too much for them, although I’m
not
discounting their educational value. I’ve messed with a reasonable
amount
vintage/antique fabric, some of which has really enjoyed sharing its
colors,
so to speak, but never experienced anything like this. I can only
imagine
the dismay of the original owner some 80 years ago who must’ve made a
dress
out of the yardage from which these scrap blocks came! I’m wondering
whether the reason the collective knowledge here of fabrics like
these was a
bit sketchy is because after one wash, any quilt which included them
was
hardly worth keeping, let alone preserving.
Thoughts? Were some cottons of that era actually not washable, or
were
these just incredibly cheap goods?
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 17:24:30 -0500 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
I bought a quilt recently and I am stumped by it. It is a strippy
type
quilt. It has paper and batting inside of it.(Could NEVER by
washed.) It
has a tag on it that says,
“called ‘the Paper Comfortable’ because so lined—-was in the house
as long
as I can remember and but little used. from WEALTHY STODDARD FREEMAN
the
mother of my father George Freeman, Elisabeth Freeman Keith. The
strips of
fabric are the same front and back. The 2 fabrics are very
different. One
is a loosely woven brown tweed. The other is a stripe. The lines
are a
check alternated with a watermark design. The color is a light green
overdyed with black/brown. It is binded with a brown and beige
stripe
delaine type fabric. It is quilted with dark thread on the diagonal.
It is
in very good condition.
Have looked up the names on general Yahoo search and got nothing,
expect
that lots of Stoddards and Freeman married.
My mother is still not doing great so I have been out of town with
her, due
to this I haven’t had time to examine the fibers and weave with
microscopes.
It is
from the New York area.
Thanks for any direction you can head me in. I will try to get my
son to
take digital shots of it.
Off to cook dinner. Lynn in New Bern, NC
Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 17:46:55 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
Hi, Leigh – I don’t know if this is any help, but there was around
the
turn of the century a group of fabrics called “robe prints” that I
know
were not colorfast, and that reacted to water much as you have
described. They are shown in the 1902 Sears catalog. There were
also
some home dec cottons with the same problem (but whether the color
instability was a problem when the fabrics were manufactured, or
whether
the dyes broke down over time is unknown).
I had a lovely ca.1900 cotton print of begonia leaves in deep red
shading to pink, with dark green edges, against a dark green-black
background. The fabric was vivid and bright until I washed it, and
everything except the background faded to very dull colors. I have
also
had a rose-red on black cotton print of pansies that did the same
thing.
Xenia
Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 19:01:08 -0500 | From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <cupp5@>
Birth: 11 JAN 1787 in Kingston, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania (Prob)
Death: 19 MAR 1861
Marriage #1 Gideon Freeman , Jr. 20 MAR 1806 in Scipio, Cayuga Co.,
New
York (b: 11 JAN 1787 in Stillwater, New York)
Marriage #2 Robert Tompkins AFT. 1836
Children:
George Freeman b: 1826
After Gideon Freeman’s death, she returned to New York State and
married
her brother-in-law, Robert Tompkins.
pepper cory wrote:
>
> I bought a quilt recently and I am stumped by it. It is a strippy
type
> quilt. It has paper and batting inside of it.(Could NEVER by
washed.) It
> has a tag on it that says,
> “called ‘the Paper Comfortable’ because so lined—-was in the
house as long
> as I can remember and but little used. from WEALTHY STODDARD
FREEMAN the
> mother of my father George Freeman, Elisabeth Freeman Keith.
Debbie Cupp, Virginia Beach
Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 23:36:26 -0500 | From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
If it were my quilt top, the red would be removed, a template made,
and the
nasty red would be cut into tiny bits, never to be used again. Even
with
Retayne, what happens if your friend quilts it, leaves the red in,
and after
several washes, the red runs again? Red can be nasty; over & over
again.
Remove the feedsack white and use a non-bleach whitening agent. Sew
it back
in with your repro fabric and it is set for another 70 years.
Good luck.
Jan
—
Jan Drechsler in Vermont
Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher
www.sover.net/~bobmills
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 11:28:34 -0500 | From: “Teddy Pruett” <Aprayzer@>
<<Of interest is a dated 1854 trapuntoed, applique quilt presently
on E-bay. It looks to be in excellent condition. The number is 850384325.>>
And I am the very kind, wonderful appraiser who authenticated it
for him – and gave him descriptors. But he went WAY ON with
them….Teddy Pruett (click on the thumbnails below)
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 14:41:10 EST | From: Palampore@
Have been having problems posting to the list. Hope this works.
After the help from “you” with the genealogy on the paper lined
conforter I posted on a genealogical site as was suggested. Today I got
an email from a very excited woman who has done extensive research on
this family. Once I quinch my “thirst” with this project I plan to
send it on to her.
I still want to know the date of the fabric, and more about paper
filled comforters. I will try to post pictures of it tonight.
Will write more about it once I know that my emails are getting to
you.
Had a great day yesterday feeling of quilts with Pepper. She did a
dating talk and I went. (Not one on picking up men….)
Thanks, Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 16:44:36 -0500 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Many thanks to those who sent suggestions for additions to the list
and who
offered to lend me books This is only an update; I will add more
after the
FVF Seminar this weekend. I intend to go through Uncoverings and
look for
papers which fit the topic. At this point I want to keep my list to
one
page. I should also note that this little project has already cost
me $$$;
there are gaps in my collection that need to be filled.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore
PA BOOK LIST
Adams County Quilt Project, The Hands That Made Them (1993)
Benvin, Roberta, Antique Quilting Designs
Bishop, Robert and Safanda, Elizabeth, A Gallery of Amish Quilts
(1976)
Cawley, L.R., Ezbiansky, L. D. and Nordberg, D. R., Saved for the
People of
Pennsylvania (1997)
Cunningham, Joe and Granick Eve W., Amish Quilts 1880 to 1940 (2000)
Good, Phyllis Pellman, Quilts from the Two Valleys (1999)
Granick, Eve Wheatcroft. The Amish Quilt (1989)
Haders, Phyllis, Sunshine and Shadows: the Amish and Their Quilts
(1976,
1984)
Herr, Patricia T., Amish Arts of Lancaster County (1998)
_______, The Ornamental Branches (1996)
_______, Quilting Traditions: Pieces from the Past (2000)
Historical Society of Berks Co., “Historical Review of Berks Co.”
Vol.LVIII,
#1 (1993)
Hughes, Robert, Amish: The Art of the Quilt (1990)
Kraybill, Herr, Holstein, A Quiet Spirit (1996)
Lasanksy, Jeanette, A Good Start (1990)
________, Bits and Pieces: Textile Traditions (1991)
________, In the Heart of Pennsylvania (1985)
________, In the Heart of Pennsylvania: Symposium Papers (1986)
________, On the Cutting Edge (1994)
________, Pieced by Mother (1987)
________, Pieced by Mother: Symposium Papers (1988)
Lichten, Frances, Folk Art Motifs of Pennsylvania (1976)
Keller, Patricia J., Of the Best Sort But Plain (1996)
McCauley, Daniel and Kathryn, Decorative Arts of the Amish of
Lancaster Co.
(1988)
Nicoll, Jessica F., Quilted for Friends (1986)
Pellman, Rachel and Kenneth, The World of Amish Quilts (1984)
________, A Treasury of Mennonite Quilts (1992)
________, Amish Crib Quilts (1985)
________, Amish Doll Quilts, Doll and Other Playthings (1986)
________, A Treasury of Amish Quilts (1990)
Pelman, Rachel and Ranck, Janet, Quilts Among the Plain People
Philadelphia Museum of Art, “Bulletin” Vol. 85 (1989)
Richman, Irwin, Pennsylvania German Arts (2001)
Roan, Nancy and Donald, Lest I Shall Be Forgotten (1993)
Roan, Nancy and Gehret, Ellen, Juscht en Deppich (1984)
Sater, Joel, The Patchwork Quilt (19810
Schorsch, Anita, Plain and Fancy: Country Quilts of the PA Germans
(1992)
Schuylkill Co. Quilters Guild, Quilted Memories of Schuykill County
Silber, Julie, Amish Quilts of Lancaster County (1990)
________, The Esprit Quilt Collection (1985)
Walker, Susan Rambo, Country Cloth to Coverlets (1981)
Woods, Marianne, Threads of Tradition: Northwest PA Quilts (1997)
York Co. Quilt Documentation Project, Quilts: The Fabric of
Friendship
(2000)
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 17:19:58 -0500 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judysue@>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 20:12:26 -0900 | From: “Gloria Hanrahan” <gloria@>
Found this one on ebay for those that are collecting the double knit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=850110604
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 09:41:01 -0500 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee@>
> the deep red Star design prominent throughout. There are few green
areas
> added around the trim which were typically added when children or
> grandchildren were born into the family of the maker.”
Besides the fact you can’t see it any of it from the picture, I’m
just
wondering about this. Never heard of it before, haven’t seen it
documented
anywhere.
I’m curious, too, if anyone has heard of this – please reply to the
list!
dee
www.deestark.com
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 09:51:48 EST | From: Palampore@
Look at:
www.suzannhttp://www.suzannesquilts.com/Photo_Gallery_Closeups/quilt_mobile1.htm
It is a pretty incredible quilted car cover. It will definitely
become a collectible.
Lynn in New Bern, NC
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 07:35:37 -0800 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>
Wow! Pennsylvaia must have the world record.
Laura in Seattle, WA (alas, I think Washington has only 1.)
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 07:46:27 -0800 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>
Apparently, Jennifer Chivarini’s new book is “The Runaway Quilt“.
Yup, quilts with maps for escaping slaves.
(She’s the author of The Quilter’s Apprentice” and other books that
have been popular, at least on Quiltnet)
Amazon’s review:
“Chiaverini manages to impart a healthy dollop of history in a folksy
style, while raising moral questions in a suspenseful narrative.”
This is not an editorial, just pointing it out.
Laura in Seattle
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 12:21:21 -0500 | From: “Maria” <maria@>
anyone tell me more about this quilt pattern? This quilt was inherited by someone from their greatgrandmother who died in 1918 at age 63. Owner is assuming it is about 100 years old. The brown diamonds are pieced into the white bands while the blue and brown shapes on the circle are appliqued. click on the thumbnail.
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 08:07:55 -0500 | From: John W Kaufman <incentive@>
Anyone know what this really is? Have you seen one before? Can you
really
make or darn socks with it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=851655038
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 08:28:36 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
The device shown on eBay as a “sock darner” would probably chew up
socks! it appears to me to be a form of mechanical pinker, and is
shown upside down in the first photo. It appears to me that the C-clamp
should be underneath, used to attach the item to a table. The geared
handle moves the ruffled-edge blade on the black platform (where the
gold label is). The blade is fairly blurred in the photo, but the
device looks remarkably similar to a successful pinker made by Singer
in 2 forms – one a hand-crank like this one, and one that attached to
the
machine.
Xenia
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 21:12:51 -0500 | From: “Pam Weeks Worthen”
Had a fun day at the NE Quilt Museum helping with Mass Quilts. Saw a totally cool quilt that was pieced in 1850’s. The blocks were pieced wandering foot variation, all with very typical turkey red and poison green prints, all signed in the same handwriting (or very similar) with many different family names, and dates ranging from 1848-1851. It has alternating plain blocks. When it first came out of the pillow case, I saw the back and said, “darn, this is a new one!” But when he opened up the quilt and we saw the top, it was obviously (do we have a name for this?) a multigenerational project. The owner has begun to research the families, some are his ancestors and it’s an interesting story of signatures of the Philadelphia families that moved to Ohio. I found a few places where the polyester bat was bearding through to the top of the quilt, and the feathered wreath quilting pattern with the central grid in the plain blocks was from the same stencil I have hanging in my studio from 1980ish. The pencil marks were still very dark, and in the same interrupted pattern as would be traced from the stencil. It was all hand pieced with the exception of the binding which was applied by machine from the front and turned to the back, whipped stitched. Muslin binding. Gorgeous and bizarre at the same time.
Pam Weeks Worthen in NH where the drought is deepening, and I’m not really sure if missing mud season is a good thing….
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 22:33:56 -0500 | From: Eileen Doughty <ef.doughty@>
VIRGINIA QUILT MUSEUM SPECIAL DISPLAY – The Virginia Quilt Museum now
has Mrs. Robert E. Lee’s quilt on display (on loan from VMI) through
the end of September in their “Women of the Civil War Era” Gallery. All
Civil War and history buffs will want to see it, as it is not displayed
often – it’s very fragile and made of plaid dress fabrics popular during the
time. It was made in 1872 to raise funds for a new church in Lexington, VA.
Later the chapel was named in honor of her husband, Robert E. Lee. The Museum
is located at 301 South Main Street, Harrisonburg. Phone 540-433-3818.
Museum Hours: Mon., Thurs, Fri, Sat. 10 AM – 4 PM; Sun. 1-4 PM;
Closed
Tues &
Wed.
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 12:43:14 -0800 | From: donbeld <donbeld@>
Hi, I would like some help. Someone recently told me that she saw an
episode of Simply Quilts in which Barbara Brackman said that she knows of only two U.S. Sanitary Commission quilts, both of which are in private collections. As those of you who read my article in the current issue of AQS’s magazine know, the Smiley Library/Lincoln Shrine in Redlands, California has an authenticated Sanitary Commission quilt (the hometown of my guild). Is this the only one in public display? Do any of you know of others. I have always assume that the Smithsonian has
several.
I have read the discussions of “long” quilts, i.e., 4 ax 7 foot quilts,
which is the size of the Sanitary Quilts; and I have assumed that they
probably are unmarked Sanitary Quilts. (The Smiley’s is stamped.) We
have another quilt in private hands in Redlands that is that size with
Civil War fabrics and of the bricks pattern that we believe is also a Sanitary Commission quilt, but is not stamped. (It is signed, however, with the name Isaac Chamberlain.) The owner has done research on the name and it is a Civil War era name.
Our guild, as part of its show in May, is featuring several Civil War
quilts; including four survivors of Sherman’s March to the Sea (one is partially burnt); and we are interested in having accurate information on the Smiley’s quilt. (They had no idea it was so rare.) Thanks for your help and comments. Don Beld
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 14:24:53 -0800 (PST) | From: Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@>
In my attempts to obtain a “complete” set of patterns
for the Rose Wilder Lane book, Woman’s Day Book of
American Needlework, I ended up with an extra book &
set of patterns (complete). If anyone on the QHL
would like to buy this copy, please contact me
individually.
Thanks-Connie Ark, quiltarkmv@
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 14:29:01 -0800 (PST) | From: Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@>
Just a little follow up note on imported quilts from
the conversation a month or so ago….. Country
Living Magazine has their own QVC network program
where they sell imported quilts. It is called
“Country Living Quilts” and the last show I saw was on
February 6, 2002. They discussed how their quilts
were “cotton filled with cotton fabrics”.
I know they have been advertising imported quilts in
the magazine since the imports hit the market, but did
not know they had their own line of quilts made
overseas.
A&E also had a show on in Jan. that talked about
collecting quilts, an episode of “The Collectors”.
Has anyone had any direct experience with the quilts
from the Country Living Magazine line? Are they
really a better quality than “the other imported
quilts” that use polyester batts?????
Thanks–CA
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 19:22:18 -0500 | From: mreich@
Don,
I don’t know if your quilt is rare or not. I know that I have seen Sanitary Commission quilts in state documentation books. In Connecticut, we documented at least five quilts with good provenance tying them to the Civil War. One is inscribed with the Tarrytown Sanitary Commission. It was privately owned. It can now be found in the Tarrytown Historical Society, thanks to the concern and diligence of one of the members of CQSP. The other is a very similar appliqué inscribed a benevolent society from New London, CT. We also found three Civil War era quilts made by men. Two of these can be found in Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut. The two
previous quilts can also be found in the book with some information about the Sanitary Commission. You might look through the state documentation books. Also
check the 1985 Uncoverings for Ginny Gunn’s excellent presentation “Quilts for Union Soldiers.” Three other sources are “Ahead of her Time; Abby Kelley and The Politics of Antislavery” by Dorothy Sterling, “Perfecting the Family: Antislavery Marriages in the Nineteenth-Century by Chris D Dixon, and my favorite “Civil War Sisterhood: The U.S. Sanitary Commission and Women’s Politics in Transition” by Judith Ann Giesberg.
The U.S. Sanitary Commission published reports throughout the 1860’s.
I was fortunate to find some of these at the Connecticut State Library. The headquarters for the Sanitary Commission was located in Brooklyn, NY, you might check the internet for an historical society there.
Good luck, sue reich
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 22:31:29 -0900 | From: “Gloria Hanrahan” <gloria@>
This seller has several early fabric swatch cards for sale. I thought some of you might be interested.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=852515084
click on the thumbnails…
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 01:27:58 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Hi Don, Until I read your article, I knew of only two, and the first was
“lost” in a private collection. As far as I know, neither the
Smithsonian nor the DAR museum have a stamped and documented SC quilt in
their collections. The second quilt that Barbara spoke of is/was (?)
here in north Texas. I had it in my possession about 4 years ago when
the owner brought it to me for appraisal and research. We took it to the
Dallas Quilt Celebration when Nancy Kirk, Cindy Brick, Lisa Erlandson,
and myself were conducting a session of “The Quilt Rescue Squad” . It
is indeed long and skinny. 5 x 8 12″ blocks. This quilt is the same
pattern as the one in your article, only without sashing. The central
squares (the only muslin on the quilt, as is the one in the article) are
about 3 1/2 inches in size, with signatures and phrases and bible verses
inked into the center square. Many are signed Norridgewalk, Maine. The
12″ blocks are individually bound then very expertly whip stitched
together. It bears the same, simple oval stamp of “The Sanitary
Commission” on the back. Story was that it was given to the current
owners Great Aunt’s Great-grandfather during the last hours of the war
when he was slightly wounded and visited the army hospital. He took it
back to Kansas with him where it was stored away. According to family
history, sometime in the 1930’s it was shown at the Kansas State Fair
where it received a blue ribbon for “an interesting bit of Historical
Trivial” ….yeah, right!!! (The blue ribbon and pasteboard tag were
still safety pinned onto the quilt…but no dates or other identifying
notes.) How my client came to be the owner is a whole other story in
itself! Seems that the great aunt died with no designated heirs.
(apparently, a nasty rift between siblings years ago had severed ties) A
neighbor, learning that the contents of the house were to be auctioned
off called my client and asked her if there was anything she could think
of that she wanted her to try and get. She told the neighbor that there
were a couple of quilts…one with signatures, that if she could get
them for a decent price, to do so. It’s been so long since I’ve talked
to my client, but I think I remember she got the two “ugly brown quilts”
for about $200….
I have lost contact with the owner. At the time she wanted to sell it
(she had read that there was a quilt sold at Southbys for $100,000.) She
wanted big bucks for it, but wanted it to go to a museum, so that others
could enjoy it. We all know about museums, loss of fundings, no money to
purchase…tra-la, tra-la…. I knew that Barbara was writing her book
on Civil War quilts and immediately contacted her. We missed getting it
in the book by just a few weeks!!! I’m in the process of trying to
track her down again and see if she sold it….
My favorite square on the quilt reads…
“God Bless you Soldier, scarred and worn,
Wearied with marchings, walkings, pairs,
All battle stained and battle torn,
Bravely have your tasks been borne;
You have not fought in vain.”
Emma C. Baker
No dates anywhere on the quilt. Family history dates it circa 1865…at
the end of the war, thus the excellent condition. It is stained, but not
badly. Colors are still rich and strong. It has more blues and reds and
is a little more “chunky” than the one in your article.
Hope this helps you…
Laura
in now rainy N. Texas
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 10:00:47 -0600 | From: “Avalon” <malthaus@>
http://www.elmcreek.net
The first chapter of Jennifer’s new book is available to read at her
website. As there has been discussion re: fact vs. myth on the topic of the quilt’s role in the Underground Railroad, I thought there might be some interest in this site.
Mary
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 11:44:06 -0500 | From: “laurafisher” <laurafisher@>
Hi- Some years ago I sold a quilt to the Lynn Massachussetts Historical
Association that had in all the white segments handwritten information about
the activities of the Boston Street Ladies Aid Society as they made things
for the U.S. Sanitary Commission. Some of the triangles read as if they were
copies of the minutes of the group’s meetings– they recount how many and
what items they made for distribution by the USSC. A more complete report
and photos of the quilt are in the book “American Quilts and the Stories
They Told” by Jennifer Regan. The Lynn Historical has files on the group and
its role in raising money to refurbish the church out of which they
functioned; they made shoes and supplied bandages and other stuff.
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 13:54:27 -0500 | From: mreich@
My interest in the Sanitary Fair quilts has been peaked with the recent QHL
messages. I found this book Civil War Sisterhood after writing about the
Sanitary Fair quilts for “Quilts and Quiltmakers.”
Here are some interesting quotes from “Civil War Sisterhood.”
pgs.105 -107.
“And starting with Chicago in the fall of 1863, the branches began holding
sanitary fairs in major cities where they raised large amounts of money to
help support rural auxiliaries. …The flurry of sanitary fairs held in
1863-1864 were branch initiatives that caused some friction between branch
women and commission men. Borrowing from the nineteenth-century charity
bazaar and anti-slavery fairs, sanitary fairs featured sales of locally made
items and a variety of entertainment, including musical concerts and meals
elaborately prepared by local women. Livermore and Hodge planned the first
sanitary fair at the Northwestern Branch in Chicago in October, 1863.
Planning a two-week long event (which raised $80,000) was an enormous
undertaking…so Livermore and Hodge were surprised at the commission’s
resistance to the proposal….The commission treasurer railed against the
fairs in the (Sanitary Commission) Bulletin, noting that the large sums
raised have been received by the branches but that the benefit to the
commission was only indirect. (The monies were donated to Branches to buy
materials to make up clothing and other supplies not only for field soldiers
but also for the families of soldiers.)
According to the commission, not only were the fairs initiatives
unacceptable acts of local autonomy, allowing women to use their commission
affiliation to enrich their local treasuries, but the rest of the commission
executives believed that encouraging such emotionalism was reckless and
counterproductive to their vision of women acting under their own temperate
paternal guidance.”
Women’s accounts of the fairs attest to a growing sense of pride in the
success of individual branches and an appreciation for the autonomy of women
‘s work and local political culture. ….In the antebellum period, women
used fairs and bazaars to support local ministers, anti-slavery activism,
and community welfare networks. During the war, branch women used fairs as
a way to mobilize local interests. Branch women traveled from fair to fair
to support their friends and co-workers at the other branches and to
strengthen the ties that bound them together in their work…..Branch women
did not worry that these renegade ventures violated commission men’s ideas
about centralization., for the fairs were consistent with their own priority
of helping women help their communities.”
Some food for thought. Once again women use their quiltmaking and other
skills to make social and political statements that they were not allowed to
openly voice. sue reich
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 17:25:05 -0500 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT! We invited everybody on the lists to join us in
Bird-In-Hand for the Fran’s Vintage Friends Textile Seminar and I hope that
all who did will add their favorite bits to what I tell you about the
weekend.. New friends from Texas, Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin,
Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania joined Fran’s long-time disciples for an
event that exceeded all of our (very high) expectations.
From our very first session, Show and Tell, on Friday evening there was
a constant barrage of beautiful quilts, intelligent comments and lots and
lots of laughter (an FVF staple). We saw a pair of PA German baby quilts;
Rob Peter to Pay Paul c. 1840 in which a white floral traded places with a
brown fondue fabric; an 1830s Birds in Flight with the large triangles of
pillar prints and a back of faux patchwork chintz with the glaze still on
it; a wool challis log cabin (c. 1870) that looked like modern art with a
paisley back. Folk art was represented by a red and green applique quilt
that took off in its own direction: nine huge 8-lobed flowers (20″ across),
gold leaves, quilted in concentric circles! There were many more wonderful
things, but I want to make your really sorry you missed it! (G)
The important part of the weekend, of course, were the presentations. I
was lucky and got to go first so I could just sit back and enjoy everything
that followed. I’ll leave it to others to tell you what a great job I did
(VBG) talking about Pennsylvania quilts.
Fran shared her research on “Effie of Ellerton.” Effie Delauter
(1884-1959) lived in Fran’s adopted Middletown Valley in western MD. Fran’s
presentation changed my mind about what I thought I knew about quilting in
the 1940s and 50s. Effie was a quilter; she didn’t piece of applique, she
quilted. She really quilted!!! Fran had three fabulous “Effie quilts”
hanging in the meeting room. I couldn’t stop looking at them, constantly
amazed by the original quilting designs.
Mary Perini taught us about lace. She took a subject about which I know
nothing and made me understand why so many people are passionate collectors
of lace. She had samples, which she passed around, of all the varieties she
described. I particularly enjoyed seeing two sample books (one with brown
paper pages) with pencil notations identifying tiny samples of lace.
Peggy and John Armstrong shared “Treasures from Granny’s Sewing Basket,”
all those little things we love to hunt for at the auctions and antique
malls. Except that John and Peggy seem to have cornered the market. They
filled the room with treasures. I think they must have a genetic advantage.
Peggy’s grandmothers were named Minnie Maybel and Tinnie Belle; John’s
maternal grandmother was Annie, but his father’s mother was Sudie May. How
can we compete with that? However they do it the Armstrongs have an amazing
collection of fabulous “stuff.” A pincushion crocheted around a wishbone; a
thimble holder, too: sewing birds, darners, thimbles, a huge binder filled
with advertising needle cases, hussifs and sewing kits, on and on. The
piece de resistance was Joseph Emert’s sewing caddy (John’s maternal great
grandfather) made of 1,000 pieces of inlay with a handle in the shape of a
heart and a circle of daguerreotype portraits set around the top. It is
signed and dated 1865 on a narrow strip of silver.
Ellie Bennett, who chaired the Adams County (think Gettysburg) quilt
project, is fascinated by the stories of the quilt makers. The Hands That
Made Them, the book that resulted from the documentation, will give you an
idea of the wonders of Adams County quilts and important insights into the
lives of the makers. Ellie seems to be on a mission to keep those quilts at
home. She brought Mrs. Schwartz’s Flying Geese, (c. 1850) which she bought
when the family sent it to auction. It is chrome yellow and Prussian blue
strips alternating with brown flying geese and finished with a handmade
fringe. We saw two of Mrs. Keefauver’s quilts (c. 1900) in Adams County
colors, red, poison green, chrome yellow and double pink (this is PA German
country, after all). Mrs. Keefauver made quilts because she liked to; they
were never used because the family preferred bedspreads and blankets. We
agreed with Ellie that we need to learn and tell the quiltmaker’s story.
Henry Adams said, “Who reads my words when I am dust shall be my son in
letters” I think we are the “daughters in thread” of the quiltmakers of the
past who we talk about as if they were friends.
Phyllis Twigg discussed Dyes for Classic Quilts (red and white and blue
and white); she talked about why we like the two color quilts and, of
course, showed lots of examples. It was great to get an understanding of
the technology of dyeing (even better that Phyllis did the research and made
it easy for me to understand). She had nifty acrylic boxes with samples of
the dyestuffs inside: madder root, indigo (chunks and powder), cochineal,
etc. I’m sitting here with a tiny plastic ziploc bag of cochineal beetles
that Phyllis gave me–truly a unique gift. I’d love to experiment with some
home dying (icing for a birthday cake??).
Suzanne Cawley does not collect redwork. She told us that before she
began pulling examples out of a bottomless box. She did admit that when she
sees something she likes she buys it, but insisted that this does not
constitute collecting. (Let’s stop and think about this…..) Suffice it
to say that Suzanne’s non-collection provided the group with a comprehensive
education on redwork from 1880 to yesterday. Suzanne is not only
knowledgeable, she’s really funny (could have something to do with the
Cawley name). One of the non-academic highlights of the weekend concerns
Suzanne’s car CD player. Someone else must tell that story.
Those were the formal presentations, but the informal talks, show and
tell, dinner conversations were just as important. This was a really
knowledgeable groups with various areas of expertise. Sue Reich brought a
New England perspective to us Mid-Atlantic types (not to mention some
fabulous quilts). Barb Garrett’s knowledge is always impressive, but the
fact that she can explain the differences between the various PA German
sects just about blew us all away. I found quilt dealer Tom Vonah’s
comments about what dealers look for very interesting.
I could go down the list and tell you something important I learned from
each person who attended. The last hour was a plenary session moderated by
Mary Perini. In some ways that was the most thought provoking park of the
seminar. The questions concerned correcting misinformation, quilting old
tops and restoration/repairs/conservation. Each question was addressed by a
different four-person panel and then was opened to the floor. The variety
of opinion and insight was amazing. I know that my eyes were opened by
hearing different opinions from people whose expertise I respect. I want to
participate in more discussions like this, especially with a moderator like
Mary who keeps everybody under control.
I know this is long, but the experience was wonderful. I trust some of
the other Vintage Friends, new and old, will post.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore where it is actually raining
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 19:32:57 -0500 | From: mreich@
Well done, Cinda, for the synopsis of two, wonderful, quilt-escape days in
Lancaster and many, many thanks to the regulars of FVF for making this
seminar so memorable and for providing continual hospitality. I was on such
a high driving back to Connecticut that the four and one half hour trip flew
by. Thanks again to all of you. This event will be the inspiration for a
Fabric Dating Club, here, in New England. Jan Drechsler and I have already
put our thinking caps on. sue reich
