January 1 – 3, 2004
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:
- Dating Quilts by Pattern and Construction — Members trade observations on unfamiliar applique patterns, edge treatments, and how binding style and border choices can hint at a quilt’s age. (see the article on dating quilts)
- Quilt and Bed Sizes Through History — A thread compares historic mattress and bed dimensions to modern quilt sizing, with period newspaper ads offered as evidence.
- Natural Dye Identification — Early discussion of cochineal and food-based dyes kicks off as members work to identify colorants used in old quilts. (see the article on natural dyes)
- Researching a Name Found on a Quilt — A member seeks help identifying “Thos H. Julian,” a name inscribed on a crazy quilt, prompting a round of genealogy tips.
From: sven@
The name Thos is usually a shortened version of Thomas.
Lorraine in Oz
Happy New Year All!!
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2004 | From: MSNeedleArts@
In a message dated 1/1/2004 1:35:50 PM Central Standard Time, danabalsam@ writes: I recently purchased another Old Crazy Quilt and it has a name on it that I am not familiar with…”Thos”…complete name “Thos H. Julian”. Has anyone heard of this first name before? Is it male or female? Is it short for something longer.
Thos is frequently an abbreviation for Thomas, although I guess it could also be short for Thomasina! 🙂
Rissa
Rissa Peace Root, President Mississippi NeedleArts Chapter — EGA http://www.prettyimpressivestuff.com
Date: Fri, | From: “kathy moore” <kathymooreneb.@>
Dana, the Thos you refer to is probably an abbreviated form of Thomas.
Kathy Moore ——=_N
Date: Sat, 03 Jan | From: tigersoup@
As for crunched up dried bugs used as foodcoloring–eeewww! More than I wanted to know. There goes my cherry pie. Now, for a question: does anyone know when the Kloster Thread Co. was established? It was incorporated into The Thread Mills Company in 1910, but was there a thread brand of Kloster before that? Thanks! Shirley Mc
From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judysue@>
Just because a road show expert says it is so, don’t believe it! (And I don’t think I would call this a “quilt.”)
This does remind me of the pincushions that were made in the Victorian era – boots, hearts, etc. with lots of beading. I would have to see it close up to give an opinion, but I agree with you that something doesn’t seem right. Also note the seller has zero feedbacks, so I think he/she will have a hard time convincing someone to pay $3500 for this.
Date: Sat, 03 Jan | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judysue@>
There is an entire book devoted to red dyes: The Red Dyes: Cochineal, Madder And Murex Purple: A World Tour of Textile Dying by Gosta Sandberg, available on Amazon for $21. I believe cochineal dyes were used hundreds of years ago. The book includes instructions if you want to make your own cochineal dye!
At 07:48 PM 1/2/04, you wrote: >Living in AZ we have plenty of prickly pear cactus. This summer we asked a >friend about the white gunk that was on our cactus (we were sure it was some >awful disease) and he showed us the little beetle inside and squished it. I >was amazed at how much red came out of the little thing. I’m wondering if >cochineal dye was used in fabrics much outside of the southwest. If so >where and during what periods? What would be a clue as to whether a red was >done with cochineal dye? > >Judy Anne
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 09:59:08 EST | From: AmyOKorn@
Having consulted Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Applique, it looks to me that the mid-19th century quilt currently on e-bay (item #2584189822 and previously posted) is a Chrysthanthemum pattern (#33.62). Any other thoughts?
Amy Korn
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 09:43:35 | From: charlou@
I know NOTHING about natural fabric dyeing except what you all share or what I’ve read in historical fiction about walnut dyed garments – or indigos.
So this is a serious question but also sort of funny! Do they, or did they ever, use poke weed berries as a natural dye? The poke berry is a deep purple. If my white English pointer goes through the woods or lies down on the really tall plants after they collapse in the fall he gets lovely purple splotches on his body. Also, the birds that eat the berries then defecate purple bird poop all over my car! (sorry, if I am sounding indelicate, but what can I say? I live on a farm with a pasture full of cow pies too! Also a new born heifer calf who was named Charlotte in my honor!)
I was really SERIOUSLY wondering this fall when the poke weed crop was extremely wide spread and prolific! Was it ever used as a dye? And please do not start a conversation on the topic of early spring use of poke weed greens as a body cleanser!!! Enough is enough said!!! : ))) VBG! & a LOL!
To be very honest I was always too busy sewing to think about spending time dyeing, although I did try tea dye once after seeing a quilt at the AZ State Fair that won a First Place due ONLY to the tea dye! Otherwise it was very ordinary! The judges adored that added bit of attention and everyone rushed home to dye things! Now that I’m thinking, I do recall spending a day or two assisting a friend in doing some serious dyeing. I just did what she told me to do! It turned cracks in her bathtub a deep dark color!!! I ended up with a gift of 8 half yards of fabric for my help and I’ve never dared cut it up! I worked too hard to earn it! Maybe I should add that to my Projects To Do in 2004 List.
But I seriously want to ask: Was poke weed ever used by pioneers? Just an esoteric question. I am not going to try it! However, I know one of you will know! Thanks!
Date: Sat, 03 Jan | From: woodin@
This is probably correct but I thought it was a Thistle–I have had, in the past,one very similar and it was called a Thistle. The authority is Barbara Brackman so I would probably go with Chrystanthemum.
By the way the Iowa/Illinois Quilt Study Group will be meeting on February 7th at the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum inside the Kalona Historical Village at 9:30a.m. Reservations are needed and it should be a great meeting. It is the second one and the organizational meeting saw 31 people attending. There will be a $20.00 admission and that will access to the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum, give a brown bag lunch, money for a quilt scholarship to AQSG, and any administrative expenses. It is hoped everyone will bring an antique quilt to show for about 3 minutes and after everyone has shared one, another might be shown. In the afternoon we will document signature quilts
The last meeting was great and we saw some fine examples of quilts dating 1820-1950. Beginning is fun and we hope it will continue a long time. Sue Wildemuth (309-936-7455) will accept reservations until Jan. 24. Another number is 319-656-2555 Marilyn Woodin if Sue cannot be reached.
Iowa has lots of quilt history and many of the quilts we see traveled West but we hope the Quilt Capital of Iowa will be where you want to see a few. The museum changes a show every three months and hopefully you will want to hear a listing of the upcoming shows. Marilyn Woodin curator
Date: Sat, 3 Jan | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
I’ll be at Elly’s lecture tomorrow with some other denizens of the Eastern Shore. Hope to see lots of you there. Don’t know about the carnation in the teeth Newbie. Cinda
From: “Margaret E. Geiss-Mooney”
It does appear to be like a kalaga, the sequined and sometimes padded way out textiles from Burma and Thailand. They made their own metal sequins to use. Although the ones I’ve worked on were usually on black velvet/velveteen. But why wouldn’t the artisans use “brighter” colours and motifs that would appeal to their tourist customers? Is this textile on satin weave or a napped fabric, I wonder? (I wouldn’t call it a quilt either) Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC mgmooneymoonware.net in cold but sunny northern California
