February 13 – 16, 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:
- 19th-Century Quilt Block History Talk — Donald Beld recaps a guild presentation on block history and construction.
- The Fantasy Quilt Research Trip, Continued — The wishlist thread expands into international museum picks.
- Identifying a Printed-Panel Basket Quilt — The Jane Austen quilt’s basket block is traced to a printed textile panel.
- New Zealand Quilt History, In Print — A new book on old New Zealand quilts gets a warm review.
Date: February 13, 2004 | From: “Quiltstuff” <quiltstuff@>
Hi all, I have just finished reading a new book about old quilts in New Zealand. It is a lovely book and the story of the author’s personal task to catalogue her countries old quilts. The book is called Warm Heritage and is by Pamela Fitz Gerald. It has beautiful quilts and is well photographed. She also includes the stories of the quilters if she could find them out. The author states she spent a lot of time in the states and was influenced by State Documentation programmes. It is interesting to compare and contrast the quilts to those found in the UK and Aussie books. It is easy to see ‘aunt’ and ‘cousins’ relationship to each other.
Interestingly, we tend to think of Australia as settled by the English and predominantly Irish where I think New Zealand had a greater Scottish influence. ( Don’t quote me as I am not a kiwi) It doesn’t seem to have affected the way quilts were done. I am surprised at how similar many of the quilts feel to Aussie quilts. One particular quilt was made in the 1930s from woollen suiting samples. It is a kind of quilt I really associate with Australia. I guess the world was more ‘global’ back them than I thought.
Included in the early chapters is a history of American quilting as well and I was disappointed to see the UGRR ‘story’ written as a fact. However, that is a minor matter in such an enjoyable book. I was delighted in the number of examples of ‘frame’ or medallion quilts especially those that used paper piecing.
This style is currently having a huge revival here in Australia.
I am not sure if it will be available in the US.. But here is a link in NZ http://www.needlecraft.co.nz/p/files/hist.html
.
Suzy Atkins
Date: February 13, 2004 | From: “Sally Ward” <sallytatters@>
perhaps do > the British quilt history group members have the earliest date for “Pieced > Basket” quilts or blocks in the UK?
In ‘North Country Quilts, Legend and Living Tradition’ Dorothy Osler shows a detail of a pieced basket quilt described as ‘Printed cottons, reverse white linen, pieced blocks and alternating large squares set on point’. It is in the collection of the Bowes Museum in County Durham and is dated as 1820-1840, maker unknown.
In ‘English Quilting Old and New’ written by Elizabeth Hake in 1937 there is a quilt with unusual pieced baskets and appliques flowers, which she says is Early 19th Century, but there’s no further information about where that quilt is.
Sally W
Date: February 13, 2004 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>
Dear friends,
Yesterday, I stumbled across an exceedingly well-written essay, “Fron Myth to Maturity: The Evolution of Quilt Scholarship”. In this special presentation which appeared in UnCoverings, 1992, Dr. Virginia Gunn offers us a very concise but complete summary of how myths related to textiles were perpetuated in the twentieth century. She points out that even when proven to be inaccurate, quilt myths survive because of the role they play in society. Her thoughtful analysis of the Betsy Ross myth, and the presumptive “colonial” quilt story, delineates how these fabrications were started (and repeated) via print media (books and newspapers).
Dr. Gunn states that, “Signs of maturity in quilt study, as in other fields of research, include a willingness to revise past scholarship in light of new knowledge,”…….
This volume (#13) is available by back order from the American Quilt Study Group website, and is well worth your time to acquire. Dr. Gunn, a professor of textiles at the University of Akron, Ohio, has my total respect and attention. Her writings are clear and have shown her to be a true leader to this generation of those who are interested in serious quilt scholarship.
Patricia Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com
Date: February 13, 2004 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>
Hello,
In looking for something else yesterday in an online search, I found the Boston University resource site for black studies. I have included this link at the end of the article which I wrote re: quilts and the Underground Railroad. Informational materials are available at a very nominal cost.
An ideal situation would be if one or more graduate students in the field of Education would look into developing some plans to incorporate lessons about quilt history, in general. The topic seems to have been attacked willy-nilly, hit or miss, mostly “miss”. As has been pointed out numerous times, there are so many facets to quilting, not the least of which is the math involved in geometric blocks. Now, the thought of juveniles chasing each other around, rotary cutter in hand, well, that is a whole other matter! Food for thought!
Pat Cummings
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Virginia Berger” <cifba@>
Hi, I’m a usually a “list lurker” but I’m wanted to chime in on this topic. I’ve got two child sized quilts that are machine quilted with zig-zag stitch. I’d date the fabric in both to the 1920’s-30’s (some is earlier) but I had figured they were quilted at a later date since they were zig-zagged. The zig-zag is very large and primitive looking and there is no batting in either quilt so I’m wondering if maybe these were done with the attachment that moves the fabric? I would think it would be hard to use one of these attachments with a regular “quilt sandwich”! I’m excited to find out that zig-zag was available so much earlier than I thought!
Virginia
>Now, I am wondering, does anyone have any old quilts with >zig zag stitiching on them? The earliest I can remember seeing is 1960. >
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Anita Loscalzo <aloscalz@>
Hi, everyone. I recently completed a paper on the history of sewing machines and machine quilting that is in the hands of my professor right now.
The zig zag was introduced in the 1870s, but only on commercial grade machines. In 1892 Singer invented a zig zag mechanism for its treadle machines, but it was only marketed in Europe. Bernina marketed a free-arm portable zig zag in 1943, but because of the war, it didn’t get to the U.S. The best information I could find was that Pfaff and Necchi first introduced the portable zig zag to the U.S. in 1948.
I hope this helps.
Anita Loscalzo
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Jocelyn” <jocelynm@>
> If you had 3-4 weeks and could go on the fantasy trip of a > life-time learning about antique quilts in the US, where would > you go, and what would you do?
I wonder how many of us will turn out to be living within a day’s drive of other people’s destinations? And how many of us haven’t yet checked out the local resources?
I live in Lawrence KS, right across town from the Spencer Museum of Art that holds the Carrie Hall blocks, but I’ve not seen them; a trip to Lincoln would be an easy weekend jaunt, but I haven’t gone….
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
1. Smithsonian, National Gallery, and the Textile Museum in Washington.
2. Metropolitan Museum, Cloisters, and the Cooper Hewitt in New York.
3. Winterthur in Delaware.
4. Museum of Fine Arts and the Gardner Museum in Boston (IF I can finally get permission to see their quilts, which I’ve only requested four times and been turned down every time).
5. Old Sturbridge Village.
6. Shelburne Museum.
7. Side trip to McGill University in Montreal to see the McCord quilt.
8. Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford.
9. Schwenkfelder Museum (hi, Candace!).
10. Gail Binney’s home in Massachusetts (yes, she’s the one who wrote Homage to Amanda. And she’s local. And I’ve never met her. !#$!@#$!).
11. Los Angeles Museum.
12. Denver Museum.
13. A week in Gee’s Bend.
14. Cleveland Museum costume collection.
15. Lynne Bassett’s personal archives (no, I haven’t forgotten about the historical societies…RL got in the way, alas, but I should be on it soon).
16. Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem.
That’s just what I can think of off the top of my head…anyone else know of any costume, textile, or quilt collections, preferably with pre-19th century stuff?
*sighs longingly at the thought*
Karen Evans
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
And I propose another one: where in the rest of the world would you go in search of quilts and quilt information? It’s not as if America has a monopoly! 🙂
My choices:
1. The Bargello and the Uffizi in Florence, the church with the Signorelli frescoes with the truly appalling pieced tights, the Vatican Museum in Rome, and a side trip to Verona, Italy.
2. The Augustinermuseum in Frankfurt-am-Main, and the museum in Lower Saxony with the Jesse Tree applique, Germany.
3. The Musee Histoire de Tissus, Lyon, plus as many antique shops in Provence as possible, the Louvre in Paris, and if possible, a side trip to Metz, France.
4. The Victoria & Albert, the National Gallery, and the British Museum in London, the American Museum in Bath, the Nottingham Museum in Nottingham, and lunch with Dorothy Osler, England.
5. The Toledo Cathedral, Toledo, El Escorial, and the Prado in Madrid, Spain.
6. A day with a yorganci (quiltmaker) in Istanbul, Turkey.
7. A day with an appliquer in Cairo, Egypt.
8. The Archaeological Institute in St. Petersburg, and a week at a Pazyryk tomb excavation, Russia.
As you can see, my needs are simple, my wants are few. Alas, so are my funds, but at least a girl can dream, can’t she? 🙂
Karen Evans
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>
> That’s just what I can think of off the top of my head…anyone else know of > any costume, textile, or quilt collections, preferably with pre-19th century > stuff? > Sure,
The Burlington County Historical Society in Burlington, NJ, which has on too-permanent display a few knock-your-socks-off Broderie Perse signature quilts plus other 19th century quilts.
Also the new Pa. Quilt and Textile Museum in Lititz, (check to see if it is open), and the Lancaster County Historical Society in Lancaster Pa, which always has quilts on display (I think.)
The Mercer Museum in Bucks County Pa has a lovely collection of quilts, but they are rarely on display.
The Newark Museum, in Newark, NJ has a great collection often on view.
Judy “the Ringo Kid” in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
All of which sound lovely…y’know, I could take a year doing this. Or two. Or three.
*ah, bliss….*
Karen Evans
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Jo Horsey <jhorsey@>
There were so many good suggestions in the NE for places to visit- what about the NE Quilt Museum, and the Textile and weaving museums in Lowell, MA. I understand that the Shelburne Museum is staging “The Art of the Needle” again this year, as it was so popular last year. That’s my dream trip for this summer! I am a newbie on this list, and am enjoying it immensely! The variety of topics is so wide, and the postings well considered and learned. Thanks ! Jo, in Newnan, Ga
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Leah Zeiber” <leah.zieber@>
Thanks to Sally for that heads up on the Olser book – forgot to look in that one. Have a great weekend Leah Zieber
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Maurice Northen” <3forks@>
Welcome Jo, It is wonderful to find another person who feels like attending a college course on textiles every day!!
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Jocelyn” <jocelynm@>
> influence. ( Don’t quote me as I am not a kiwi) It doesn’t seem to have > affected the way quilts were done. I am surprised at how similar > many of the quilts feel to Aussie quilts. One particular quilt was made in the 1930s > from woollen suiting samples. It is a kind of quilt I really > associate with > Australia.
Suzy, Can the similiarities be explained by people immigrating to both countries on the same ships? I could imagine women sharing and learning new quilting techniques on the long voyage from England/Scotland/Ireland. Did passengers to NZ first reach land in Australia, then go on, or did ships sail directly to NZ, bypassing Australia?
Several months ago, a woman brought a wool-samples quilt to our quilt guild. It was made by one of her relatives in the 1930s, from a salesman’s sample book that she found lying beside the railroad tracks. Apparently, things were always falling off (or being thrown off) trains, so the family frequently checked the tracks. 🙂 The really interesting part was, the quilter also kept the sample book, using it as a scrapbook! If you lifted up the cards and pictures, you could see the original printing on the pages, giving the ordering numbers for the samples. I live in Kansas USA, but I don’t remember if the quilt originated in Kansas or in another state.
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Jocelyn” <jocelynm@>
There’s a quilt-related museum in Frankfurt? And I got stuck sitting in the markt, with the sausage-and-beer crowd? AAARRRGGH! 🙂 >
This poem is not quilt related, however, it is the most appropriate one in my collection to share in this year of 2004. sue reich
The Appleton Post Crescent Appleton, Wisconsin February 11, 1920
Daddy’s Valentine
Dear Daddy: This is leap year,
so A little girl may choose her beau,
And I’ve been looking ’round to find
Some nice boy to be Valentined.
I looked my school-room through at first,
The best, the medium, the worst,
But could not find a Valentine
Whose “average” was up to mine.
And ever since I’m growing tall,
The little boys seem awful small,
And big boys – oh! they act so smart
I hate ’em all, with all my heart.
But daddy, I’ve found out long since
That no boy, even though a prince.
Could ever, ever, ever be
As much and nice as you to me.
And so I ask you to be mine,
My ownest, dearest Valentine,
The best of all the boys by far,
And you can’t help it – cause you are!
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
In a message dated 2/14/04 2:46:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, jocelynm@ writes:
> There’s a quilt-related museum in Frankfurt? And I got stuck sitting in the > markt, with the sausage-and-beer crowd? AAARRRGGH! 🙂
Not necessarily quilt-related, but they have a gorgeous 14th century appliqued funeral pall, gray wool on black wool, heavily foliated design, appliqued edges secured by very thin leather strips. Amazing thing. It’s illustrated in Rose Varney’s book on applique.
Condolences on the beer-and-sausage crowd. I was once on a school trip to Austria with a bunch of high schoolers (of whom I was one) and college students. I was only 15 and looked younger, but I successfully passed myself off as a college sophomore because I was the only high schooler on the trip who didn’t spend the entire trip getting bombed in the biergartens every night and acting like an idiot. They only found out when someone asked me point-blank how old I was. The 22 year old who had been about to ask me out nearly fainted….
Karen Evans
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Quiltstuff” <quiltstuff@>
> > Suzy, > Can the similiarities be explained by people immigrating to both countries > on the same ships? I could imagine women sharing and learning new quilting > techniques on the long voyage from England/Scotland/Ireland. Did passengers > to NZ first reach land in Australia, then go on, or did ships sail directly > to NZ, bypassing Australia?
That is an interesting supposition which I can’t really answer. Certainly our earliest arrivals that either came as convicts or with them.. tended to come here only. I always presumed new Zealanders came separately but of course it makes more sense for them to call in to Oz first and then go onto new Zealand if they were free settlers… We do know some quilting was done on the convict ships due to the Rajah quilt that was pieced/appliquéd on the ship by convicts.
But some of the quilts were much later than that like 1920.. Of course, there were (and still are) people who change countries or move.. and lots of people came to Australia for the gold rush. I was thinking more of magazine articles that spread the word about different patterns etc. Australia has had several quilt history books written about the quilts.. and many of the quilts actually were pieced in the UK and came with their owners or makers’ children when they immigrated.
Always an interesting thread to see how patterns moved around,
Suzy
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: Ady Hirsch e-Number: 1
> >And I propose another one: where in the rest of the world would you go in >search of quilts and quilt information? It’s not as if America has a monopoly! >:) > And may I add to this excellent list the Welsh Folk Museum near Cardiff, with its fantastic collection of 19tt-20th cent. Welsh quilts
And the Musee de l’Impressions sur Ettofes, Mulhouse, France (10 minutes by train from Strasbourg) – a babulous textile museum that held the French boutis exhibition a few years ago. I’m sure Daniele will come along shortly qith a list of not to be missed museums in France – she knows ALL of them 🙂 Ady in Israel
Date: February 14, 2004 | From: “Sally Ward” <sallytatters@>
You can’t really ‘do’ English quilts without visiting the North Country <G>. The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle and The Beamish Folk Museum, County Durham have great quilt collections, but you need to contact the Curators in advance. The Quilters Guild of the British Isles hold their collection in Halifax, again contact the Curator for a personal showing.
Sally W
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
Ooooo, sounds lovely! I’m already dreaming of blowing my retirement funds on this…:)
Here is another Leap Year Poem. sue reich
The Burlington Hawk Eye Burlington, Iowa February 19, 1880
A LEAP YEAR PROPOSAL
Pray, gentle being, give me heed,
As kneeling humbly by thy side,
With lacerated heart I plead
That thou become my blushing bride.
I long – I wildly long to press
Thee to my heart, yet stand abash-
I pine to print a fond caress
Upon thy meek and mild mustache.
Why, tell me why thine eyelids drop
And turn away so pettiably,
And why with fierce, tumultuous flop
Thy bosom heaves coquettishly?
I know that thou art young and fair
As tiny buds in early spring-
But thou shalt be my constant care,
Thou frail and fragile little thing.
I’ll sew thy shirts and darn thy hose,
Thy victuals cook, thy fires will light- I
‘ll grease thy gracious Grecian nose
Each snowy, croupy, wintry night.
So, surely, thou’lt not tell me nay,
And bid me dying quit thy side-
Brace up, pull down thy vest and say
That thou wilt be my blushing bride.
<<Here is another Leap Year Poem. sue reich
The Burlington Hawk Eye Burlington, Iowa February 19, 1880>>
Wow! I never expected to have this jump out at me in in my inbox. Burlington is my hometown, and the Hawk-Eye is still the newspaper there. Must say though, that the poetry is really pretty bad! lol
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Thanks to everybody who responded to my question about when the zigzag stitch became available. I recently bought a Poppy kit quilt. Everything about it seems right for the late 30s except that the binding (which is the binding that would have been in the kit) was applied with a zigzag stitch. The binding fudged the curves on the edge (doesn’t go as deep as the blue line indicates). I love QHL! Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: Mary Persyn <mary.persyn@>
I don’t seem to remember having seen the International Quilt Study Center at the the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln mentioned.
Also, if we are talking about personal collections, I would include Rebecca Haarer’s collection in Shipshewana Indiana.
Mary
> >
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: Palampore@
I don’t think I saw the University of Lincoln on the lists with fantasy trips. I know I personally want to see that collection. I also think that Terry Thompson’s Fabric Dating Camp is a great way to learn. Williamsburg is great for decorative fabric, costuming and some quilts. Learning about costuming and decorating teachs us a great deal about quilts. And of course most state musuems have great stuff locked up. Once in a while a few get out for show. The American Quilt Study yearly conference also goes hand in hand with this topic. Thanks a bunch for giving me your input on this quest for a fantasy trip. I think we could all benefit from making a copy of this info. and tucking it away. My son has arrived in Australia for his semester of study. Now I am looking forward to joining him in June for 3 weeks. I just found out that I will more than likely get to go to a large quilt show in Sydney while I am there. What a treat!!!! Suzy, on our list from Australia, was a dear when I asked if this mother hen could find another mother hen near my son. She has hooked me up with a quilter who has a daughter at the same university. What a great list this is—-for many reasons, not just antique quilts. Off to finish income tax stuff—arrgh! Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
I just found out that my local historical society has 3 (and only 3) quilts. One is a crazy, condition unknown, and the other two were passed along from the local DAR chapter when it closed a few years ago. The two members who knew something about quilts have moved out of the area, and no one else seems to know (or, seemingly, care) about quilts or textiles.
They’re closed for the season and will be reopening in March on Mondays only. This means I’m going to have to take some time off of work to see what they have, but see it I will. The crazy may be deteriorating, and “DAR quilts” could mean anything from early 19th century to a Bicentennial commemorative. Regardless, the collection does need to be seen and documented.
I’m also going to check out another local society that I *know* has quilts and coverlets. They also have zero money for restoration/conservation; again, though, the collection needs to be seen and documented.
Wish me luck on these…there could be some amazing stuff out there, or a couple of polycotton revivals. *puts on Indiana Jones hat and whistles theme to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”….*
Karen Evans Easthampton, MA
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: SEHinzman@
Hello to all.
eBay item 3587115046 (Ends Feb-18-04 05:53:11 PST) – Dena Katzenberg Baltimore Album Quilts RARE
This book may be of interest to someone. No affiliation on my part.
Meanwhile,…..
Put the Baltimore Album quilts at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Maryland Historical Society on your fantasy trip!
Susan
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: “Sondra Biacchi” <quilt@>
In regard to pieced basket blocks on this list and BQHL… The Jane Austin quilt Ruth Higham mentioned in her posting is dated 1811 and was made by Jane, her sister Cassandra and her mother at Chawton, where Jane spent her last eight years. The Austen quilt is an unusual version of the medallion style- a diamond-shaped, chintz flower basket is surrounded by a pattern of repeating diamonds. They are cut from a selection of delicate chintz fabrics and bordered by a black and white polka-dot print. This quilt is beautifully illustrated in the book QUILTS by Ljiljana Baird. There is also a lovely mid-nineteenth-Century applique album coverlet dated 1850 with a pieced and appliqued fruit basket depicted. This is a wonderful book on antique quilts with expert commentary on 70 masterpieces of color and design gathered from museums and private collections around the world.
Sondra Biacchi quilt@
Date: February 15, 2004 | From: “Quiltstuff” <quiltstuff@>
Lynn wrote > My son has arrived in Australia for his semester of study. Now I am looking > forward to joining him in June for 3 weeks. I just found out that I will more > than likely get to go to a large quilt show in Sydney while I am there. What > a treat!!!!
LOL, isn’t it great when we travel for other reasons and ‘happen’ to be there at the same time as a quilt show.
Australia’s antique or vintage quilts are far and few between but we are lucky enough to have a book that details quilts in public places. So if you are visiting a town or city, it will tell you where to go to see quilts. Most towns in Australia have local museums or historic societies and a lot of them have a quilt or two.
Lynn, you will get to go the Sydney Show which runs for five days. It always has great quilts and often has vesting exhibitions. Last year we had wonderful quilts from Japan on display.
For me the best thing however is how many of my cyberfriends and I travel down for it. I pretty much spend all day just chatting to friends form online groups.
I have really enjoyed the fantasy trip ideas. One day, I swear it will be me visiting all those places. can’t wait.
Suzy
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: Marthapatches36@
Can’t help you with silk [?] but am interested if you are going to publish an NH book. I try to get all the state books. Love the history. My S-I-L has
accepted a job in Portsmith, begging 3-15. I hope to visit often and visit your state within the next year. How long will your quilt days etc. be going on. My daughter has some quilt and textile experience. While she plans to leave at a later time, I believe she would be interested in working with a quilt group. You can answer off line and I will pass any info to her. Marthapatches36@
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: “Globug” <globug@>
Hi, I’m new to the list and have a question that you all might be able to help me with !! I have been given the task of quilting a quilt for a lad y, it is what I think is a 1930’s kit quilt. Her grandmother had done all th e applique on it some time back, she has since passed on and the top was passed on to her granddaughter. Now it has on the side of the top Bouquet Quilt, Progress no 1810?? or the no 1010??? Size 81″ x 90″ and T S G @.inc NYC. The applique on the quilt has an oval of a blue ribbon top and bottom of the centre and then on the four corners working around the oval are flowe rs all done in plain fabrics. Colours are Blues, green, pink , lemon, peach, purples. Scalloped borders. What I would like is a picture of some sort and confirmation that this is a 30’s kit with correct information that I could pass on with the quilt whe n finished. Are you able to help??? Gloria
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: MMiller138@
Does Rebecca Haarer show her personal collection…I will be in Shipshewana in June and would love to see it if at all possible! How to contact her? Mary in Ohio
–
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: “Mary Persyn”
I don’t know if Rebecca shows her personal collection outside of an occasional exhibit. I sort of doubt it. She always has quilts for sale in her store that are fun to look at.
Rebecca Haarer Antiques 165 Morton St. Shipshewana, IN 46565 260-768-4787
Mary
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: “Sondra Biacchi” <quilt@>
Suzy…Thanks for sharing the site for the Jane Austin Quilt so all can see how lovely it really is. Sondra Biacchi Pennsylvania
Ruth wrote I think there is also a quilt from about 1810/11/12 > that was made by the Austin (as in Jane Austin) sisters which has a basket > at its centre. This maybe more broderie perse than pieced work.
It is a printed piece.. lovely quilt though. You can view it here. http://www.jasa.net.au/quilt.htm
That is the site of the Jane Austen Society of Australia.
Suzy
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: <dsrake@>
Regarding the quilt fantasy trip, the largest quilt collection is in Lincoln Nebraska. The International Quilt Study Group, located on the east campus of University of Nebraska Lindoln, welcomes visitors to their storage facility every day. They also have some quilts on exhibit and more exhibits planned. If you want to share your enthusiasm for quilts, quilters, and quilt history, this is the place to go.
Deb Rake MA, UNL, 2003–Quilt History
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: Karen Evans
I remember an article in QNM about this one…it was paper pieced, as I recall, and has no batting. It’s quite nicely done; Jane and her sister obviously were good at patchwork and likely enjoyed themselves immensely…
Karen Evans
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Dear QHL, The basket in the Jane Austin quilt is a printed panel. Several years ago ( well maybe more than several now) Makower (UK) reproduced this basket and some of the fabrics in the quilt for their Jane Austin I collection for the British Heritage Collection. Very nice goods!
I cannot bring myself to cut into my yardage from this collection – silly huh!
The original question was “What is the earliest date for a pieced basket”? The question came up in the study group to which I belong in SoCal.
Julia Zgliniec
Date: February 16, 2004 | From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
Thanks to everyone who responded and encouraged me regarding putting websites together. I have been working on the project for several hours a day trying to find useful info. It seems as tho’ there is much repetitive info with the same quotes as I work through Google. One sorry thing I noticed is that information exists for teachers on the ‘code,’ making the blocks and relating it to math & history.
This is a small time paper, but here is one amusing article. The author indicates she has researched the claims made by those dismissing the blocks as the wrong era. She discovered the pre-cursor to Sunbonnet Sue. How could we have missed that?
http://www.emmitsburgdispatch.com/ — Jan Drechsler in Vermont Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher www.@/~bobmills
—
Here is another Leap Year Poem. sue reich
The Burlington Hawk Eye Burlington, Iowa February 19, 1880
A LEAP YEAR PROPOSAL
Pray, gentle being, give me heed, As kneeling humbly by thy side, With lacerated heart I plead That thou become my blushing bride. I long – I wildly long to press Thee to my heart, yet stand abash- I pine to print a fond caress Upon thy meek and mild mustache.
Why, tell me why thine eyelids drop And turn away so pettiably, And why with fierce, tumultuous flop Thy bosom heaves coquettishly? I know that thou art young and fair As tiny buds in early spring- But thou shalt be my constant care, Thou frail and fragile little thing.
I’ll sew thy shirts and darn thy hose, Thy victuals cook, thy fires will light- I’ll grease thy gracious Grecian nose Each snowy, croupy, wintry night. So, surely, thou’lt not tell me nay, And bid me dying quit thy side- Brace up, pull down thy vest and say That thou wilt be my blushing bride.
—
<<Here is another Leap Year Poem. sue reich / The Burlington Hawk Eye Burlington, Iowa February 19, 1880>>
Wow! I never expected to have this jump out at me in my inbox. Burlington is my hometown, and the Hawk-Eye is still the newspaper there. Must say though, that the poetry is really pretty bad! lol
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 | From: @aol.com
All of which sound lovely…y’know, I could take a year doing this. Or two. Or three.
*ah, bliss….*
Karen Evans
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2004 | From: @aol.com
Ooooo, sounds lovely! I’m already dreaming of blowing my retirement funds on this…:)
Karen Evans
