June 21 – 24, 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:
- Log Cabin Silk Purse Dating — Sally Ward follows up on her earlier claim about a 19th-century log cabin silk purse, bringing additional evidence after admitting she couldn’t immediately back it up. (see the article on dating quilts)
- U.S. Sanitary Commission Quilts — Don Beld shares a Kim Wulfert article on Sanitary Commission quilts, and a member proposes making reproduction examples in their honor.
- Crazy Quilt Dance Song — Judy Ringo discovers a 1930s Crazy Quilt-themed novelty song on Harry Warren’s website, delighting list members who picture it performed at AQSG. (see the article on Victorian crazy quilts)
- Signature Block Quilt Patterns and Dating — Teddy Pruett asks for information on a signature block layout; Christine Thresh recalls the 2002 QHL signature quilt project.
- Mummified Cats and Textile Superstition — A lighthearted note about using Google Images to find pictures of mummified cats found walled inside old British buildings sparks curiosity about textile-related folk beliefs.
Date: Mon, 21 Jun | From: Midnitelaptop@
if you go to google click on images put mummified cats in the search box you’ll see several pictures of an egyptian mummified cat on pages 2 and 3 that looks like he/she was wrapped in a log cabin papyrus. jeanL
Date: Mon, 21 | From: “Marcia Kaylakie” <marciark@>
HI All, Can anyone refresh my memory as to where to purchase the quilt restoration CDs? I think they are by Nancy Kirk. Thanks, Marcia
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:02:00 -0500 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
I surely do not mind if a letter to me gets read by all of you! But I knew the intended joke. And the Jokester! And I was smiling before I even read the letter! Thanks!!! Friends don’t need to sweat the small stuff – especially here in the humid Ozarks!
I have a really funny joke to share with you ALL. My guild has a Challenge kit each year. The colors this year were purple & red. So the Committee asked some Red Hat ladies to visit in their Purple dresses and Red hats. They mentioned that there was a Red Hat club called the Purple Cows and I asked if I should move there & join since I was a Purple Bull. They roared. Hey I’ve lived for 49 years with my husband’s last name. Not an easy one for a substitute teacher in ranch & farm communities!!! No explanation offered if you miss the joke! Sorry! <VBG>
We are all friends. I was telling someone the other day that it was folks like you and your emails that brought me through a tough 2 years. You know, we all cherish our Fabric Stash. Well I also cherish my Friends Stash!!!
By the way, if any of you want to join in and share info about the ARK museums, please feel free to do so. There are several in the Rogers, AR area but it’s been a while since I visited them. However, all were very small. I will take a special Girl’s Day Out Visit to them IF it ever stops being rainy/stormy/muggy!!! I’ll pick up brochures & send the info out. I do recall seeing nice quilts, but very few quilts, as they are not the emphasis of the museum, except when a specific exhibit is held. But things do change. I do know there are a few lurkers out there who live in that specific area. I think you should speak up!!! And you do know who you are!!! You also belong to MOKA, the new quilt study group!!! (MO, OK, KS, AR)
I’m going off the computer to restore 2 quilts! goodbye all…..cbull
From: Dana at Material Pleasures
Hi Marcia, http://www.kirkcollection.com/
I think they are wonderful, a lot is common sense, but made me more confident hearing it from a professional, but I did learn a lot too.
Date: Mon, | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
Well, sure, just go to http://www.kirkcollection.com.
You can also find them on http://www.quilthistory.com on the “Quilt Restoration” tab.
Kris
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 13:29:06 -0400 | From: “Gibson, Nancy” <ngibson@>
I forwarded your query on to the exhibition curator, Alden O’Brien and she will respond as soon as she returns from a vacation.
Nancy Gibson Media Relations Manager DAR 1776 D Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 (202) 879-3238 (202) 412-3246 mobile
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:33:59 EDT | From: QuiltEvals@
Hello all,
Before 9/11 I sent out information regarding a fabric study trip to France and England. After 9/11, many people withdrew from the interest list, enough so that I postponed the trip indefinitely. Since that time I have had several inquiries about the tour. Having just returned from safely studying and playing in both countries as well as finding people who are associated with early fabric collections to be overly friendly and helpful, I have decided once again to undertake the task of forming a fabric and quilt study tour to these areas. As the preliminary work is just beginning, I am forming a new interest list. If you are interested in further information as it becomes available, please email me privately and I will keep you updated.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.
Deb Roberts
From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>
I’m glancing through this ancient book in our library, and I find this interesting tidbit: ” The patchwork quilt wan an instance of much of this effort. It was unfortunate that an ecomnomic law governed this species of work, which prevented its possible development. The New England conscience, sworn to utility in every form, had ruled that no material should BE BOUGHT for this purpose.” Huh. Is that true? Does she mean it was an actual law or is she just commenting on Yankee thrift? Candace Perry
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:26:45 | From: Hazelmacc@
Averil Colby’s book “Quilting” is a great source….Hazel Carter
From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
I forgot to give the name of Janet Rae’s new book- my apologies!
Making Connections: Around the World with Log Cabin
Janet Rae and Dianh Travis
RT Publishing
Great Britain
2004
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 01:39:29 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem
Date: Tue, | From: Jane Hall <jqhall@>
Regarding the Log Cabin pattern, I am lucky enough to have a copy of Janet Rae’s new book and it is fantastic. She spends a great deal of time on the history of the design, then has pages of good drawings and photographs of all the variations you could possibly think of, classic and innovative.
Janet’s earlier book had some of the history in it, but this one delves muc h deeper. She covers the Mummy theory, the land distribution idea, and goes back into early Greek and Roman geometric designs as possibilities for the origin of what we call Log Cabin. She does have a photo of the embroidered casket or small box from the 1700’s and mentions the silk sachet of the sam e era. I am convinced that the design itself is very old. There are only so many ways to arrange geometric shapes, and since this patterning has appeared in so many different areas at different times, it seems logical to me to put it in the same class as the Flying Geese, Square-in-square, 8 pointed star patterns we have seen in ancient tiles and textiles all over the world.
In reading everything I can get my hands on, I cannot find a reference to the pattern being made in a quilt until the early 1800’s…and it is a real hunt to figure out where it was done first. We Americans seem to think this is OURS. The British are equally convinced, and they do have quilts made before our earliest documented one (1869). The Manx also claim they made th e first one (!) It was also made extensively in Scandanavian countries.
Get Janet’s book! It is not available in the US yet, but it is on Amazon UK for =A318.95. Unfortunately, the dollar is quite a bit down, but the book is worth every penny. Jane Hall
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 07:44:28 -0400 | From: “Karen” <@charter.net>
Oh, yes. I vote Marseilles.
Karen Evans
From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
I always thought a Marseilles quilt/bedspread was woven. However, before I posted I did a google search and came up with this site http://www.osv.org/pages/Prints&Piecing.html which says, “…Marseilles work–intricately quilted, corded, and stuffed textiles, including bed quilts, petticoats and waistcoats, as well as yardage, produced in southern France since the 1600s. Marseilles quilting was taught as fancy needlework to privileged young ladies in the 1700s and was also imitated by professional embroiderers in England and India.
In the 1760s a process was patented to create woven imitations of Marseilles work. It made use of a traditional draw loom, operated by two workers, to reproduce the effect of hand quilting. Loom quilting was further improved in the early 1800s with the adaptation of the punched-card Jacquard mechanism to replace the second weaver. With this improvement, machine-made Marseilles quilts became affordable for many families. Inspired by Marseilles bed covers, all white, hand-stitched quilts were greatly admired from the early 19th century through the 1860s.”
Now, what about the Marseilles from the 1900’s – 1920’s?
Kris
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 10:32:08 EDT | From: MSNeedleArts@
You may have been confusing Marseilles with Mattelasse, which is woven, and was designed to look like Marseilles work.
Rissa
Rissa Peace Root, President Mississippi NeedleArts Chapter – EGA
From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
…and an added note: when Jacquard invented his punch-card loom attachment in 1803 he was stoned by those who feared for their livelihoods! The rocky road of progress!
Xenia
From: Gail Ingram
I passed the Marseilles/quilted query on to a longtime dealer in fine linens who knows her “stuff.” Her reply follows. Gail
Interestingly, I just acquired a particularly pretty bedcover that I was trying to fiure out, too. But you guys are the quilt experts!
I think a trapunto piece would be stuffed much fuller and would have a design that lent itself to being stuffed. The pieces that I have seen feature fruit designs… plump cherries and grapes.
The French and American Marseilles machine-made spreads are usually really beautiful, and you could swear they are handmade because they are slightly puffy. The design on the ebay piece is the most boring bedcover I have ever seen… handmade or not. But I don’t think anyone would bother to handmake a design like that.
I vote Marseilles, too, either french or domestic.
anyone have a definition of matalasse?
From: Joan Kiplinger
Gail — per textile glossaries — matelassé siif French meaning to cushion or pad, hence a quilted surface produced on the loom. A figured or brocaded cloth havng a raised pattern as if quilted or wadded. The effect is also produced by chemical blistering on a special heated drum or roller, reducing the price to make cloth but giving same appearance. At one time was made only in silk but is found in many other fibers and filaments today.
Gail Ingram wrote:
> >anyone have a definition of matalasse? > > > > > >
Matelassé is a double-cloth fabric woven to create a three-dimensional texture with a puckered or almost quilted look. Matelassés are made on jacquard or dobby looms often with crepe yarns or very coarse cotton yarns. When finished, the shrinkage of the crepe yarn or the coarse cotton yarn creates the puckered appearance. It is used in apparel as well as in furnishings. -Textiles 7th Edition 1993 Kadolph et al, Macmillan Pub. Co. NY,
Becky In the High Desert of California
Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today… It might be fun today, and then you could do it again tomorrow!
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 12:40:57 -0400 | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>
The word trapunto can be broken into trapo (cloth) and punto (point) which is Spanish. Grandma and Mom used this method in Texas when they made batting from cotton left over in the fields edge. Mom and Grandma and Tia Maggi would get the family together to wet down the cotton and place on a table for batting . For the trapunto design the cotton was put thru a large eye needle and pushed into the fine fabric. (Something like the picture of the 1933 winning piece.) The students in Taylor,Livonia, Westland, Michigan have had lots of fun with doing trapo punto using this method which I love and shown from memory. Also instructing a tape lace with faggating on silk bias strips which was popular in the 1920’s and 30’s. Currently putting down on paper several patterns.Velia
From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
Kadolph was the text used in my intro to textiles class at UNL. If you want a good basic book about fibers, weave structures, and yarns, this is it.
Major Maam <majormaam@> wrote:Matelassé is a double-cloth fabric woven to create a three-dimensional texture with a puckered or almost quilted look. Matelassés are made on jacquard or dobby looms often with crepe yarns or very coarse cotton yarns. When finished, the shrinkage of the crepe yarn or the coarse cotton yarn creates the puckered appearance. It is used in apparel as well as in furnishings. -Textiles 7th Edition 1993 Kadolph et al, Macmillan Pub. Co. NY,
Becky In the High Desert of California
Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today… It might be fun today, and then you could do it again tomorrow!67–
From: “Melissa Newell-Smith” <zekeman@>
Hi all,
I am seeking any insights you might have concerning a crazy quilt that was recently salvaged from the long unused upstairs of my grandfather’s house in Maysville KY. No one in my family knows anything about who the quilt belonged to or how it got there. It has some damage to it, especially on one half that seems to be the half that was exposed to light, while the other half was folded under and more protected. It has embroidery all over it, especially many numbers that I have no idea as to their meaning. There is one large embroidered 1899 that I take to be the date of the quilt, though the nines are stitched backwards and look like letter P’s. All over the rest of the quilt, both on the borders and the inset pieces, are several other numbers that are repeated in many places. The number 100 (representing the turn of the century, to 1900?) the number 518, the number 872, over and over again. There are three large initials in a center patch, the first two appear to be cursive capital S, the last one looks like no capital letter I can figure out, but kind of the shape of a lower-case cursive b, though it is embroidered at the same size as the capital S’s. These must be the quilter’s initials?
There are also many other embroidered designs, one that is a green tree with red balls on the end of the branches (like a Christmas tree or a holly?) and lots of rows going every which way that have an up-across-down-across-up-across- down-across pattern like the top of a castle wall. These seem to have crow’s feet, or plant-like patterns growing out of them. I am really interested in finding out anything at all about this quilt. I’m not really concerned about its value (or lack thereof, being damaged in places), and it’s not really sentimental to my family as I have no idea who made it and will probably never know. The initials and numbers make no sense to me in terms of ancestors’ names or dates. The numbers all seem to be 3-digit ones, which couldn’t designate years. I am just really, really curious and fascinated and would appreciate any help.
The quilt was left out in one of the rooms, so it is also very dusty and dirty and I think animals (cats) laid on the exposed top half possibly. It really needs to be cleaned and I have no idea how to do it. I took it to a local quilt person for a verbal appraisal and she said she had never seen numbers on a quilt to this extent, and didn’t know what they meant. The person whom she had been using for cleaning is no longer able to do so, so I still have no recommendations in that area either. If it were even just surface-cleaned, or moderately cleaner than it is now so that I could enjoy it as a keepsake and take it out to look at and show to others from time to time, I would be happy. I love the colors and all the fancy embroidery. I just think it’s really pretty, and would love to know more. I was told that the top pieces are almost all wool, or wool blends, and the back is cotton. There is a third piece of fabric between the two, no batting. Any suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Melissa
From: “Melissa Newell-Smith”
p.s. I should mention that I did read the cleaning section of the quilt history page, but since my quilt does have a lot of embellishments, and is damaged in some spots, I’m not sure what I should attempt to do first. Its dustiness seems to go way beyond what vacuuming through a mesh screen would help. I was considering spot cleaning some of the patches with a damp sponge and mild detergent, and not touching the damaged areas at all, but all of this is brand new to me at this point, and I just feel like I need some feedback from someone who has actually used some of these methods. Thanks again…. Melissa ——=_NextPart_000_015B_01C458CB.1262B280–
From: Dana at Material Pleasures
Hi Melissa, I would leave it alone. Nothing can be done to the area that has light damage. I would also not use any kind of spot cleaning on a crazy quilt made of silk and other delicate fabrics. Like a friend on this list once told me…”go lay day on the couch until the urge to clean the quilt passes”. I found that her advice works wonderful for chocolate cravings and whenever I want to wring my husband’s neck I would love to see pics of the CQ. Maybe someone can help you with the mystery letter. Can the numbers be an address? My best, Dana
Material Pleasures Affordable Vintage Linens, Lace, Textiles, Buttons & More! www.material-pleasures.com
From: “Sally Ward” <sallytatters@>
Don’t underestimate what a gentle vacuum under gauze can achieve. I’ve used very a low suction museum vacuum on a quilt back from display which didn’t look very dirty, and been amazed at the results.
Sally W
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2 | From: “BOBBIE A AUG” <qwltpro@>
I think I mentioned this one time before when we had this discussion, but the trapuntoed quilts were made in Provence, France. They were associated with the city of Marseilles as that was the shipping port at which they were exported. Therefore, they were called Marseilles quilts or coverlets. But, they were not made in Marseilles. They originated in Italy but fell out of favor sometime in the 1400’s. As mentioned, the woven coverlets, made to resemble the trapuntoed quilts (no batting, just two layers of cloth with stuffing and cording), were manufactured after the invent of the Jacquard loom in France, in the early 1800’s. These are being manufactured today still. I have one that was made in the 1850’s that has the pattern identification number woven into each end.
All white quilts and coverlets do not photograph well or we would probably get to “see” more of them!
Bobbie
From: “weemsjm” <weemsjm@>
Hello list.
I recently acquired a treasure box of old family quilt blocks and tops in the making and one beautiful quilt ( Dresden Plate from 30’s – 40’s ) at a family members auction. I also got three really ratty quilts that I will photo before they crumble to treads one of which has an old quilt as batting.
I also had to watch two family quilts sell to non family members, and one beautiful 1910- 1920 nine patch go to a family member who’s home smells like a bowling alley on league night. That one is a goner. Two others thank goodness went home with family members that will treat them with respect.
Most of the really nice work came from my great aunt but I found five signature pieced blocks that have no family link. Four are stitched names and the fifth is just pencil.
My aunt lived in southern Illinois and I have been told she was in more than one quilting bee or guild. Her first name was Nettie I do have her full and maiden name if that would help email me off list.
My aunt lived from 1891-1958 mostly in Marion county this should help date the blocks.
I would love to see these blocks make it back to descends. I will list the names on the blocks and if anyone can show me a link to one of these ladies I will get the block to them.
The one in pencil : Harriet M Burkett The stitched ones: Nellie Stevens, Harriet Burkett, Vera Burkett, Josie Keller.
I did not get any blocks with a family members name on them. I do not as of yet even have a photo of my great aunt. I do have one of her quilts it is a 30’s – 40’s Dresden Plate mentioned before and at least 200 blocks with fabrics back to at least the turn of the century.
I come from a lot of quilters on both sides and took it up myself in 2000. I am the only one in my generation. I am also trying to document as much family quilting history as I can. I hope someone can help. I really enjoy reading this list and have already been helped from it.
I hope you ladies do not mind a man in your list.
Thanks
Jeff
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 13:19:11 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>
Welcome Jeff. We are not sex-exclusive here and welcome ALL quilt scholars. Neat that you’re saving/documenting family history–people will thank you later. Good luck on your hunt- Pepper Cory
From: “Patchwork Secrets”
Jeff just a few thoughts here on those blocks. Recently I have been researching and documenting some local church raffle quilts so I am coming at this from that perspective… I have discovered most of the “name quilts” of this ilk, at least locally here, were along the lines of the blocks made by 1-3 persons then the quilting done by the “ladies of the congregation”. The first lady would make the blocks..People would pay a fee to get their name on the quilt which ranged from 10 cents to $10.00 and she would embroider their name on the block as she finished them. Once all the blocks were “sold” she would finish piecing the top and it would then be quilted. So while the blocks might not have your aunts name on them if the writing is similar in all the blocks I would compare it to some of her writing because it could be she made the blocks and was embroidering names on each block for a special project. If some of her contemporaries are still living I would contact them and see if they recognize the names or have an idea what the blocks were intended for. I have also found that some ladies were well known for their piecing skills and often were called upon to make or over see the making of tops for other congregations they were not members of. So don’t limit the asking to just her personal friends. If they aren’t sure trying the phone book.
Sharon in NC
From: Jo Horsey
Jeff- welcome to the list! It was very interesting to hear about the auction and the family quilts and blocks. My question is, how did the non-family members get into the family auction? I am sure somebody will have good ideas to help you with your search. best regards, Jo, in Newnan
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:46:47 -0500 | From: “weemsjm” <weemsjm@>
> Sharon in NC Thanks you had some great info.
I have one person to speak to and she is not close and can’t talk well enough the speak on the phone.
I had not though about the blocks being Nettie’s work.
You may be right about the writing it does look a lot alike on each block. I also looked more closely at the one in pencil. I had thought it looked like it had been erased and rewritten to center but the erased name is a different name.
I have also looked in the last ten minutes at work I contribute to Nettie side by side with the signature blocks the stitching is very close. Every sixth and seventh stitch are almost on top of each other. I can’t check against a finish quilt without hurting a quilt but I have a lot of blocks hand pieced that do the same thing. She was very very consistent with her stitch when quilting but this overlap of every sixth or seventh stitch while piecing seems to serve as a signature on her piece work.
I had not noticed this before. Really cool. I think I can now ID some blocks and parcel tops as for sure her work that I was not for sure about before.
Thank you Sharon!!!
Jeff
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:46:14 -0500 | From: “weemsjm” <weemsjm@>
The auction was open to the public sorry if I was not clear. I just meant it as an auction of a family member.
From: “Teddy Pruett”
HI all. One of my fellow guild members is seeking a diagram, pattern, layout, or photo of the walkaround sunbonnet sue pattern. (I know she should be capitalized, but I just can’t bring myself to do it…….) A google images search brought up hundreds of sues, but no walkarounds. Please e-mail me if you have ideas for her.
And I must take this opportunity to mention the past week at the University of Nebraska. Our own dear walking encyclopedia, Xenia, taught the post-grad summer class. Many of the students were well schooled in textiles, but not quilts per se, so I think she left their po l’il heads spinning. They will never look at a quilt the same way, I can assure you. Those of you planning programs really need to make a note of this offering – if she can give the class once, I suppose she can give it again. But don’t even THINK of trying to shorten it — can’t be done. (XC did not approve of this message – it is my own commercial.)
It is my personal intention to have an “adventure” every time I leave home, and I tried to add experiencing a tornado to that list of adventures. We came dangerously close to fulfilling that adventure near Des Moines. Xenia is usually very supportive of my quirks and foibles, but this is one time she did not support my quest for adventure. Go figger.
Many of you may remember that I recently mentioned a quilt that I bought that I suspected had milll samples. I took it all the way to Xenia’s, and she took one look at it and chuckled. She left for a moment, and returned with my quilt’s twin sister. Well, as luck would have it, Xenia had several large fabric sample boards as part of the visual aids for the class. As I peered intently at one of the boards, fabrics from my recently purchased quilt began to jump out at me. Eureka!! My fabrics are from the Arnold Print Works, and are from Massachusetts as expected. Doncha just love it when that happens??? As if that wasn’t enough, I also found a fabric from Lori East’s quilt. We had been on a mission to identify it, so that mission was accomplished quite readily. Ah, the power of this network!!
I know this is long, but I must tell you that I saw more corn than I knew existed in the entire world. We drove through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. The scenery never changed – it was mile after mile and county after county and state after state of corn and beautiful white farmsteads. I’m sure this is not news to many of you, but I was just mesmerized. Every time we stopped I expected baseball players in antique uniforms to come stepping out of the cornfields.
Teddy Pruett, in stormy, wet, hot Florida.
From: “Christine Thresh”
Speaking of signature blocks. Remember back in August, 2002 when members of QHL made signature blocks for Kris after the fire?
Here is the URL for the pattern: http://www.threshpublications.com/kris.html and an explanation of the project.
If anyone knows where these signature blocks are, please let me know. I am willing to put together this long overdue quilt for Kris.
I believe someone contributed backing fabric for the quilt and sent it to one of the women who were collecting the blocks. If the fabric can be located that will be a big help.
If this quilt is not put together soon, someday someone will run across these blocks in an attic and wonder who they were for. They will post an inquiry on a list something like QHL and ask for help locating the people who signed the blocks.
Christine Thresh http://www.winnowing.com
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 20:50:28 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
Thanks to Teddy for the kind words about last week’s seminar at UNL; what she modestly did not say was that she was a major support for me, supplying information I forgot or did not know, giving us a southern voice when it was needed (like when I slanted all the information on the Civil War from the northern viewpoint), and generally contributing valuable insights.
UNL makes a terrific venue for seminars like this; the class got to “play” (read “stand and gaze in awe”) in the collection of the International Quilt Study Center, assembled and donated largely by Robert and Ardis James. Nothing like having prime examples to validate the learning experience~!
I will not apologize for not allowing Teddy to experience a tornado; we came close enough to thrill and terrify all but the completely inexperienced!
On the way home from Lincoln, as a reward for our good behavior, we visited Walnut, Iowa, just off I-80. For most of the year this 8 block town must be like Mayberry, but on one weekend a year the streets are clogged with antique booths, food booths, musicians, and people people people. We were directed to our parking place in a field by a mounted cowboy; how cool is that! We (Teddy, Peg Whitmore, and I) tromped the streets for several hours, looking at textiles of all sorts, including a great many quilts. There was also beautiful country furniture, lots of glassware and crockery, including early crocks and jugs, and all manner of other antiques. And of course some of this stuff followed us home, so we were happy. Might have been willing to take one of the cowboys home as well, were it not for my own cowboy waiting at home for me!
Xenia
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 22:39:30 -0500 | From: louise-b <vlbequet@>
Believe someone asked recently about pincusions made in the shape of tomatoes and strawberries used for the emery shape. I was reading again the collection of stories gathered by Cuesta Benberry and Carol Crabb that has been recently reissued as “Love of Quilts; a treasury of classic quilting stories” and an 1845 story, “The Patchwork Quilt,” mentions the strawberry emery as part of her sewing kit – so they have been around for a long time, it seems.
Wonder if the tomato shape was easy to use or came into being as the tomato was being accepted as a food – and then became a shape to use for pincushions.
Louise Bequette
From: “Kathy Moore” <KathyMoore@>
I vote with Gail’s friend on this one. I’m looking through my Kathryn Berenson book, Quilts of Provence, and the quilt in question doesn’t really look like her examples. Maybe the picture is deceiving, but there should be much more cording and elaborately decorative design work.
There are several good articles in past issues of Uncoverings that clarify the differences between hand quilted Marseilles pieces and the loomed varieties. Based on dates in both resources I’d have to question the validity of designating this piece Marseille.
It looks and sounds more like trapunto.
For what it’s worth…
From: “J. G. Row”
Would that all sellers on E-bay were as open to new information as this seller, Randeen.
I have sent him/her the input from folks on this list about his/her listed item and received a positive reply, which I see has also been placed at the bottom of the listing. The wording is a little confusing, but I think there is a heart in the right place.
>First of all thank you so much for your input. I have dealt with antique quilts of >many types and also jacquards, but never one like this and the only whitework I >could find that fit was trapundo in all may books. In reading your and your >friends info, I got a very good mag glass and I see both cording and stuffing. The >stiches and the weaving parts all appear hand woven/hand sewn, they are >extremely well done but are of small differences in length and placements. It >looks to me like it is a combination of hand or loom weaving with hand stitches. >Does that make sense?? I will go to this site (www.osv.org/pages/Prints&Piecing.html and also do some more research on >Marseilles. I think you are right, I now need to place it to handwork and >hopefully some idea of age. I am always so grateful for well meant, sincere input >as it is wonderful sharing of knowledge. We try very hard not to make mistakes, >but take every opportunity to correct any we make and learn from the process. >Thanks and I will also put this note in the Ebay ad until I get it figured out!! Any >and all help is appreciated!
To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3731340817
J. G. Row aka Judy Ringo judygrow@
From: “Eileen Trestain”
Well, at long last, I think the “Dating Fabrics 2” book is fully mounted on the pages. I will color photocopy all the pages tomorrow, so I have a reference copy to discuss what AQS gets, and all those individual litttle rotary cut and pasted pieces will be off to AQS to get scanned to print. It has been a long job, what with working full time, but my friends have come and helped cut and encouraged me along. What would we do without our buddies?
The Dating Fabric 2 book will be a skim of the fabrics from 1950-2000. The tough part has been deciding what I had to leave out, to make it a small enough book. I keep saying to myself “I didn’t get enough in ….” of whatever topic or theme I am looking at at the moment, and it is still a lot bigger than the prior book for number of pages. Please forgive, if you buy the book someday, all the wonderful things that get left out because there isn’t enough room! I hope /anticipate the book will come out next spring, by the time we get through all the possible edits.
From: “Susan Wildemuth”
Most of you probably know about this already, but just in case —
About signature quilts and signature quilt blocks. Here is a hint for those who want to try and find or narrow down the dates of your signature quilt — or discover the origin of the quilt.
The key is getting access to the United States census records and you can do it online for a fee at
www.ancestry.com
1860, 1880, 1920, 1930 are cataloged and searchable — they have others years available, but are not indexed yet so they can be easily searched ( I understand they are trying to do that)
Some other genealogy sites to consider that don’t charge fees, but “usually” don’t include access to the census records are:
— http://www.rootsweb.com/ — http://www.familysearch.org/ – Latter Day Saints 1880 census is available here, but not in the same form as Ancestry.com –U.S. Gen Web sites –Secretary of State offices for each state. e.g. Illinois State Archives –County Genealogy Sites in each state: e.g. I type in Schuyler County Illinois History Some of these county sites include census records
I have no affiliation with ancestry.com, but I’ve been researching the history of a 1933-1935 Sampler Signature Quilt from Schuyler County, Illinois for about a year and a half and just wanted to share what has been working for me. Hope this helps others.
Sue in Illinois
