July 6 – 8, 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:
- Authenticating Imported vs. Domestic Quilts on eBay — A dispute over whether quilts listed as antique on eBay are genuine or well-made imports produces detailed authentication tips, including examination of stitch holes and quilting style.
- Smithsonian-Licensed Quilt Reproductions — Cheryl Wolf identifies the eBay quilt in question as a Smithsonian-licensed American Heritage reproduction, clarifying the confusion about its origin. (see the article on the Smithsonian quilt controversy)
- Patchwork Secrets eBay Finds — Sharon in NC (Patchwork Secrets) wins an eBay auction for unusual quilts and asks for pattern identification help, sharing descriptions of unusual construction.
- Deep South Quilt Study Group — Gail Ingram describes the newly formed Deep South Quilt Study Group, inviting a Mississippi member to join and summarizing its members and meeting plans. (see the article on quilt study groups)
- Teaching History and the Textile Curriculum — Charlotte Bull’s note about grant money for history teachers sparks a thread on the gap between coaches teaching history by default and the ideal of textile-focused historical education.
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 22:16:14 -0400 | From: “Patchwork Secrets” <patchworksecrets2@>
I recently won an ebay auction on a set of unusual quilts, at least unusual to me. I am waiting for them to arrive but hoping someone can give me a few guidelines on the pattern and fabrics from the sellers picture if you would be so kind.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=947&item=6104608523
You can click on the picture for a larger image. I have never seen this pattern before and am guessing the fabrics to be 40’s. Am I close? I just got the Dating Fabrics book and plan on sitting down and figuring out each fabric once the quilts arrive. Wait til DH hears I plan on taking them on vacation with us this week so I can research and study while he drives..lol…
Sharon in NC
http://home.earthlink.net/~patchworksecrets/patchworksecretsquiltpatterns/index.html
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 23:43:26 EDT | From: Qill888@
Gail – – –
I am new to the quilting digest but I just read your story ! & am still shaking my head & laughing !
My Dear Uncle was a southern Baptist Minister !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so-o-o I know what you’re sayin’ !
Only he, would actually take hold of you ’round the neck , like in a ” head – lock ” , and absolutely NOT let go untill you professed to be saved & answered ALL his very detailed & involved questions !
You can only imagine my Dear Hubby’s surprise when my Uncle, of course with every good intention , took hold of him ’round his neck ! ! !????????????????????? Just so you get the full picture – – – – – – my D.H. is a ” Catholic , Italian from N.Y.City ! ! ! to beat all !
Of course we ( my family ) were all rather used to it , to some extent , but my Hubby had never even heard of such a thing ! There’s NO name for the shade of red his face turned to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everytime I think of this , I still can’t believe he actually married me & we lasted this long together . . . . . . because he wasn’t exactly thrilled when I told him how my Mom & Uncle ( different uncle ) would always ” yodle ” together when ever they got together , either ! What a test ? HUH ?
Just had to share this with you !
Thanks for the laugh !!!!!!!!!
= : Qill :
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 07:30:16 -0500 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>
> > > You can only imagine my Dear Hubby’s surprise when my Uncle, > of course with every good intention , took hold of him ’round his > neck ! ! !????????????????????? > Just so you get the full picture – – – – – – > my D.H. is a ” Catholic , Italian from N.Y.City ! ! ! to beat all
Thank you for taking the time and kindness to respond to my post, which really was just a funny memory for me.
I can appreciate both your future husband’s and your uncle’s dilemma. I grew up in Central Louisiana, where Catholicism in its most orthodox met Protestantism in its festiness. Alexandria was both a cathedral city and the state headquarters for the Southern Baptist Church and in Pineville, across the Red River, was Louisiana College, the state Baptist College.
In those days, a “mixed marriage” was a marriage between Catholicc and Protestant, something every mother sought to ward against. Cinda Cawley of our list and I have talked about this a lot. Cinda grew up in PA, Irish Catholic and says even within the Catholic Church, there were these divisions—Irish C. didn’t marry Italian C.
I hope your husband came to appreciate yodeling. When I was in grad school, I lost my voice trying to yodel like Hank Williams!
Where are you from, Qill? You should introduce yourself to the list.
Gail
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 07:45:00 -0500 | From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>
Oo, oo. (Read with a staccato inflection, as in “Car 54, Where Are You?”) I think I can help with this one!
Sharon wrote: <<I recently won an ebay auction on a set of unusual quilts, at least unusual to me. I am waiting for them to arrive but hoping someone can give me a few guidelines on the pattern and fabrics from the sellers picture if you would be so kind.
<<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=947&item=61 04608523
<<You can click on the picture for a larger image. I have never seen this pattern before and am guessing the fabrics to be 40’s. Am I close? I just got the Dating Fabrics book and plan on sitting down and figuring out each fabric once the quilts arrive. … >>
RESPONSE: I did a search for “Windmill” in BlockBase2 (Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns on CD, by EQ) and found this pattern! I don’t have a date for when it was first published, but it is called Windmill and is from Old Chesea Station Needlecraft Services, Brooks/Wheeler, #5903.
I could see from the enlarged picture from eBay that the windmills are on blocks set on point. On the pattern, the blades of the windmill are pieced into the block. The windmill base itself may be pieced in or appliquéd. The seller says “appliquéd,” and that may be true. It would be a little tricky to piece it in.
I agree about dating the fabrics to be 40s, perhaps with some 30s thrown in, too.
Is the quilting by machine? It kind of looks that way in the picture.
I think you got a deal for these quilts. Nice find.
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 07:45:06 -0500 | From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>
I don’t remember the source, but I read that it’s difficult to authenticate a true feedsack unless you have the entire piece and you can see the holes left by the stitching of the sack. I think the term “feedsack” is used to label many fabrics from the 30s that might not have truly been feedsacks. Certainly the texture of the weave must play into the identification, but not everyone heeds that.
The thought comes to mind that finding feedsack reproductions at JoAnn’s might duplicate the fabrics of the 30s in more ways than one. Cheaper fabrics, lesser quality. They fit!
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 07:45:07 -0500 | From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>
Donna offered:
<<Thanks for your help. The auction number is 3734926367.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2221&item=373 4926367&rd=1
and wondered if it was an imported quilt.>>
RESPONSE: I don’t know, but it is a beauty. The designs look to be more intricate than those I’ve seen on other imports.
I understand that one identifying characteristic of an import is no binding. The edges of the quilt are “pillowcased.” This quilt looks to be bound.
The reported number of stitches per inch may be iffy. My opinion is that a quilter skilled enough to produce good appliqué for these designs may have skill for stitching/quilting more than 6-7 spi.
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>
Barb — yes the best authentication is to see the large stitch holes. However, not all feedsacks were the coarser osnaburgs we associate with feedsacks fabric. Many were made in rayon, gingham, fine percales and fine muslins for instance in lovely prints to be used for pillowcases and other respectible items of clothing or simply as collector items. I have both percale and good muslin borderprint feedsack pillowcases [made them] which I wouldn’t trade for any of the high thread counts today.
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 10:29:56 -0400 | From: “Cheryl Wolf” <cwolf@>
I believe the quilt on eBay is one of the Smithsonian-licensed American Pacific Chinese imports: “The Bride’s Quilt” (see Bowman’s “American Quilts” p. 50-51) . I have one of these repros (in the same full/queen size, in fact), and the blocks, quilting & color placement are identical to the quilt being auctioned; the pink and yellow fabrics appear to be the same. My repro of known origin has inserted red piped binding and the narrow stems & vines are all embroidered rather than appliqued, if anyone is inclined to query the seller on those details.
pax- Cheryl
From: Laura Robins-Morris
They look too good to be imports in my uneducated opinion (and without really close-up photos). They aren’t antique of course but look to me like they were made by serious quilters. I should do so well! One claims to be “vintage” 1950s (so I’m vintage now?), and the other wisely doesn’t claim a date. Has any company yet sold imports that are well-made, rather intricate quilts? Donna, how do you know about the second one? Where have you seen it for sale? Other opinions??? Laura in Seattle
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 09:45:11 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
Is it possible that the mills producing printed feedsack fabric also sold the same as on-bolt yardage?
The stuff was tremendously popular in the time between the wars (especially), in part because it was a “free” source of fabric for home sewing, but also because of its cheery colors and designs. During WW II the American Cotton Council printed booklets showing economical ways to furnish the home using these sacks, and held contests for the most creative uses (a woman won one year by making seatcovers for her husband’s truck). In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Cotton Council had home dressmaking contests, with Singer machines as prizes, and trips to large cities for regional winners.
A lot of feedsack designs were reproduced from more expensive sources: I have toile feedsacks illustrating a military event, and first printed in the late 1700s. Also Disney from various films and cartoons, which Disney also produced in better quality yardage.
Xenia
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 10:56:09 -0400 | From: “John Seater” <seater@>
Dear List,
I have requested 2 posters from ‘tjonesfs.fed.us’ as listed on the website. Thanks to Barb for the website, Kim for a good reference site, and Judy for the idea to order. I’ll let you know the response if I get any.
Dear Toni Jones, Your name is listed for requests for the poster “Women’s Quilts and the Underground Railroad” poster, designed by Vicky Evans for the Morgantown Field Office’s Women’s History Month Special Observance.
I am a quilt historian who would like to use this poster as an example of how myths become “facts”. The scholarly community who has studied this issue is trying to urge caution because no other sources beyond one woman have verified it and several of the supposed patterns were not even used in the time period in question, yet the government has endorsed and propagated the myth without checking.
For some examples see http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/ugrrwrightinterview.html for an interview with an underground railroad historian.
Please send me 2 posters.
Susan Seater Raleigh NC
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 11:07:34 -0400 | From: “Cheryl Wolf” <cwolf@>
I should have mentioned that I am referencing the eBay item # 3734926367.
Must… not… email… before… 3rd… cup… of… coffee…
pax- Cheryl
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 08:31:27 -0700 | From: “Laurette Carroll” <rl.carroll@>
Hello, The second quilt is made by the Arch company, it is mentioned in the seller’s description. If you google for Arch quilt, or do an ebay search, you will find a number of quilts made by this company. They sewed a label with the Arch name onto their quilts.
Laurette Carroll Southern California
Look to the Future With Hope
> I had a quilt question. I saw this quilt listed for sale on Ebay. > My question is, is this an import type baltimore album? I have seen many in > different designs. I was just wondering if anyone knew for sure if this one > is and what company produced it? > Thanks for your help. The auction number is 3734926367.
> I found another one too. I know this one is an import, but what company > makes it? Does anyone know. Just curious. I have seen this one several > times. Item number 3733891379.
From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>
Xenia — I’ve heard feedsack collectors say that from time to time feedsack fabric was made available as yardage. And I believe during the 1970s-80s there was such a revival of prints which manufacturers preferred to called homespun rather than feedsacking. I also understand from a great article in ACS journal — possibly this is the one you refer to?? — that the fine fabric feedsacks held soft content such as sugar or flour rather than harsh feed or grains which might penetrate and damage cloth.
Xenia Cord wrote:
>Is it possible that the mills producing printed feedsack fabric also >sold the same as on-bolt yardage? > > > >
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 08:54:51 -0700 | From: <chrisa@>
These are quotes from a research paper “Recycling Feedsacks and Flour Bags,Thrifty Housewives or Marketing Success Story? ” by Loris Connelly, in the journal DRESS – one great article about the use of sacks for dress and home textiles from the 1940s and up.
“With the ‘lovely linen-like” bags of the early 1940’s, a far cry from the plain ray goods bags of many years ago, with their gaudy trademarks that wouldn’t come out in the wash, the origin of one’s dress fabric became the wearer’s secret. Women supposedly no longer resented a comment like “that dress you’re wearing looks like a feed bags. Approximately fifty million dress goods bags had been manufactured through 1941, sold chiefly in the South, Southwest, and Middle west to women of all income groups. “
“By January 1945, the production of cotton bags across the United States required a billion and a half square yards or cloth, representing the longest single use of cotton in its history. Bemis also wanted the cotton mills to know that the preferred fabric for printed bags was sheeting, with lower count osnaburgs used to a much lesser extent.”
“Bemis cited several factors that prompted farm women to buy printed feedsacks enthusiastically. It was economical to purchase a feedsack for a grand total of 25 cents and receive not only chicken feed but up to one and one half yards of usable cotton print material. A dress goods bag cost only five cents more than an ordinary trademarked bag of greige goods. Furthermore, Bemis stressed that the cloth was not only printed with ‘the best quality of tubfast, sunfast inks, but the designs were practical, colorful, stylish and up to date.”
“In spring 1947, the Bemis company began advertising Bemilin Prints, a trade name for it’s improved ‘linen-like’ cotton prints and solid pastels. Its ad stressed the importance of feed and flour companies giving style to their products by using Bemilin bags with ‘exclusive patterns created by noted New York designers..different, unusual, desirable patterns usually found only in high-priced, exclusive garments.”
Kim Wulfert www.antiquequiltdating.com
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 08:58:06 -0700 | From: <chrisa@>
I can’t help but wonder if the very poor quality of the close up pictures, or lack of close-up pictures on the one site, is meant to obscure the fact that they are imports. I would think a real Baltimore style album quilt would be shown off as much as possible through photography.
Kim Wulfert www.antiquequiltdating.com
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 12:39:33 -0400 | From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
Don,
There is more info at the website below and Google will pull up much about Cincinnati history.
>http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Hamilton/HamiltonChapXXII.htm
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. – 355
free transportation to all commodities consigned to the Sanitary Fair. December 21, 1863, the Fair was opened, and during the succeeding weeks the great forces set in motion by enthusiastic patriotism gathered gifts of whatever kind could be made available.
The first week in January was intensely cold. A storm, unequalled in severity, swept over the Mississippi Valley as the old year went out, which made the next day memorable as ” the cold New Year.” During the next six days the winds were out, and the temperature hovered about zero. Among the ladies who stood at the counters in the Great Bazaar suffering was not uncommon, and impaired health in not. a few cases was an additional sacrifice. The closing of the Fair, with its gifts, labors, lectures, concerts and sales, did not take place until April 21, 1864. On that date the managers submitted their final report to the public.
You have become the Sanitary Fair Quilt expert, and I have not read Gunn’s article. May I suggest caution in your wording:
>which would mean that the making of Log Cabin quilts–and the use of the name probably was common place during that period. < ((the Civil War))
There are three referenced to which you refer. Saying they were ‘common place’ is a big jump in inference. Just wary (or weary) and cautious after all the HIPV research and hype.
Has that beautiful raffle quilt been shipped to its new home or should I look for my tickets in hopes I won?
Jan — Jan Drechsler in Vermont Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher www.sover.net/~bobmills
From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>
Kim — that was the article I was referring to. A great piece of research and information which was published in 1992. I believe it is still available through the American Costume Society website although there might be a small fee.
chrisa@ wrote:
>These are quotes from a research paper “Recycling Feedsacks and Flour >Bags,Thrifty Housewives or Marketing Success Story? ” by Loris Connelly, in >the journal DRESS – one great article about the use of sacks for dress and >home textiles from the 1940s and up. > > > >
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 14:18:01 -0500 | From: “Karen Quilts Texas” <karenquiltstexashouston.@>
I have seen quite a few very well-made imports in the Houston area. But, we are “import central” now. Do you know that the Port of Houston now is a port of entry for more container shipments into the US than any other Port?! There was a big article in the paper about it just the other day.
We have a store called “Anna’s Linens” that has an incredible array of imported linens. Some with an extraordinary amount of fancy embroidery, stuffed work, etc. I’m sure you’ve all seen the very finely appliqued linens at all the linen “Warehouse” type stores (Linens and Things, etc.). Even the Hobby “Big Box” stores carry small worked cotton pieces with very small hand appliqued flowers, usually pastels, on 30″ x 28-36″ pieces of fine white cotton for use in making pillowcases, blouses, collars etc. Though most of the quilts at this place are inexpensive and not necessarily well made. It is all hand done with a fine 50-60 weight thread.
This tiny, fine work is done in many places around the globe… I’ve seen labels from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Korea, and of course China. The problem is that you don’t know which of this is done by 10 year old girls in abominable situations, and which is done in legitimate, decent factory situations. For example, The Phillipines is known for it’s exquisitely quilted (12 stitches to the inch or better) pieces. Roxanne McElroy made references to this work in her book on Hand Quilting.
The department stores here carry some pretty finely worked quilts in their better linen departments… they too run $200.00 and up. I’ve seen some pretty detailed appliqued quilts, though none as fancy as quilt # 2 in your list. I’ve seen some at Tuesday Morning too!
Pottery Barn offers a commissioned line of fancy appliqued quilts featured annually in their Christmas catalogue, and I have seen these in the store. They are phenomenal, and priced at under $300.00. They are of course imported!
The stuff on Ebay is typically not described as imported… just “hand made” or “hand crafted” – a sure sign of import. They know that if they put “Made in China” on the description, it might turn off some buyers immediately. If you email the seller and ask for origin, they will usually tell you then…
If they say it is US made, and you buy it and determine that it is not, be sure to pay via Paypal. You’ll be covered against fraud under their program, and can get your money back. A report to Ebay will bump the seller from the site!
The first quilt you are referring to looks legitimate (note the comment about it being 50’s-60’s in the description). And this seller has a long, good feedback record, so it’s doubtful that this is an import. The other seller has some dubious feedback, I’d beware of purchase from someone with so many bad comments from customers.
Karen Spring, TX
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 12:38:57 -0400 >X-Message-Number: 8
Subject: Re: qhl digest: July 06, 2004 >From: “gb-best” <vitale@> > Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 12:38:57 -0400 >X-Message-Number: 8
>Hello to all, >I had a quilt question. I saw this quilt listed for sale on Ebay. >My question is, is this an import type baltimore album? I have seen many in >different designs. I was just wondering if anyone knew for sure if this one >is and what company produced it?
>Thanks for your help. The auction number is 3734926367. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2221&item=3734926367& rd=1
>I found another one too. I know this one is an import, but what company >makes it? Does anyone know. Just curious. I have seen this one several >times. Item number 3733891379. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3733891379&ssPageName=STR K:MEWA:IT
>Just doing some research. >Thanks! >Donna
