March 8 – 13, 2005
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:
- Underground Railroad Quilt Myth: Historical Newspaper Rebuttals — Sue Reich shares period 19th-century newspaper items as part of the ongoing pushback against the quilt-code myth. (see the article on Underground Railroad quilts)
- A 19th-Century “Old Maid’s Ramble” Humor Column — Members share and discuss a Victorian-era comic newspaper piece on marriage and motherhood, including questions about its public-domain status.
- Family Stories of Sewing Mishaps — Members swap stories of childhood sewing-related near-misses, from swallowed needles to pincushion mishaps.
- Quilters News Network Worldwide Launches — Members discuss a newly announced quilting cable and web programming venture.
- Locating Antique Quilts Near Kansas City — A member tries to help a friend visiting Kansas locate antique quilts for sale.
From: Karen Evans
OTOH, Giles Wright is having an impact…a friend of mine who’s a children’s librarian used him in a PowerPoint presentation that debunked the quilt code. She’s in Princeton, New Jersey, in case anyone on the list is in that area.
Karen Evans
From: KYRA HICKS
The Frederick Douglass Memorial and Historical Association present “Piecing Together History: African Americans and the Quilting Tradition.” The second in a series of lectures is this Saturday, March 12, 2005 featuring a lecture by Dr. Gladys Marie Fry. The lecture is free and starts at 10am at the Arch Business Center, 1227 Good Hope Road, SE, Washington DC 20020..(202) 426-0880. At noon there will be a quilting workshop – $35 fee.
Enjoy –
Kyra Hicks Black Threads: An African American Quilting Sourcebook
The Adams Sentinel Gettysburg, Pennsylvania March 20, 1866 The Value of a Lady’s Wardrobe. An interesting jury trial is now in progress in Cincinnati. The action was brought by Mrs. Jane L. Long against the steamboat General Buell. The plaintiff sought to recover the value of two trunks and their contents, which were shipped at Louisville, September 5, 1865, to be delivered at Cincinnati. The action was originally brought in the name of her husband, General Eli Logan, but the articles being the personal property of his wife, the petition was amended. On the part of the defense it was claimed the boat was not liable on the ground that the loss was occasioned by the act of God; and also the trunk contained jewelry and articles of silver of which no notice was given to the officers of the boat, and for which no freight was paid. The defendant’s counsel read a list of the articles contained in one of the trunks; Mozambique dress skirt, $9; checked grenadine, $40; black alpaca grenadine, $47; silver colored grenadine do., $40; delaine do., $20; lawn skirts, $30; lawn dress, $15; drab silk do., and mantle, $130; drab silk bonnet, $40; corsets, $20; cambric underskirts, $11; muslin underskirts, $52; two balmoral skirts, $20; night wrappers, $66; one doz. emb’d linen chemises, $192; velvet hat, $43; nine silk belts and sashes, $17 50; toilet soap, $12; lawn drawers, $40; silk basque, $30; velvet back bible, $10; ivory comb, $12; fans, $20; jewelry, $81; gold bracelet, $140; pearl ear-rings, $90; silver salt cellars, lined with gold, $50; gold buckle, $30. — Total, including a few other articles, $2,004. A list was also read of articles in one of the trunks not lost, which contained about a dozen dresses, ranging in prices from $60 up to $140. Thought this might be of interest. sue reich ——=_NextPart_000_003B_01C523ED.2D13A290–
Sue, I can’t tell you how much I look forward to your postings.
As this last article was written directly after the Civil War I imagine that the value of clothing was higher than it normally would have been.
For instance, a gold bracelet valued at $140.00 was equal in value to the most expensive dress. I am trying to think how that would happen today, and can only imagine the bracelet as coming from QVC and the dress from a designer house.
Toilet soap for $12.00?
Judy, aka the Ringoes Kid judygrow@ In Central NJ where it is snowing yet again, the cat will not go out, and nothing is budding.
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 15:12:54 -0500 | From: Karen Evans
The General’s lady had money, and some rather expensive tastes…$12 was as much as many people made in a month!
Karen Evans
From: sue reich
Adams Sentinel Gettysburg, Pennsylvania January 10, 1865
Sunshine vs Matrimony. It is folly for girls to expect to be happy without marriage; every woman was made for a mother; consequently children are as necessary for their peace of mind as health is. If you wish to behold melancholy and indigestion, look at an old maid; if you would take a peep at sunshine, look at the young mother. “Now I won’t stand that,” replied my maiden aunt; “I’m a maid myself and I’m neither melancholy nor indigestible. My piece of mind I’m going to give you in a minute; I never would touch a baby during my existence, except with a pair of tongs. Young mothers and sunshine indeed! Why they are worn to fiddle-strings before they are five and twenty. When an old lover steps in, he thinks he sees his grandmother, instead of the dear little Mary who used to make him feel as if he should crawl out of his boots. Yes, my mind is quite made up about matrimony. But, as to babies — sometimes I think, and then again I don’t know — on the whole, I believe I consider’em a decided humbug. It’s a one sided partnership, this marriage; the wife casts up all the accounts. The husband gets up in the morning and pays his devoirs to the looking glass; curls his fine head of hair, puts on an immaculate shirt bosom, ties an excruciating cravat, sprinkles his handkerchief with cologne, stows away a French roll, an egg and a cup of coffee, gets into an omnibus, looks slantendicular at the pretty girls, and makes love between the pauses of business in the afternoon. The wife must hermetically seal the windows, and shut out the fresh air, because the baby had the snuffles in the night, and sits down gasping, more dead than alive, to finish her breakfast. Tommy spills a cup of coffee down his bosom; Julianna tore off the strings of her school bonnet; James wants his geography covered; Eliza can’t find her satchel; the butcher wants to know if she’d like a joint of mutton; the milkman wants his money; the baby swallows a pin; the husband sends a boy for the store to say his partner will dine with him; the cook leaves all, flying to go to her sister’s dead baby’s wake; and the husband’s thin coat must be ironed before noon. Sunshine and young mothers? Where’s my smelling bottle?”
Talk about Old Maid’s Ramble! sue reich
From: Julia
Dear QHL, Well…Sue – your post is a hoot! Talk about words.. slantendicular – sounds cattawampus to me! Julia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Alliance for American Quilts For more information contact Shelly Zegart jhawley@ (502) 897-3819
Blogging from Eurasia – The Alliance for American Quilts and Gee’s Bend Quilts in Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan
On her third trip to the Republic of Georgia, Karen Musgrave is continuing on her quest to revive quiltmaking in that country. Her amazing stories can be followed on The Alliance’s exciting new blog (weblog) at http://centerforthequilt.org/webblog/index.php.
Karen Musgrave, a member of the board of The Alliance for American Quilts, is travelling this time with a small Gee’s Bend quilt exhibition to Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan, all three former Soviet republics. Serendipity is always part of what makes those of us passionate about quilts keep going. News of Karen’s energy and quiltmaking work with the women of Georgia spread throughout the region, resulting in the interest of two additional countries.
Also thanks to another Alliance board member, Harry Arnett of Tinwood Alliance – the force behind the Gee’s Bend project -Karen was entrusted with a group of Gee’s Bend quilts to create with the U.S. embassies and the quiltmakers an exhibition in the three countries. This part of her work began with a query on her first trip by our embassy in Georgia, asking Karen if she knew of any quilts like those of Gee’s Bend and would she be able to put together some kind of exhibition for Black History Month. One thing led to another…
In Georgia, as a result of all of this quilt publicity, previously unknown historic and contemporary quilts are coming out of the woodwork. Karen’s next goal is to bring an exhibition of the quilts from Georgia to the United States.
We don’t know yet what Karen will both discover and inspire as she travels to the other two countries for the first time.
Karen Musgrave is a quiltmaker, teacher, lecturer, writer and co-chair of The Alliance’s project Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories (http://www.centerforthequilt.org/qsos/qsos.html).
You can follow Karen’s adventures, learn of her discoveries including quilts, and send her comments by visiting the Alliance’s weblog at www.centerforthequilt.org/webblog/index.php. She would love to hear from you. She returns to the U.S. on the 3rd of April.
Shelly Zegart President, The Alliance for American Quilts
Shelly Zegart zegrtquilt@ 502-897-7566
From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
I know there are folks from all sorts of disciplines on QHL, so perhaps you can help me.
I would like to use part of a poem by US poet Stephen Crane on a small quilt that will be sold for charity and for that reason will be posted publicly on the web. Since he died in 1900 am I clear of any copyright restrictions?
TIA
Sally W
From: Candace Perry
I would say that the poem is in the public domain…I doubt if there’s any copyright holder today for his work, such as a descendant. Candace Perry
From: sue reich
Woodland Daily Democrat Woodland, California July 10, 1891
A Woman’s Foibles. She Will Not Admit the Tightness of Dress or of Shoes.
There are two things which a woman cannot endure for a minute to be told. One of these is that she laces too tight, and the other is that she wears too small a shoe. To the first accusation she replies by an indignant denial, and then she draws in her breath and puts her hands up under her waist to convince you that you have been telling a dreadful lie. She then goes on to say that she could wear a corset three sizes smaller than the one she has on with perfect ease. When any one suggests that her shoe is too tight she also gets indignant at first, then she places her foot upon a hassock, bends over and grasps it to show there are at least two inches of shoe not occupied at all. Of course it is a trick, but the one who looks on is bound to be convinced. A little story that was told by the boot and shoe salesman the other day illustrates these peculiar caprices of women. A lady entering the store complained that the shoes she had on hurt her feet and asked what the trouble was. “Because your shoes are too small for you,” promptly replied the salesman. “Indeed they are not; they are a size larger than I usually wear.” “Notwithstanding that, they are too small,” repeated the practical young man. Upon which the lady turned and walked out of the store without so much as looking at the unfortunate salesman. “I wonder what is the matter with her?” he said. “You have no need to ask that,” replied his employer. “You will never become a success in the shoe business until you learn that you must never under any circumstances, tell a woman that her shoe is too small. Tell her that it is the wrong shape or that it is badly cut or that it is not her style — anything except the truth about their shoes. Women never like to be told the truth about their shoes.” This weakness is not entirely confined to the feminine portion of humanity. The chiropodists say that quite as many men as women come to them with corns and crooked toes. Some of the most skillful manipulators of the feet claim that the so called common sense shoe is not much of an improvement upon the narrow, high heeled French gaiter, against which so much has been said; one goes as far to one extreme as the other does to another. Very few feet are perfectly flat and very few toes are perfectly square. A shoe should be made to fit the foot, and if there is the least tendency to enlargement of the joints of the great toe a narrow shoe should be worn, always taking care that it is quite long enough. A shoe that fits closely across the ball of the foot keeps it from spreading, and the length will allow the toes to lie perfectly flat. A deformed foot is one of the most hideous things in nature. Harriet Hosmer, the clever sculptor, states the she can find plenty of perfect hands, but not once in a hundred times a perfect foot.
From: Karen Alexander
> Does your local paper have a “Back when” column? In our local paper her in > the San Juan Islands I clipped a news article dated Jan 28, 1915. Just too > weird to not share since we all handle needles frequently — but swallow > one???? Is this possible? Probable?
Karen, I cannot speak for human beings, but I can speak for canines. One day I spied a long thread dangling from the nether parts of the late Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, Suh, Ingram, our bold and noble rat terrier. Because it looked odd and because I thought it was ONLY a thread, I gave it a yank. At the other end was a fine, small needle of the sort used for French handsewing. The thread had been waxed to facilitate sewing, so it had not been digested. Neither had the needle.
I guess is that the lady in question sat on her needle (perchance it too was very small, a quilting needle, perhaps) instead of swallowing it. The chances of its working its way into the blood stream, through the heart and lungs, etc w/o damage to life and organ seem slim.
Gail
From: weemsjm <weemsjm@>
Quilt ShowI thought someone on the list might like to attend. I hope to.
Jeff ( preparing my home to sell )
From: Dana Balsamo
Hi Jeff, This is a GREAT show…my parents lived in Irving, TX for a couple of years and I went down with my sister and first child, then she was 13 months old. We all went to the quilt show. If you are in the area, I highly recommend it…I wish I could justify the trip, but can’t…this year.
Cjoe, You are absolutely right…I am always switching which quilts are hung and what is being displayed in the front on the racks, etcs. Even throughout the weekend I will switch hangers around and the quilts on the rack…gotta keep it fresh…just like a website. Better though, because you can see people’s reactions or lack there-of and fix it immediately.
My best, Dana
From: Dana Balsamo
Sorry all, The second part of that email was supposed to be to another group that was also discussing quilt shows…please disregard it…I should go to bed now. My best, Dana
Material Pleasures Affordable Vintage Linens, Lace, Textiles, Buttons & More! www.material-pleasures.com
From: Laura Syler
Must concur…with a little bias….<VBG> As a charter member of the Dallas Guild, Past Show chair (twice) and Past President, I must admit that the Dallas show is a wonderful show! I was to attend the preview and vote for the Past Pres award, but am recuperating from a broken right knee and left hand…( I recommend that you try not to have a sneezing attack in 5:00 traffic!!) The show and vendors would be more than me and my walker could probably handle at this point! If you are able, it is always worth the trip. Laura Hobby Syler —
From: Kim1964hay@
Karen,
It certainly could be true. In 1986, at Children’s Memorial hospital in Chicago, I saw a teenager who suffered severe nerve damage from swallowing pins. He did it intentionally. They actually circulated in his system and left him barely able to walk. Some of the pins ended up in his legs, if any came out, I don’t know.
Kim H.
but swallow one???? Is this possible? Probable?
From: Sally Ward
Grandmother, a sweatshop seamstress, insisted I vigorously suck any accidental needle stabbing because of the risk that a broken needle tip could ‘travel to your heart to kill you’. I grew up to think that was just an old wife’s tale until quite recently I read a report of the death of a junkie in Amsterdam. The tip of a syringe was found in his heart, although his injection site of preference was his thigh. (Respect to the old wife!<G>)
Sally W
From: Vivien Sayre
Karen, Another bizarre story is that of my adopted (just learned about this) grandmother. For years she complained of a pain in her elbow. She had accidently leaned on a needle with her hand and was unable to removed it. The little critter traveled up to her elbow where it stayed until her death many years later. Good Grief that’s getting to the point! (Sorry, I had to say it.) Vivien
P.S. I think you may have opened a can of worms with your story, or at least jogged a lot of memories.
Woodland Daily Democrat Woodland, California December 14, 1893
To My Lady’s Sleeve.
“Oh, frigid fair! mark well my plan; Behold me as I grieve, Something hath come betwixt us twain; It is my lady’s sleeve.”
There was a time her arm in mine She was content to leave. Far from her side I woeful pine, Divided by her sleeve.
Once round her waist my hand I pressed, A kiss I did achieve, But now she sparns me coldly, lest I crush my lady’s sleeve.
Oh, fatal fullness, furs and frills, That all my hopes deceive! Oh, fertile source of lover’s ills! Oh, nightmare of the sleeve!
Fain would I gage my lady’s troth; Full fain would I believe That mine’s the heart she is so loath To wear upon her sleeve.
There’s Dick and Harry, Tom and Jack, Who each her smiles receive. I tremble, hating all the pack, Lest some knave’s up her sleeve.
Ye arbiters of fate! Ye gods Who women’s fashions weave! Forbear to put us ‘gainst such odds As prove my lady’s sleeve.
To Redfern, Fenwick, Worth, I call, Grant us poor men reprieve! To ladies’ tailors, one and all, Take in my lady’s sleeve! -London World.
from sue reich
From: Karen Evans
I’ve never swallowed a needle, but I had to perform a finger sweep on Malfoy-the-cat when he was nine weeks old after he attempted to eat a pincushion. He hadn’t swallowed any, but I swear I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the cute little baby cat open his tiny jaws to take a big bite out of the tomato thingy.
Karen Evans
From: munsey@
To all the QHL members in New England:
The Medfield Historical Society is sponsoring a Quilt Exhibit, “Celebrating 150 years of Medfield Quilts”, on Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3, 2005 as a fund raiser in conjunction with the acquisition of an 1850 signature album quilt bearing the names of 50 individuals from the Allen, Ellis and Fiske families. The exhibit will be held at the Dwight-Derby House and the Town Hall. The schedule is as follows:
Saturday 4/2 – Exhibit is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $5.00 admission.
Saturday 4/2 – Evening Program at Dwight-Derby House, $25.00 (limited to 50 people because of fire rules.) “Talking Quilts” with Richard Cleveland, Founder VT Quilt Festival and VT Quiltsearch. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 4/3 – Exhibit is open to the public from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Monday 4/3 – The regular meeting of the Medfield Historical Society will be held at First Parish Church at 7:30 p.m. The 1850 Signature Album Quilt will be on display for the presentation “The Search for Two Harriets” by Sandra Munsey, reporting on the research to date identifying the people named on the quilt.
Medfield, Massachusetts, is located on Rte. 109 about 25 miles from Boston and Providence. It is about 10 miles east of I-495 and about 10 miles west of Rte.128. From the southern New England shoreline use I-95 north to the Walpole exit, north on Rte 1 to Rte. 27 north to Medfield. The Town Hall is on Rte. 109 (Main St.) in the town center.
Sandra, who used to live in Medfield, which is why I am involved, but living now on Cape Cod where it is snowing yet again. !#%&$!!! —-__JNP_000_77ca.68a6.252f–
From: JLHfw@ D
Dear Friends, As a physician, I have to agree that the lady probably sat on the needle rather than swallowing it. Had it been swallowed and passed through the stomach and intestines it would have predictable come out the “other end”. If it had escaped from the intestines a hole would have been formed in the intestine and a serious infection would have followed that would have been life threatening. Not impossible, but very unlikely. Hugs, Janet in sunny Fort Worth
Compiler Gettysburg, Pennsylvania January 23, 1860
Spirit of Southern Ladies. — A correspondent of the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser relates the following: “Touching the question of Southern rights, I was recently conversing with a young lady of this county, noted for good sense and originality, who was earnest and eloquent in praise of the patriotic resolutions adopted by the ladies of Richmond, that they would not wear any article of dress manufactured at, or brought from the North; that sooner than do so, they would learn to weave cloth with the old-fashioned loom, &c. I, of course agreed with my young lady friend in everything she said; but I was (I must confess) rather puzzled to know what the dear ladies would do for ‘hoops,’ so I rather bashfully asked the question: “What will you do for steel and brass?” Imagine my discomfiture at her characteristic and patrioted reply, ‘White oaksplits forever?”
sue reich
From: <chrisa@>
HI –
To jog some of your minds- Some time ago a quilt made pre-CW was posted on eboard (it isn’t up now) which had blue lines still very visible, that had been put there to mark for quilting. There was a discussion about what had been used to make such permanent lines, but it wasn’t resolved for a quilt made so early with lines still so dark.
Some info in a rug hooking book might fill in the blank. The author Pat Hornafius describes a 19th century method they used to mark burlap with ” bluing, liquid indigo, which was used to whiten fabric.” In an old box of patterns she found a sharpened wooden stick and brown paper patterns stained with the bluing. “The rug artist washed bluing over the perforated stencil with a rag, transferring the permanent dye to the burlap foundation.”
Any thoughts on this?
Kim Wulfert www.antiquequiltdating.com
We, The Heritage Center Quilt and Textile Museum and Cultural History Museum, have a collection of rug making materials from several Lancaster Amish rugmakers dating from mid-20th c. and earlier. Among the materials was a can of blue dusting powder, very blue, very fine, and thus spread onto anything that was touched. Although we disposed of the powder, the many heavy blue-stained brown paper patterns containing punched hole patterns were saved as were the unfinished marked burlap ground materials not already made into finished rugs. It is a fascinating group of materials.
So we know that these women were pouncing blue patterns onto burlap as guides for their rug hooking. The Amish here are notable for hanging on to old ways even 50 years beyond when others had given up some techniques and traditions. So although these are usually dots and not lines it was a common way of marking a ground for rug hooking.
At the moment the museum and a wonderful group of volunteers are working on a hooked and hand-sewn rug (period and contemporary) documentation project for this area of Southeastern Pa. So keep tuned. Someday in the future we hope to have an exhibit highlighting our results.
Trish Herr
From: PatKoerner@
Extreme Makeover Home Edition recently had a segment where they rebuilt a home for a family who had 2 year old sextuplets! There was also an older brother who was 8 or 9. Any way they built them a fantastic house suited to this big family and gave the parents a new master bedroom suite that was “to die for” in black and white. Very dramatic. On the Monday follow up episode of this program called “How’d They Do That”, they showed that the black and white quilt in the master suite was made by the ladies from Gee’s Bend. It was one of the House Top designs and it showed the ladies sewing and working on it and interviewed them and talked about the Gee’s Bend book and exhibit. I think the house was located in the south, maybe Alabama. Did anyone else see it and remember better than I do? Pat Moore
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 14:05:18 -0600 | From: paandma
sure makes sense …. think I would have stayed with the cinnamon though
From: sue reich
Adams Sentinel Gettysburg, Pennsylvania January 10, 1864
The New Skirt for 1864. A NEW AND GREAT INVENTION IN HOOP SKIRTS.
The Duplex Elliptic (or double) Steel Spring. J.I. & J.O. West, No. 97 Chambers street, New York, are the owners of the patent and exclusive manufacturers of this J. W. Bradley’s Patented Duplex Elliptic Steel Spring Skirts. This invention consists of Duplex (or two) Elliptic Steel Springs, ingeniously braided tightly and firmly together edge to edge, making the toughest, most Elastic Flexible and Durable Spring ever used, enabling the wearer, in consequence of its great elasticity and flexibleness, to place and fold it when in use as easily and with the same convenience as a Silk or Muslin Dress. It entirely avoids and silences the only objections to Hoop Skirts, riz: the annoyance to the wearer as well as the public, especially in crowded assemblies, Carriages, Railroad Cars, Church Pews, or in any crowded place, from the difficulty of contracting them and occupying a small space. This entirely removes the difficulty, while giving the Skirt the useful full and symmetrical form, and the lightest, most stylish and graceful appearance for the street, opera, promenade, or house dress. A lady having enjoyed the pleasure and comfort and great convenience of wearing one of the Duplex Elliptic Spring Skirts for a single day, will never afterwards willingly dispense with the use of them. They are also equally desirable, and a great improvement over other kinds of Skirts, for Misses and Young Ladies who wear short dresses, the elasticity and flexibility of them prevents when coming in contact with anything crowding the Hoop close to the person, from pushing out the other side of the Hoop or dress; and again, they are so much more durable and not likely to bend or break or get out of shape. The bottom rods on all the Skirts are also double steel, and twice or double covered prevent the covering from wearing off the rods when dragging down stairs, stone steps, &c., &c. which they are constantly subject to when in use. All are made of the best quality of curled Tapes, and every part of the Skirt is of the very best materials; it is guaranteed in every respect to be by far the best, most comfortable, and most durable Skirt ever made. Enquire for the Duplex Elliptic Spring Skirt, For Sale in all variety of styles and sizes by FAHNESTOCK BROS. Gettysburg, Pa. Nov. 15
We’ve come a long way, baby. sue reich ——_NextPart_000_000D_01C527AC.BD01D800–
Date: Sun, | From: Newbie Richardson <pastcrafts@>
What great timing! I was just given a wonderful early ( I think/thought) piece of embroidery. It is English, the fabric is a wool/silk blend – twill weave, and framed with all the right late 18/early 19th c techniques and materials. The piece has oxidized appropriately for a 1790-1820 date. However, upon close examination there are clear blue marking lines for the pattern. Everything about the piece is right for first quarter 19th – except those blue lines! I love the piece and the dealer, who also thought as I did about the date, is willing to take it back ( a very reputable guy, but no textile expert.) But I got it cause I liked it, not because of the supposed date. Now I am just plain perplexed! Any thoughts? Newbie Richardson
From: Karen Alexander <karenquilt@>
Is anyone on QHL familiar with this new organization that is about to be launched? http://prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb207887.php
<<Quilters News Network Set to Launch in April 2005
A0 A new network aimed at the 22 million women who quilt, Quilter’s News Network Worldwide (QNNW.com) offering programming, projects, and community 24/7 – the world’s largest quilting bee!
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) February 12, 2005 — Atlanta-based Multicast81, the worldB9s first provider of fully managed and hosted internet broadcast networks, announced last week the launch of a new specialty channel for quilters, The Quilters News Network81 (QNN81)….>>
From: <chrisa@> D
Pat Hornafius, the author of “Country Rugs”, said that they rubbed the bluing onto the brown paper stencil and it left dots, not lines, as you say your patterns did. They sound like the same thing. She went on to say that in all her research and experience (she lived in Elizabethtown, PA , near Lancaster, when she wrote the book in 1992) she found no evidence of charcoal being used, as most believed was used to mark patterns (she writes), because it flaked off easily, didn’t last and it was dirty. This I would think covers the use of chalk too, in her experience. Plus it could not be chalk that remained on the quilt I referred to, or on Newbie’s piece, or on the old burlap patterns she describes, yet, we have read of chalk being used to mark quilts throughout time and we still use chalk now. But it does come off easily, and that’s exactly what makes it desirable to many quilters today.:)
So, is it possible that the blue powder you found Trish, was used to make the bluing into a liquid? Perhaps it dries like powder on paper (the stencil) after time, but not on fabric, the quilt or burlap fiber for rugs.
Kim Wulfert
So we know that these women were pouncing blue patterns onto burlap as guides for their rug hooking. The Amish here are notable for hanging on to old ways even 50 years beyond when others had given up some techniques and traditions. So although these are usually dots and not lines it was a common way of marking a ground for rug hooking.
Trish Herr
From: Feedsackfanatic@
I live in the Atlanta area and have not heard anything about this organization or the programming. We get the daily newspaper, and I haven’t seen anything in that either regarding this.
Paula in GA
From: Laura Syler
I sent Barbara an email requesting the trial copies on Friday and both issues were today’s email. Laura Hobby Syler Richardson, Texas
From: Christine Thresh
You can see a “sample” of a program at:
http://presenter.multicastmedia.com/links/qnn/qnnfeb2005.htm
You need a DSL hookup to see it.
Christine Thresh http://www.@
From: Sharon in NC
I just have a regular dialup and can view these. Does take a little while for it to download.
Sharon in NC
From: Sharon in NC
I just realized I used a different website to access QNN.. http://www.thequiltingchannel.com/
Sharon in NC
From: HIRU
Dear All, I have a dear friend who is visiting Kansas at present. He is at a place called Twin Oaks Apartments in the city. Could any Kansanians out there please advise some local attractions he could visit whilst there? Also any fab antique quilty spots etc? I might be able to convince him to lug a treasure ir two back! ; > He is very much into bush walks etc. So any gorgeous walks would be great too. Many thanks for your help. Hiranya Loder, Sydney, Australia : >
From: sue reich
Hornesville Weekly Tribune Hornesville, New York January 15, 1897
Dress Interlinings. The general tendency is to discard all stiff interlinings on the newest gowns. This does very well where one can afford a crisp taffeta silk lining in each new dress, but when this is not possible not a few women are protesting against the use of nothing but a soft finished percaline lining, with no sort of interlining added even as a facing. They argue, and justly so, that a skirt so finished has a lank, unstylish appearance (especially if of soft wool fabric) after the so recent vogue of interlined, undulating skirts with a crisp flare and a certain cachet wholly absent in a soft lined model whose folds or breadths fall limp around the feet like those of a Quakress. There are a number of fashionable modistes who have come to the rescue in this matter. They make an underskirt nearly as long as the dress skirt, employing crinoline haircloth, moreen, etc., as may be preferred, for the foundation. This skirt can be covered with silk of some dark shade and if well cared for will last a long time. This skirt is gored on the front and sides, with a deep flounce at the bottom, and the three or four shirred or box plaited ruffles at the back are run through the inch wide hem at their edges with a single band of feather bone. Worn under the dress, all the slightly flaring effect of an interlined skirt is given. — New York Post. sue reich
From: Matt Arnett <marnett@>
Pat Moore asked about Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Here are the details: Extreme Makeover razed and completely rebuilt a home in Center Point, Alabama (a Birmingham suburb) for the Harris Family. They had one child, decided it was time to have another one, but were blessed with sextuplets, instead (the first surviving African American sextuplets). The sextuplets are now two and a half. The family was struggling to support the seven children. The parents had moved into the basement and turned the master bedroom into a nursery. The winds from Hurricane Ivan blew most of the trees in the back yard down, with one landing on the house. The house had a huge leak in the dining/living room. Extreme Makeover built a two story (5,000 sq. ft) home where the old one stood. The Master Bedroom (Ty’s Secret Room) was designed in black and white. Four of the Gee’s Bend quiltmakers (Mary Lee Bendolph, Arlonzia Pettway, Lola Pettway, and Lucy Mingo) went to Center Point and spent a few days making a quilt for the wall of the master bedroom. (The magic of reality television, where nothing is quite reality) The women began making the quilt in Gee’s Bend after talking to the design producer. When they arrived in Center Point, they received some extra material from Ty. They completed the quilt on set (which was the whole neighborhood, essentially). A sleeve was attached and it was ready to hang. Because they were behind schedule with the room and weren’t able to get it hung on the wall, they threw it on the bed, where it remained during the filming. The builder will have many adjustments to make and will eventually hang it on the wall for the family (as well as fix the toilet in the master bedroom, which was leaning quite significantly to the left). The house was spectacular. The first day we were there was the day after they tore it down (Thursday). It was amazing how much was done while we were there. When we went back on Monday morning (the day the family arrived) it was on its way to being completely finished (of course with a long punch list of things that would need to be tweaked). By the time we left (about 30 minutes before the family arrived at 2:00 p.m.), the neighborhood was so crowded with people we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to get our cars out (which is why we were trying to leave early), but the house was finished. Matt
Matt Arnett Tinwood Media 512 Means St. NW Suite 305 Atlanta, GA 30318 ph. 404.607.7172 cell. 404.234.8050
From: Trishherr@
So, is it possible that the blue powder you found Trish, was used to make the bluing into a liquid? Perhaps it dries like powder on paper (the stencil) after time, but not on fabric, the quilt or burlap fiber for rugs.
In response to your question about the blue powder, or chalk, we found, I do believe it was used by the Amish women in a dry form as I mentioned. We have interviewed a number of older ladies in the Amish community about this and also when you look at the brown paper patterns it is obvious that the chalk was dusted or pounced on. By the way the stuff is extremely fine and very blue gets into and on everything. Don’t know where they obtained it however.
Trish Herr 717.569.2268 2363 Henbird Lane Lancaster, PA 17601
From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>
I accidently deleted the email concerning the first post about Egyptian cotton at Joanne’s. This morning I had a chance to see it; it is a fine broadcloth [double filling]. Bolt says Made in USA and the asst. store manager thought it more than likely came from Springs but had no way to verify that. The mystery is the origin of the cotton. Egyptian cotton by itself means nothing except cotton presumably from Egypt. The country grows short and medium staples; its top long-staple strains are those blended or enhanced mostly from American top strains such as Pima or Sea Island now mainly from Brazil. Unless the words combed, Pima or long staple accompany Eygptian cotton, then that cotton is only mediocre quality. Not that there is anything wrong with that but too many are fooled by the Egyptian cotton stamp thinking they are getting top drawer. So if this fabric is made in USA, either cotton is imported [raw? spun?] or else the hybrid strain is grown here. Or fabric is woven overseas and converted or “made” in this country — the textile industry has a saying that fabrics are made in the finishing. An interesting exercise in global relations.
I remember that the person who first brought up this subject had asked her store manager about origins — have you heard from her about this??
From: Melody Baines
Which city Kansas City or Wichita?
From: ELEANOR MALONE
Twin Oaks Apartments is in Kansas City, Missouri. I don’t know about the antique quilt spots but I’ll ask a friend up there to send you some info. There are a number of quilt shops on both the Missouri and Kansas side of Greater Kansas City. Kansas City does have some fabulous places to visit: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at 45th & Oak, just several blocks north of Twin Oaks is a world class art museum. Arabia Steamboat Museum at 400 Grand Ave. is my favorite place to take visitors. The Country Club Plaza, just several blocks north and several blocks west of Twin Oaks is a beautiful shopping area, the first totally planned shopping area (1922) in the United States. The Toy and Miniature Museum of K.C., 52nd & Oak, is mind boggling. Kansas City has many parks with Swope Park, several miles southeast of Twin Oaks, being the largest. American Jazz Museum, recalls the beginning of jazz music in Kansas City.
This is just a smattering of what there is to do in K.C. And he must be sure to have some fabulous Kansas City barbecue! Kansas City is my hometown so I am rather partial to it. Hope this helps.
Eleanor in Wichita
