July 12 - 13, 2005 - QuiltHistory

Oral History & Documentation, Quilt Block History, Quilt Dating

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:

A Mystery Redwork Pillow Sham — A red-work pillow sham bearing a Hamlet quotation sparks discussion of its likely origin as a mourning or presentation piece. (see the article on redwork and outline embroidery)
New Vintage Redwork Discussion Group — A member announces a new Yahoo group devoted specifically to vintage redwork.
Dating a “Fan or Chain” Pattern via a McCall’s Envelope — Members trace a pattern’s publication date using numbers stamped inside a vintage McCall’s pattern envelope. (see the article on dating quilts)
History of Death and Post-Mortem Photography — Sparked by a film reference, members trade family stories and historical background on Victorian-era death photography and home funerals.

From: Polly Mello

Pat, I found the same pillow covering in a member sale room in Kensington, Maryland about two years ago. With the “Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest” piece, I also purchased a roll of old prickings including the small container of blue pounce. Last summer I met with the Sotterly Historic House group in southern Maryland to lend them some red work and I brought the prickings. While there, someone noticed that if you held the papers up to the light you could see a watermark with the date 1886. I was very interested in the other comments about the quotation. I have an interest in the macabre. I have another redwork piece that is a memorial to the sinking of the Titanic. I have been doing a Halloween quilt talk the last several years. It is always interesting to add new things to the talk. Polly Mello

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:16:01 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

www.vintagepictures.eboard.com

If asked for a password, look furtively around and then whisper

“vintage”

Judy, aka the Ringoes Kid judygrow@

From: Alice Kinsler <alicek@>

Sorry, Kim, for not including the address to share pictures. I just learned HOW to post a photo. It’s at http://vintagepictures.eboard.com under the quilt section, entitled “Wilma’s quilt block pattern’s name?” Thanks, Debbie, for the reference. I’m hoping that UNL or IQSC has the Minnesota book in the library as I do not. Alice

From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>

Should you ever forget how to get there, go to our home page http://www.quilthistory.com and click on the Gallery link on the left.

Kris

From: Kaytriplet@

http://www.wiquiltmuseum.com/Stories-Shroud.htm

Here is an example of a combination baby dress / embroidered shroud at the Wisconsin Quilt Museum web site. If the baby died, they were prepared with a shroud. If she lived, they had the dress. Very practical I must say. It is clear that our views on death and expectations have changed over the years. Can you imagine a new mother now preparing for a baby’s funeral before she was born unless some high tech method gave her very bad info on the condition of the unborn child? Imagine the stress on the mother always expecting that the worst could happen. I have to wonder if the expectation didn’t lead to some bad results due to high blood pressure, etc.

Kay Triplett

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 04:27:25 -0700 (PDT) | From: Mary Anne R <sewmuch63@>

What a great article in the current issue of The Quilter magazine (Sept 2005) by Patricia Cummings: “Guidelines for purchasing authentic American antique quilts.” Thank you for writing it! I just wish it was in a general interest magazine to educate the public about the cheap imported quilts so prevalent today (even though I know a lot of quilters who need the information as well).

Mary Anne (in hot, soggy FL)

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.@

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 07:39:13 -0400 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>

Thanks you for all of your comments. The case is building for the Redwork piece that I found having been used as a shroud.

Due to its abundant size and wide hemmed edges, I had first guessed that it might have been used as a pillow sham of one layer, although I did realize that dimensionally, it was unlike other more easily recognizable Redwork pillow shams of the type that Xenia mentions, that I, too, have in my collection.

High school, for me, was many, many moons ago, and I must admit that I left Hamlet at the door of the English classroom. So, no, I did not have the mentioned phrase in my accessible repetoire of English allusions, in spite of the poignancy of Shakespeare’s rhetoric.

The thought occurred to me that the saying must have been one that received popular attention in the Victorian Age and was more easily recognized within the public vernacular. In some ways, I believe that literate people then were more “educated”, and certainly more grounded in the Classics. At the very least, most likely they could add and subtract without a calculator, they could read, and they could write, unlike some individuals today who have been pushed through the halls of higher education. A person with a basic high school education probably knew more at that time, and was more culturally literate, than someone with a master’s degree now. (Pardon the aside).

To answer your question, Gail, there are no ruffles on the item in question. The design itself is the focus, and it has been rendered on a plain piece of sheeting material which looks like it may have been cut down from a bed sheet. To me, the size of it suggests that it could have been used to cover an entire baby. That would make more sense than it having been used as a facial covering, although that is also conceivable.

I really appreciate Polly’s input. The date confirmation of 1886 in a pattern for pouncing confirms a Victorian Age association for this item. Thanks so much.

No doubt, this Redwork design was used as a singular unit, not as part of a set of bed shams.

Last night, my son called and I was telling him about this latest “find”. Like me, he found the subject to be fascinating. I’ll consider giving him the reproduction that I embroidered if he is interested in showing it to his English classes so that they can see how a commonly understood phrase, of the time, was put to meaningful use, in times of grief. He thinks that the words, “Angels sing thee, to thy Rest” sounds lyrical, almost like poetry. The words do sound soothing.

Thank you for responding to my query. No matter what subject is brought up on this list, people always have additional thoughts and ideas to add. We are a sharing, caring community and that is what makes QHL so special.

Have a good day!

Pat Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 07:11:47 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>

Well, another thought on Pat’s piece (did you give the dimensions, Pat?) is that it was a casket cover for a small casket. Services were often from home, and this would have ‘softened’ the presentation somewhat. Infant mortality was so much higher in the 19th century and earlier – I have heard the expression “one for the house, two for the hill” as a way of measuring it. Pretty grim.

Xenia

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:51:32 EDT | From: Litwinow@

Good Morning, What a wonderful way to start my day reading your postings. Other then Karen Alexander’s mention of the Quilter’s Hall of Fame. I was wondering how many of you are going. Since this will be first time, I look forward to the adventure. Of course, taking a peek at my two-color studies from AQSG will swell my head size. Gee, to thing I’m being hung!

IA/IL Quilt Study Group will be meeting August 6, 2005. In Kalona, IA. After all the talk of redwork, the study topic for the afternoon is redwork–it would be great to see some of the pieces that were described in the July 11th list.

For more IA/IL information: ksandbcwgeneseo.net

Catherine Litwinow

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:28:29 -0500 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>

Dear Friends, especially you new ones like Paulette who recently introduced herself to us! May I suggest that you all put the eboard address on your Favorites or Bookmarks List. It is so very helpful when someone mentions “posting to the eboard” but does not include the address!!! I did this when I joined and never regretted it!!!

www.vintagepictures.eboard.com

Hey, let’s face it, some of our members may not even realize this picture eboard is available. Joan gave us directions on how to post pictures a few weeks ago. I printed off that info, just in case!

When the QHL and the VFL merged with the use of the eboard, it was a major event for some of us who especially appreciate pictures such as the Rainbow Fan!

By the way, I am always sorry that nothing is ever posted on the Feedsack portion of eboard. Do you think it could be renamed Fabrics as we do quite often post fabric pictures/questions. It would be a helpful division of topics. Just a question! Not a complaint. I’m guessing it was part of Jane’s Feedsack Club site. Oh yes, I sure appreciated the recent “house cleaning” that Joan gave eboard. We never Thanked her! So, many Thanks, Joan! And Kris, for this added feature of the QHL & VFL sites/forums. Charlotte

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:32:17 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>

When Alice posted the image of the “Fan or Chain” design quilt it jogged my memory. The design is a transfer and printed pattern from McCall, pattern #1922. According to Merikay, it was advertised in a February 1934 issue of McCall magazine, suggesting an approximate date for the paper pattern, which is not dated. Also included in the package was a transfer and pattern for Double Wedding Ring.

The Fan or Chain design, by the way, suggested using half-inch bias tape for the design, but did not specify a brand.

Xenia

(I have sent a jpeg to Alice.)

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:05:39 -0700 | From: “Leah Zieber” <leah.zieber@>

Hi all, Have seen the Mc Call Pattern 1922 and can tell you that the inside flap of the pattern package is stamped with a date of 7- 4- 34. The price for the pattern was .30 cents and there were two designs in the pattern – it was titled “Mc Call Printed Pattern With Transfer: Two Designs for Quilts – Fan or Chain Design, Double Wedding Ring Design”

Best, Leah ——=_NextPart_000_0012_01C586B8.7DD8ECC0–

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:51:16 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>

I forgot to say that stamped on the inside of the envelope flap is the number 3 43 31, which does not appear to be a date. I tried to post a picture to eboard following their instructions (I thought), but did not get the image to appear.

Xenia (not a techie!)

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 08:20:27 -0700 | From: “Leah Zieber” <leah.zieber@>

Hi again – With a number like yours, Xenia, the stamp can’t be a date. Which means the one I saw was probably not the date either and just a counter of some sort that resembled a date. Sorry for the misunderstanding – Leah ——=_NextPart_000_0031_01C586BA.8F1FEB80–

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 12:01:36 -0400 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>

This morning, I created a new yahoo list for those of us who are interested in discussing vintage Redwork and other embroideries. Anyone is welcome to join the list, post photos, ask questions, and discuss (especially) the Victorian Era and its designs. You can find us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Redwork_and_Needlework_History/

The list was an unexpected brainstorm when I realized that many (okay, most) of the Redwork groups online are composed of people who simply enjoy surfing the net to report new (free) patterns to download.

I would like to provide a haven for members to explore embroidery, including Crazy Quilt stitches, in a little bit more depth and from an historical perspective. I also own pieces of vintage embroidery that came to me with no provenance whatsoever, and that I cannot even associate with a useful purpose for having been made. By posting photos, maybe we can help each other to uncover more mysteries. Just call us “Thread Sleuths”, a title I just thought up! Hope some of you will consider joining us.

Pat Cummings

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 15:03:27 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>

> or ever! Today we received a stationary box filled with little “coins” > about the size of silver dollars. Each coin is made out of two pieces of > feedsack, or 30s/40s cottons, or some even have a rayon side, I think…the > two pieces have cardboard and possibly a bottle cap layered between them, > and are then stitched around the edges. Then, on each coin the maker has > glued a printed bible verse cut out of something (not a Bible). > I suspect it was some sort of Bible verse game, but such a project! There > could be 50-75 of them. > Candace Perry > Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Ctr. > Pennsburg PA >

Candace, could it be the product of some early Vacation Bible School craft project?!

I’ve discovered that when one teaches, everyone outside the academy assumes she can teach anything or anyone. Physics or Fine Arts: what’s the diff? That’s how I ended up teaching a crafts section at a summer Vacation Bible School one summerlong ago. The project was actually worse than even my fervid brain could imagine—a 10 Commandments mobile.

Yes, that’s right: a 10 Commandments mobile. Just what every home needs.

It was made from tongue depressors onto which the children (Oh, did I mention the class was made up of 10 rising third-grade boys and two girls?) pasted a typed copy of a commandment. Two a day, except for Thursday, when we did three, blazing past the seventh commandment. On Friday we punched holes in those rascals (and many other things), threaded them with string, and VOILA! each of us had ourselves a Ten Commandments mobile. I’ve often wondered if any one of those ever saw the luminous light of a house. Surely not. Even the toilet paper covers which the group next to mine constructed had a use.

I remember seeing footstool and children’s stool covers made in the manner you describe. Could you discern the use or potential use of your yo-yo like pieces?

Gail

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 12:53:57 -0600 | From: Inglewood Quilt Design <InglewoodQuilts@>

Just to let you know this is written by a Canadian.

Sue, I am so sorry for your loss. Losing a child is a tragedy, no matter what the circumstances.

Nancy, good on you for teaching your son to respect others and I assume you were teaching your son to think through an arguement and if he still disagrees to do so with repect.

As for Laurie’s comments, they were over the top considering she was responding to a mother teaching her son to repect others and think before you speak. Still I am about to defend her, personally I believe you can agree or disagree with me, and I will defend your right to disagree with me. She did not refer to an individual as a N*zi but asked if we were living in such a state, the assumption being that we didn’t and maybe we should look at the message we are sending. Although it was a bit much as a response to Nancy, she did have a good point, aside from the N*zi reference. Booting her off the list gave her the message, IMHO, we do live in a state similar to that of which she refers. If she directly called an individual a N*zi my opinion would be the opposite.

Women in the United States fought for the right to vote during the first world war and were called unpatriotic and unamerican, (stuff was thrown at them while they protested, imprisoned and force fed as well). Their message was seen as disrespectfull and if they were demonstating against the government, they were demonstrating against the soldiers. Now we applaud them for their efforts. From watching what is currently going on, protest against the government, which is a necessity for a society to grow and simply ‘do better’, is being taken as unpatriotic and unamerican.

As for quilt history, women have used traditional needle crafts to be their voice on politics. Art, in which ever form it takes, often relfects or comments on the society around the artist. Politics is a part of that. I have quilts passed down to me that were pieced and quilted with dissent in the hearts of the women who made them. If I didn’t explore their political beliefs and motivations there is a part of the quilt’s history that is being ignored.

Hopefully these comments, whether you agree or disagree, will be taken in the context they are meant, just something else to consider, that is all. Kris had to do what made her feel comfortable, what she felt was best for the list and I respect that decision.

This is just my opinion, repectfully, Carol-lynn

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:11:53 -0700 | From: Chris Flynn <lovechris@>

Thanks for doing this Pat…. look forward to some great discussions! Sincerely, Chris in California

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 10:30:07 -0400 | From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>

At 11:54 PM 7/10/2005, you wrote: >Hi everyone, and sorry for the cross-post. Does anyone know of a book >that features a pattern and directions for making a scrappy Ocean Waves >quilt? Thank you 🙂

Found yet another free online pattern for a wonderful scrappy Ocean Waves – http://quiltville.com/oceanwaves.shtml.

Be sure to check out the other free patterns on this web site! – Judy –=====================_25129140==.ALT–

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 20:36:20 -0500 | From: “Merry Endres” <merryme@>

The image of this 10 commandments mobile is giving me the giggles for some perverse reason 🙂 I would love to see a picture of the afore-mentioned bottle caps, too.

From: Cassie Kilroy Thompson

Just FYI: While looking at quilt pins online…. came across UGRR pins?

http://pinpeddlers.com/quiltpins/undergroundrailroad.htm The pins are accompanied by a quote from HIPV – but the vendor doesn’t go into detail other than that. — Cassie Kilroy Thompson Clarksville, MD cassiekt@

From: Polly

Pat, I brought the red work “Angels” piece and the prickings up from the quilt room.. Mine measures 34″ long and 25 1/2 inches wide with a plain 1″ wide hemmed border. I had not earlier thought that it is taller than wide, unusual for a pillow cover, but eerily the right size to drape over a small coffin. There was not another pricking in the bundle that would have been a match for a set i.e. goodmorning / good night. The prickings appear to be plain white paper until you hold them up to the light. There are many beautiful designs. There is an especially beautiful large peacock. One day I need to see if I can transfer them to fabric. The bundle came with a paper envelope of blue pounce and a small round box of pounce. Some of the prickings have blue on them where they were transfered. Polly

From: “Merry Endres”

This is interesting and it raises a question in my mind that, all though not quilting related, came to mind because of this article. Has anyone on here seen the movie “The Others”? In that movie there was a book of photographs of dead people, posed as they would have been in life. In the movie, they say this was common in many years ago. Does anyone know if this is true, or was it made up to go with the story in the movie?

From: Carol Grace

In that movie there was a book of photographs of dead people, posed as they would have been in life. In the movie, they say this was common in many years ago.

Hi, I don’t know what you mean by many years ago as to an actual number, 50 years, 100 years, but I do know some older people who have taken photos of the deceased to either keep for themselves or to send to relatives who were too far away to attend the funeral. This was about 30 years ago, and I thought at the time that it was a bizarre practice. I’d like to have a different memory to remember rather than the last photo. Carol grace

From: Xenia Cord

Post-mortem photography was not uncommon in the 19th century. Itinerant photographers, who often considered themselves artists, traveled the country and made pictures for families that could afford them. Often, because natural light was needed, the entire family and their most important possessions were posed outside the house by the photographer. We sometimes see quilts, or a piano, or a team of draft animals, or a spinning wheel, grouped with the people.

Also because of the need for natural light, caskets were placed outside so the deceased could be photographed, often creating the only visual record of that person. Babies especially were photographed in that way, with the tiny casket leaned against a porch support.

There is a book called ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ that looks at this tradition (which was later carried indoors as artificial light sources and better cameras became available.). Lots of pictures.

I taught folklore at Indiana University for more than 20 years. When I asked in my classes if anyone was aware of an ongoing practice of photographing the deceased, over half of the gathered students would indicate that they knew of ‘someone’ who had done this. And there are people who collect post-mortem photographs and/or casket plates engraved with the name and dates of the deceased, and given to the family at the funeral.

Xenia

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 18:59:13 -0700 (PDT) | From: Dana Balsamo <danabalsamo@>

–0-1426725228-1121219953=:64466 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Post Mortem mememtos are very collectible. Please note, some of the stuff on this site is a little macabre http://www.teardropmemories.com/ He had a nice old photo of quilters (still alive) at one time. He has many post mortem photos in his photograph sections and a couple in the postcard section. My best, Dana

Xenia Cord <xenia@> wrote: Post-mortem photography was not uncommon in the 19th century. Itinerant photographers, who often considered themselves artists, traveled the country and made pictures for families that could afford them. Often, because natural light was needed, the entire family and their most important possessions were posed outside the house by the photographer. We sometimes see quilts, or a piano, or a team of draft animals, or a spinning wheel, grouped with the people.

There is a book called ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ that looks at this tradition (which was later carried indoors as artificial light sources and better cameras became available.). Lots of pictures.

Xenia

From: Dana Balsamo

Hi Merry,

About 18 years ago, I dated a boy (we were 16), and his grandmother died. I went to the wake everyday and the funeral. The first this his mother did was pull out her camera to photograph her deceased mother. His sister tried to get her to stop, she was a little older. But the mother wanted pictures.

I listed in another post a site with many post mortem photos, although, I have never seen a whole family album of such.

My best, Dana

Merry Endres <merryme@> wrote: This is interesting and it raises a question in my mind that, all though not quilting related, came to mind because of this article. Has anyone on here seen the movie “The Others”? In that movie there was a book of photographs of dead people, posed as they would have been in life. In the movie, they say this was common in many years ago. Does anyone know if this is true, or was it made up to go with the story in the movie?

–Merry

Material Pleasures Affordable Antique and Vintage Quilts, Linens, Lace, Textiles, Buttons & More! www.material-pleasures.com

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 22:07:05 -0400 | From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

My Mother made videos of both my grandparents funerals..One in 1976 the other in 1989. They include several different sections of them in the caskets.

Sharon in NC

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 22:41:12 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett421@>

This site discusses Victorian death photography — I couldn’t think of any other way to describe it — there are also 2 additional links at the bottom of the page.

http://www.deathonline.net/remembering/mourning/victorian.cfm#photos

Last fall I attended an all day seminar on Victorian Death and Dying Customs and there were several pictures of deceased children. Asking the vendor who had them for sale about them, he said they were a very common practice.

Barb in southeastern PA
—
In the movie, they were talking about the mid to late 1800’s, I believe. At both my father’s and brother in law’s funerals, people were photographing the body, and in the later case, various family members posing with the body in the casket. In the case with my father, it was to send pictures to relatives who could not attend the funeral. —– Original Message —–

From: “Merry Endres”

Thank you, Xenia. I have a hold now on that book from the library; being from Wisconsin, I’m sure I’ll find it all the more interesting.

From: Sally Ward

Jccullencrew@ wrote: > In that movie there was a book of photographs of dead people, posed as they > would have been in life. In the movie, they say this was common in many > years ago.

It must only be about a week since my newspaper picked up a report of a deceased gentleman (one of your countrymen) whose ‘viewing’ was arranged thus:

He was seated on his favourite reclining chair, with a glass of beer by his side, paper on his lap, and TV remote in his hand. In front of him a television was playing a continuous loop of his favourite baseball team. Relatives said ‘the undertakers did a fantastic job, it was just like he was at home’.

I kid you not.

Sally W

Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 06:20:47 -0400 | From: “Linda Heminway” <ibquiltn@>

Yes, I know I should lay down and take a nap until the urge goes away… I’ve just re-read the quilt washing recommendations in Pat Cummings book “Straight Talk About Quilt Care” and I keep thinking about Xenia’s go lay down remark that I have read repeatedly since I joined this digest (mentioned in Pat’s book and giving credit to Xenia as well!) and I’ve wrestled with myself for a long time, but I’ve just GOT to wash an antique quilt if I am to ever enjoy it and hopefully restore it. I just don’t want to touch it and work with it, it looks really dirty and I know I shouldn’t do this, but I really and truly want to be able to touch it and handle it while restoring it. This being said…. below is my plan and I really would like to know if this is what you all would recommend if I am convinced that this is the way to go for this quilt if it’s to continue to have a life beyond sitting in my basement because I can’t stand it the way it is. Yes, and I know sitting in the basement is the absolute worst place for it as well. You don’t have to tell me that… I’m already feeling really guilty about that part, but I can’t stand it being in the house unless it’s clean and it’s in better condition than it is.

So, here are the steps I plan to take and if there is something else that I might do to make sure it survives intact, do let me know:

From: Xenia Cord

Ok, Linda, if you refuse to take the line of least resistance, I would offer these suggestions to add to your careful step-by-step:

In step 4, instead of ‘swishing,’ gently press down on the quilt with the flats of your hands, which will force water through the quilt and irrigate the batting.

Repeat the Orvus step.

In step 6, instead of letting the quilt drain and dry, press out the water gently, and move right to the next step. Allowing it to dry may create those ugly ‘tide marks’ on the parts that dry first. You can move the quilt from tub to outdoors by gently folding the sheeted package into a large garbage bag for carrying.

In step 8, if you have additional sheets, use them instead of the wet one from the tub. Lay out the quilt on its wet sheet, place a dry one on top, and then ‘roll’ this sandwich over until dry is on the bottom and you can remove the wet sheet. Cover with another dry sheet. This step can be repeated. You want to avoid having a thoroughly wet sheet wick any dirt up from the ground

Xenia (still in favor of lying down!)

From: Dana Balsamo

Hi Linda, I just washed a 1930s quilt…the first vintage quilt I have ever wet washed. You also need to check for color fastness…rub a wet Q-Tip on each fabric and see if any color comes off. And Yes, I would baste a piece of muslin over any area that is deteriorating (holes, frays, weak thread areas). BTW, it is a very pretty quilt. Best of luck, Dana

Linda Heminway <ibquiltn@> wrote: Yes, I know I should lay down and take a nap until the urge goes away… I’ve just re-read the quilt washing recommendations in Pat Cummings book “Straight Talk About Quilt Care” and I keep thinking about Xenia’s go lay down remark that I have read repeatedly since I joined this digest (mentioned in Pat’s book and giving credit to Xenia as well!) and I’ve wrestled with myself for a long time, but I’ve just GOT to wash an antique quilt if I am to ever enjoy it and hopefully restore it.

Material Pleasures Affordable Antique and Vintage Quilts, Linens, Lace, Textiles, Buttons & More! www.material-pleasures.com

From: “Virginia Berger”

My ex-MIL’s younger brother drowned when he was a toddler. They didn’t have any pictures of him so they dressed him and propped him in a chair and photographed him. This would have been in the late 1920’s-early 1930’s I think. I saw the photo many years ago and it was creepy but I guess it was better than no photo at all.

Virginia Berger

From: Pat Kyser <patkyser@>

I have a friend here in Alabama who is an historian and an expert in old photography. A number of times she has run across photos of dead infants with a knife or pair of scissors also prominently displayed. This, she explains, was to show the child’s life was cut short. She has found enough of these to conjure that this was not an isolated practice. As one who lost two babies many years ago, I found the pictures extremely macabre and unsettling. I’d prefer a memory quilt to mark the child’s life. Pat

From: Kris Driessen

I am a little hesitant to use Orvus on a quilt. It is hard to rinse out – my thought is that if it is not thoroughly removed, the soap residue will attract more dirt.

I use my washing machine as a bathtub, and wash it as Xenia suggested but then I let the machine spin out. I don’t let it agitate. I feel that the stress on the fibers as it spins is no worse than us pressing out the moisture on a sheet. Plus you have the added benefit of removing more moisture so you are less likely to attract mildew.

Have you tried vacuuming the quilt? Just put a screen over it and vacuum it with the brush attachment. Putting it outside on a line on a slightly breezy day may work too. But if there is a lot of grunge, go ahead and wash. Even if you do damage to some of the fibers, you are still preserving its life by removing that junk. Plus, a clean quilt is more attractive to view and invites us to investigate it and enjoy it. That’s what collecting antique quilts is all about, isn’t it?

Oh, we could get off on a side tangent here…

Kris