September 29 - October 2, 2005

Quilt Block History, Quilt Dating, Restoration & Conservation

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:

Identifying a Bear Paw Quilt — A member asks for help pinning down the history and naming of a Bear Paw pattern quilt from her grandmother’s cedar chest.
Featherweight Sewing Tables — Several members compare notes on cabinets and tables that work well for sewing on a Singer Featherweight.
Skepticism Over a Martha Washington Gown Quilt — Members pick apart an eBay listing claiming a crazy quilt was made from scraps of Martha Washington’s gown, comparing it to a known Smithsonian photo. (see the article on cleaning antique quilts)
Buffered vs. Unbuffered Tissue for Storage — A thread on archival tissue paper clarifies when buffered (acid-free but alkaline) tissue is appropriate versus unbuffered tissue for storing quilts and textiles. (see the article on caring for antique quilts)
Hunting Down an Abe Lincoln Pattern — A member tries to track down a pieced quilt pattern featuring Abraham Lincoln along one border, with other members suggesting reference books.

From: “Jeff & Sheri Lesh” <jefflesh@>

During the cleaning out of my grandparents’s house, when they moved to an apartment. I aquired grandma’s cedar chest and all the family quilts. I also found a stack of signature blocks that had not been put together. So last fall I went into their house and sat with a notebook and went through the blocks and had them tell me what they knew about each person that was named. (They are both 96 and still live independently.) They could rip right off about all of these names, there was only one name that they had NO recollection of. The beginning of this quilt came from the Geneseo Methodist Church, a small country church, where they lived for just a few years. The main event of those years was my grandpa lost part of his arm in a corn picker accident, which he still wear a hook to this day.

I was able to take the information given to me and do some research in some historical books from our area and get some info on some of the people. Some of the families had ties to the pioneer families of that area. A bulk of the signatures were from family. She had many extra blocks, so had many members of their family sign and embroider their names. So with the family history my parents had done, I was able to add photos of almost all of the family and background of many of them. I put them together all in a booklet that I have given to my parents, grandparents, the library in Traer, where they graciously let me borrow the historical documents and books that they had for research. It is certainly not a definitive work but it does give a much greater value to our family in this pile of blocks that I have. There are still blank blocks, I would like to have my mother, daughters and me also sign one. There are two signatures of my great-grandmother on them. Both my grandparent’s mothers signed them. One I knew, the other had died before I was born. So that is obviously special to me. 🙂

Hope you enjoy my story. Sheri in Iowa

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:15:05 EDT | From: Palampore@

I can’t seem to find much about the Bear Paw Pattern. I have a Bear Paw Pattern quilt that is made of mostly brown fabrics that appear to date around 1880. There is no black in the entire quilt. There is one blue block that is of a fabric I am not at all familiar with. Did people “call” it the bear paw in the late 1800’s or did it obtain that name later? The design of the quilt is— 4 bear paws with sashing in between them. Then sashing between other blocks like that. Ironically I got the quilt top out of an attic in a very very old house in New Bern, NC. It was named after Berne, Switzerland. Berne’s mascot is the bear, and therefore New Bern, NC has adopted the same mascot. I am just wondering if there is any connection. Did the person maybe make the quilt because of New Bern’s town mascot? Or was all of this just coincidental??? I will never know of course, but a little more help on when the pattern was called “The Bear Paw” might at least help me. I am setting up a booth to get rid of “cutter” quilts (ratty & ragged), so I am rummaging among lots of stuff I haven’t seen in ages…… I know some people think that no quilts should be cut. Unfortunately the lives of these quilts as bedcoverings are long gone. I think that the quilter would be happy that they went on to be doll quilts, table runners, and placemats. (The Bear Paw quilt top is in awful condition. It is the typical shredding browns, but I don’t have the heart to sell it.) Thanks for your help. Lynn Lancaster Gorges New Bern, NC

From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

I am curious.. The person who said they got good results with color manipulation..DO you remember what color exactly? I am thinking that some different color transparencies might work just as well as the color manipulation on a computer. I know we use color overlays for some children with learning problems. Orange and yellow come to mind the most but I am sure there is more info on the web about this use of color..It might be we could add a color sheet to our box of goodies when dealing with vintage pieces.

Just an idea.. Sharon in NC Who just gave 43 chickens baths today and is on her way to the fair now…VBG

From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

Sharon in NC wrote: > I am curious.. The person who said they got good results with color > manipulation..DO you remember what color exactly?

The piece of printing I was trying to read was blue on white. It showed up most clearly when I enhanced the red/pink spectrum. It would all depend on what colour ink you are working with I suppose.

However, red and green overlays are standard aids when determining colour value, reducing what you are looking at to scales of grey, so perhaps they would be useful. Why not experiment with some cellophane sweet wrappers <G> ?

Sally W

From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@>

First let me thank everyone who forward such great tips on reading faded ink and faded embroidery on quilts. They are really helpful, and as I do have some of the techology, I can’t wait to try your ideas! And, it leads me to think it would be good to add a section at the end of my book “Text on Textiles: Words as Design in Antique Quilts” quoting QHL’ers who so kindly shared info.

Second, I apologize for typos in my emails!! I really do know how to type and write, but as I rush these notes out to QHL, which I so enjoy doing, I always feel a little guilty taking shop time ’cause there is so much to straighten up in here…you understand. If I had a computer at home too, I know I would be chatting and corresponding ALL the time.

Third, for anyone coming to NYC, do visit the American Folk Art Museum which has several eye catching exhibits now, though no quilts. The painted furniture is beautiful, and the obsessive compulsive-y outsider drawings are striking. As far as I know there are no major quilt exhibitions in NYC upcoming up. There will be an exhbit of Cy Nelson’s gifts to the Museum, which will feature his whitework quilt contributions, This coming weekend has QUILT DAY Saturday with lectures and programs. Museum website is folkartmuseum.org.

And, please all of you– write the new head of the American Folk Art Museum Dr. Maria (oops-don’t recall her last name, contact the museum 212/977-7170) to lobby them to commit their Lincoln Center branch to the continuous display of quilts and textiles for educational exhibitions–every quilter who comes to NYC wants to know where to see such stuff, and there really is no exhibition space devoted to this material. She’s been on board some time now and now better able to consider this suggestion.

Laura Fisher

From: “Newbie Richardson”

Dear List, I googled the Material Safety Data Sheet on Simple Green. All it is is a 6% solution of butoxyethanol – also known as Butyl Cellosolve. It does rinse out of fabric completely. Perhaps one of you who are less chemically challenged than I can add to the discussion of it’s potential harm to cellulosic fibers? Best to all Newbie Richardson in No. VA where we finally got a smidgion of rain last night ( the first in over 2 months.) Our Dogwoods and Lilac are all dying!

From: “Steve & Jean Loken” <sandjloken@>

Hi all, I do just about all my sewing on a Featherweight. I’m looking for a new table to sew on. I’m using a small desk, but it’s too small. I’ve looked at the tradional tables made for the machine but they’re too small as well and not that sturdy. Does anyone have a solution? What I’d love is a big desk like those corner computer desks, but one that doesn’t put the machine up too high. Those are already two inches higher than the one I’m using. Is there a newer table with a cut-out for the machine? I Googled but didn’t feel like searching several hundred hits without asking for your input. Thanks in advance, Jean in MN

From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcw@>

Sheri Lesh would you e-mail me off-list. You mentioned Geneseo Methodist Church — is that Geneseo, Illinois or Geneseo, New York. If it is Geneseo, Illinois I live about 3.9 miles from there.

Sue in Illinois

From: Palampore@

In light of the recent interest on QHL regarding signature quilts I suggest that you check out Kim Wulfert site on “signature quilts”. It is excellent. I just stumbled on it tonight. Being a collector of signature quilts, I thoroughly enjoyed reading her page.

http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/Antique%20Signature%20and%20Album%20Quilts. html

Nancy Hornbeck and I (& others!) keep hoping that someone will want to do a thesis on signature quilt documenting. Any takers???? Nancy has already developed a wonderful “fact sheet”.

I love signature quilts. My interest in genealogy and quilts makes my brain dance with curiosity when I see a signature quilt. Why did they do this? Who initiated it? On & on….

I dream that one day there will be a place for all of us to register those quilts, so that quilters and genealogists might benefit from them.

Off to bed. Lynn Lancaster Gorges New Bern, NC

From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney”

Good evening, QHLers –

The following is from the MSDS for 100% butyl cellosolveAE (trademarked name) (or generically ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; 2-butoxyethanol):

Emergency Overview

DANGER! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, BLOOD AND BLOOD-FORMING ORGANS, KIDNEYS, LIVER AND LYMPHOID SYSTEM. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT.

Potential Health Effects

Inhalation:

Causes irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms may include sore throat, coughing, headache, nausea and shortness of breath. High concentrations have a narcotic effect.

Ingestion:

Causes irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Toxic! May cause systemic poisoning with symptoms paralleling those of inhalation.

Skin Contact:

May cause irritation with redness and pain. May be absorbed through the skin with possible systemic effects.

Eye Contact:

Vapors are irritating and may produce immediate pain, redness and tearing. Splashes can cause severe pain, stinging, swelling.

Chronic Exposure:

Prolonged or repeated exposures can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, lymphoid system, blood and blood-forming organs.

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:

Persons with pre-existing skin disorders, eye problems, impaired liver, kidney, blood, respiratory or lymphoid system function may be more susceptible to the effects of the substance

Simple Green is only 6% butyl cellosolveAE, so one can assume that the above is not a personal health hazard. I would think that if you are sensitive, have underlying health considerations or susceptible, one would take precautions. If it is completely rinsed out (including any colourant and perfume added), I think there shouldn92t be any harm to cellulosic fibres. The pH of the Simple Green concentrate is 9.5 (per the MSDS) 96 when is diluted per instructions, the pH would drop. This pH wouldn92t be damaging to cellulosics. Of course, if the water you use to dilute the Simple Green is hard, has other contaminants, they could be left behind!

>All it is is a 6% solution of butoxyethanol – also known as Butyl Cellosolve. It does rinse

out of fabric completely. Perhaps one of you who are less chemically challenged than I can add to the

discussion of it’s potential harm to cellulosic fibers?>

Regards,

Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney

Textile/Costume Conservator

Professional Associate, AIC

mgmooney@

From: “Linda Heminway”

Jean asked about a table to sew on using her Featherweight. Jean, I like to use my Featherweight, but also own a Viking as well as a Janome and switch them according to various projects. I have a Roberts Sewing cabinet, mine is called The Ultimate Sew and Serge Credenza. Their web site is here at: http://www.sews.com/furniture/roberts/robtbl2.html By the way, I don’t own a serger (had one, hated it, returned it) but I use the extension for all sorts of stuff including a portable ironing board. The best thing about my Roberts cabinet is that is has an automatic lift (available in all of the major brand cabinets as an option) and I can adjust the height of the machine to whatever I feel like it being at the time I am sewing. I find the height changes depending on my project and which machine I have on there. I am easily amused, I must add, and having the electric lift going up and down like a mini elevator with my machine on it never ceases to please me. This cabinet was expensive, but worth every penny to me. I kind of conned my husband into getting it for me last year and I love it. It was my birthday, but also compensation for giving up my sewing room so he could open a home business and have an office. I also love how it folds up and all my sewing “mess” disappears when I want it to. I sew in our bedroom and can be such a slob and this truly helps me to clean up my act. I was able to achieve a good sewing experience with folding tables, under bed storage and have found all sorts of ways to keep my stash and other things available, but out of sight! Linda Heminway Plaistow, NH

From: “Quiltstuff” <quiltstuff@>

Hi all, I am not really knowledgeable about US history.. but how likely is it that a Victorian crazy quilt would actually contain fabric from gowns from George Washington’s inaugural ball. Did he even have one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item7354506981

I did raise an eyebrow over the phrase ” This damage can be easily restored or replaced by a professional”

Is it kind of like selling the London Bridge?

Just curious

Suzy Atkins Australia

From: “Sharon in NC”

I think they are full of it. I hope no one gets suckered into bidding.

Sharon in NC

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 8:47:34 -0400 | From: Karen Evans

It’s just barely possible that the makers *thought* the scraps were from Martha Washington’s gown, but since her actual dress (intact) is in the Smithsonian, I very much doubt that this is the case. This sounds like one of those pious Victorian “souvenirs” of the George-Washington-slept-here ilk.

OTOH, Martha Washington was a quilter (one of her quilts is at the Smithsonian), so she or her daughter could have kept some dress scraps for patchwork….

Karen Evans

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 08:54:09 -0400 | From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

Here is an online picture of Martha’s actual gown from the Smithsonian. If anyone can get the seller to send a picture of that particular piece you can verify.. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/inauguration/fashion.html Sharon in NC

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:33:08 -0500 | From: Carol Elmore <celmore@>

I have a Roberts sewing cabinet that I bought many years ago that has a hand lift which works very well. I bought another sewing machine and called them to see if they could make a new template that would fit around the new machine. They had me order it through my local sewing machine dealer. I received it and it fits the machine perfectly. I would assume that they could make a template for a Featherweight if you wanted one. They let me talk to the person at their company who personally cuts them. The beauty of the template that fits around the machine is that you have a flat sewing surface that in my opinion helps prevent fatigue. You don’t have to raise or lower your fabric when you run it throught the machine.

Carol Elmore Manhattan KS

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 11:41:16 -0400 | From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

I emailed the seller and got back more pictures. While it is a beautiful quilt the piece he describes as part of Martha’s dress does not seem to match at all in the pictures. I also think part of the embroidery shows a much later date. The costuming on some of the characters seems more of the early 1900’s. It will be interesting to see what everyone else thinks.

Sharon in NC

From: Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@>

There is another quilt on Ebay that prods my curiosity……………………………..

item # 7354465379.

This item is listed as a “pre-civil war quilt c. 1850″…………………..it appears to have madders and mourning prints……………..this seller usually has really nice stuff, but what makes this a pre-civil war quilt and not a time-span quilt with scraps collected over several decades????????

Just curious in NW Ohio-C. Ark

From: MargaretFahey@

I don’t use a featherweight, but have a table I love. It is a computer table, large and had the needed shape of my machine cut out of the top. Now the machine “sits” on the tray intended for the keyboard. The weight of the machine keeps the sliding surface from moving. It is open at the back of the tray so I can thread the cords to outlet and pedal. The knee lifter even fits fine. Tray is wide so I can slip sissors and, oh my, seam ripper next to machine. Only problem is that the edge of the cutout is like a particle board, since surface is white malimite or something ( surface serves faithfully no matter how many times there are coffee drips or worse, wine smudges..wipe off) I think I got the desk at a sale someplace. I keep another table behind it so when machine quilting a large piece the weight is supported.

One suggestion. Good luck.. Margaret

From: “Edith L. Taylor” <etaylor@>

Dear all:

I’m on digest, so maybe this was already addressed. Butoxyethanol is just another name for ethylene glycol, i.e., the main ingredient in antifreeze. I looked up some other products under this label, “Simple Green” and it’s clear that there is nothing ‘green’ about any of these products. Basically the ingredients are the same as in other cleaning products like Formula 409, etc.

Edie Lawrence, Kansas

From: “Alan”

Do you know the make or model? Typing “blue kenmore” into ebay only brings up vacuums. Thanks

Alan

Alan R. Kelchner Fiber Artist Http://www.alanrkelchner.com

From: “Lorraine Olsson”

“This item is listed as a “pre-civil war quilt c. 1850”

I see it as a beautiful 1880s quilt. No doubt at all that it is later than the 1850s. This is the era that I have most of in my collection, and I would have it in a flash. It is almost identical to one in my collection except mine has a dark brown border instead if the pink.

Cheers, Lorraine in Oz

From: aol.com

I was a bit weirded out by all the pink…it didn’t look pre-Civil War at all.

Karen Evans

From: Gary Parrett <

I was talking to one of the workers at the Historical Society and she was talking about buffered vs. non-buffered acid free tissue. Thought I’d ask the pro’s to explain the difference a bit more clearly.

Thankyou, Karen

PS I live just a ways north of Geneseo, NY. It would be interesting to know which one of the Geneseos the signatures came from.

From: joan kiplinger

Karen — unbuffered tissue has a neutral PH and is used for wool, silk, leather and fur storage, proteins which are sensitive to alkaline.. Buffered contains 3% alkaline to neutralize acids and is used for cellusoics such as cotton, linen, jute, rayon and synthetics.

Gary Parrett wrote: I was talking to one of the workers at the Historical Society and she was talking about buffered vs. non-buffered acid free tissue.

From: “kim baird”

Here’s the easiest rule of thumb for the non-professional–DO NOT USE buffered acid-free tissue.

That will avoid any potential problems.

Buffered tissue remains acid-free longer, but it is damaging to protein fibers, meaning leather, silk, wool, cashmere, alpaca, etc. And you can’t always be sure what fibers are in your old quilts, so avoiding the buffered tissue is safer.

Kim

From: “Merry Endres”

Hi, and sorry for the cross-post. A friend of mine just purchased a mobility scooter and wants a cover for it but can’t afford a new one. Do any of you know of a source for a scooter cover, or have an old cover I could use as a pattern? I know some of you own one of these types of scooters. Thanks you 🙂

Hugs, Merry

From: “Jeff & Sheri Lesh”

I am searching for a quilt pattern that I saw somewhere ?? with Abe Lincoln pieced along the left long side of the quilt. I think there were various blocks that filled in the remaining part of it. One of those patterns, I wished I had bought, but did not. I did a search online, but didn’t come up with anything like that at all. I was hoping it might ring a bell with someone from this group.

We are doing a trip late this fall going to some civil war battlefields and I thought that might be a good project to buy for during my trip. It I can come up with it.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Sheri in Iowa

From: “Karan Flanscha”

Hi, Sheri, Can’t say that the Lincoln pattern rings a bell for me… but here is a book that you will definitely want.. ‘The Civil War Diary Quilt’ by Rosemary Youngs. I pre-ordered mine from Rosemary, and she signed a label in the front of the book and included 3 panels with Lincoln’s silhouette to use in one of the blocks. I don’t know if you are still on the DJ list, here is ordering info that Rosemary sent to the list today:

Here’s the information for ordering the new Civil War Diary Quilt Book Or the Amish Circle Quilt Book. Photographs of the quilts and books can be seen on my web shots pages, go to: http://community.webshots.com/user/rosemaryjane102

These books can be bought through paypal, they are listed on eBay as the following The Civil War Diary Quilt eBay item number 6980328590

The Civil War diary Quilt and CD eBay item number 6980337607

The Amish Circle Quilt eBay item number 6980345047

1. The Civil War Diary Quilt book is available for $22.99 plus $4 postage priority mail, global priority mail $9. You can order a CD with the book, you have to have Electric Quilt to run the CD, the CD is $10. If you order the Civil War diary Quilt book with a CD the cost is $32.99 plus postage. If you look at the web shots, three blocks in the Quilt used the Abraham Lincoln fabric, this fabric will be enclosed with your order to use in the three blocks.

2. The Amish Circle Quilt Book is available for $24.99 plus four dollars postage priority mail, global priority mail nine dollars.

3. If you would like to order both books, your order would be $45 plus postage. Both books will fit in the same envelope.

If you do not like to order through eBay, I will except checks or money order. My address is: Rosemary Youngs 3704 Nicole Court Walker, Michigan 49544

If you have any questions please let me know.

I sat with Rosemary at the DJ gathering in Shipshewana, IN in April. She showed me the cover art for her new book, and I said “That doll looks like Hitty!” The doll block on the cover was stitched by Judy Day. There is a story at the end of the book about a china doll, very touching, and that is the reason for the china doll pattern. The rest of the patterns are pieced blocks. There is a quilt with a dozen china dolls, each stitched by a different quilter and each dressed differently, really neat. She has included excerpts from Civil War era diaries, and biographies of 10 women.

Are you going to Gettysburg on your trip?? Mike & I were there 2 weeks ago. We did a “ghost tour” which I thought was going to be a joke, but it really ended up being one of the neatest things we did. The guide was dressed in a hoop skirt (not technically correct, but it did add to the affect)… and took us on a walking tour (after dark), stopping at various houses & telling us who lived there & what happened to them during the battle. Pointed out bullet holes & even a cannonball in the houses. Lots of “personal” history, which I found much more interesting than the drier facts we got from the auto tour CD (next time, we will go to the National Park Visitors Center first, and hire a live guide who rides along with you). There was a little bit of the ‘ghost’ thing, but mostly it was history. Let me know if you want more info on that. Found a nice shop on the edge of Gettysburg, too.

Well, I am off to the store, as we discovered there is “no food in the house”! Wonder how that happened 😉 TTYL, Karan

From: Sheryl Till

Has anyone taken a look at this quilt?

7353490074

I worked in Lancaster, PA just prior to some of the Esprit collection coming back there so I missed seeing them. Am I wrong or should this quilt be perfect (without repairs) for this price??? It’s beautiful but way out of my pocketbook range.

— Sheryl sctill@ Love feedsacks? Join me at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feedsack_Memories http://www.laquiltworks.com http://www.thequiltingpost.com http://www.berrypatchproductions.com

From: “Marcia Kaylakie” <marciark@>

I recently saw a tape making loom on an antiques website and now have this bee in my bonnet that i might want one or want to make a working model to use in my lectures. Does anyone know how expensive these are and can they be made to work? I am thinking some of our Eeastern seaboard ladies or gentelymen might know. Please reply privately or see me at AQSG, if you are going there! Marcia Kaylakie Marcia Kaylakie, AQS Certified Appraiser Austin, TX www.texasquiltappraiser.com ——_

Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 09:26:24 EDT | From: Palampore@

I know this isn’t antique quilt stuff so I haven’t said anything about it….But….if you can wait, I am writing a book which is filled with patterns for bags, covers, etc. that can fit all types of wheeled mobility items such as walkers and wheelchairs. I hope to have the book out by the first of the year. If you would like to email me privately to ask more about these patterns that would be fine. I actually have 3 books in the works relating to people who have special needs. Off to church, Lynn Lancaster Gorges
—
QHL-ers may be interested in this afternoon of presentations scheduled for November 5th, 2005 at the University of Delaware. The event is sponsored by The Alliance for American Quilts (http://www.centerforthequilt.org) and the Center for Material Culture Studies at the University of Delaware (http://materialculture.udel.edu).

Pat Keller berrettudel.edu

************************************************************

The Alliance for American Quilts Presents Quilt History in the Making – A Symposium Saturday, November 5, 1:00 pm Reception to follow, 4:00 pm 101 Recitation Hall, University of Delaware Newark, DE

Presentations:

Shelly Zegart, president and co-founder of The Alliance for American Quilts, “At the Corner of Paradise and Persuasion: The Vision of the Alliance.”

Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories interview with Marilyn Henrion, quilt artist, conducted by Amy Henderson, Alliance board member and University of Delaware Art History PhD Candidate.

Patricia Keller, Alliance board member, University of Delaware, History of American Civilization PhD candidate, “A New Spin on Quilt History: Lancaster County Quilts.”

Janneken Smucker, Alliance board member, University of Delaware, History of American Civilization PhD student, “Shopping for Nostalgia: The Creation of an Amish Quilt Capital.”

If you cannot attend the symposium, please join us for a reception and opportunity to see the exhibition QuiltVoices, University Gallery, Old College, 4 pm. See http://www.museums.udel.edu/current/quilt05/quilt-main.html for more information about the exhibit.

For additional information or to RSVP by October 28, please email alliancequilts@ or call 302-831-8037.

Directions available at www.udel.edu/admissions/viewbook/visit/directions.html.

Parking available at Trabant University Center Garage. Campus maps available at www .udel.edu/buildings.

Sponsored by The Alliance for American Quilts (http://www.centerforthequilt.org) and the Center for Material Culture Studies at the University of Delaware (http://materialculture.udel.edu).

A special viewing of Quilt Stories by Teresa Barkley, at the Historical Society of Delaware (www.hsd.org) has been arranged for the morning prior to the symposium. Details available upon RSVP.

From: “Lucinda Cawley”

Did I miss something? Laura Fisher tell me more about “Text on Textiles.” Cinda on the Eastern Shore

From: Donald Beld

Sherri–the quilt you describes sounds very much like the award winning quilt designed and made by Sharon Malec from Illinois–It is a portrait of Lincoln she designed from the potrait that hangs in classrooms in Illinois and then she placed other blocks as border blocks and it has a flag on it behind Lincoln (I think).

You can contact Sharon, I am sure, by typing her name into your search engine, as she is a rather famous quilter, designer and teacher.

The original Lincoln quilt was purchased by my guild in Redlands, California last year and donated to the Lincoln Shrine in Redlands, California to be part of their permanent collection. (The Redlands Lincoln Shrine has the only U.S. Sanitary Commission Quilt on Public Display in the United States) and has an extensive collection of Lincoln and Civil War artifacts and books.)

But Sharon retains the copywrite on her quilt. Don Beld

Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 12:15:09 -0400 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>

Last Friday there were many familiar faces at the Historical Society of Frederick County (Maryland) textile symposium “Common Threads.” The program covered Maryland coverlets, samplers, conservation and quilts, with emphasis on items made in or near Frederick County (I think of it as western MD, but I suppose if you live in Cumberland you’d call it something else). Nancy Gibson’s talk on quilts was delightful. Her enthusiasm echoed that of the audience. Hazel Carter and I were able to prolong the fun thanks to my “twin-separated-at-birth” Suzanne Cawley who invited us to her home in “Wild and Wonderful” Keyser, West Virginia.

We spent Saturday at a harvest festival in the town of Moorefield which featured a little quilt show. They exhibited a local collection of antique quilts which had never been displayed before. The quilts which dated from the mid-1850s (at which point the area was still part of Virginia) to the early 20th century. Most interesting were three quilts, obviously from the same maker, which had more repairs than I’ve ever seen on any quilts. Each of the quilts (Touching Star, Album Block, 9-Patch) dated from the 1850s with extensive (and expert repair) in the 1930s. On the Star quilt more than half of the diamonds had 1930s fabrics appliqued over the original piece. On the other two whole blocks were repaired in the same manner. Each of those two quilts had a triple border of two narrow patterned strips with a strip of the background fabric between. On both quilts 30s fabrics have been appliqued over the original borders all the way around the perimiter. We also saw a fascinating exhibit of vintage clothing (Suzanne is desparately trying to expand my horizons).

The most interesting item were a child’s mourning clothes circa 1890. My special treat, for which I am grateful to Suzanne and Hazel for indulging me, (I am a Presidential site junky in my spare time) was finding Nancy Hanks’ (Abraham Lincoln’s mother) birthplace. We followed a series of winding and increasingly narrow roads into the hills. The site is isolated (the view is probably much as it was in the late 18th century) and neglected. There’s an historical marker and a delapidated log cabin (a reconstruction from the 1930s). I’m off to Denver for AQSG on Wednesday. It’s going to be great; AQSG is always my #1 quilt related event of the year. Cinda on the Eastern Shore

From: “Teddy Pruett” <

Hi all – I am trying to find some information on a quilt. It appears to have been made from a 30’s die cut kit for a Lone Star or STAR OF Bethlehem – all solids in yellows, pinks, green, lavender. BUT the darn thing has been constructed as a SEVEN point star and appliqued to a piece of solid white background. Backed, joined by machine at the edges, but no batting. The lady who brought it to me purchased the quilt near Fargo, ND, so I immediately thought of the Native American gift quilts and morning star patterns.

Can anyone tell me if there is a significance to the 7 points as opposed to 8? Any idea as to a native American significance? Will be glad to hear any thoughts……and will see many of you in just a few days in magnificent Colorado.

Teddy Pruett

From: “Renee Mirazo”

I notice this seller has no history on Ebay.

Renee Eagle River, Alaska

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item7354506981

I did raise an eyebrow over the phrase ” This damage can be easily restored or replaced by a professional”

Is it kind of like selling the London Bridge?

Just curious

Suzy Atkins Australia

From: Judy White

Teddy, I am presently restoring a seven pointed lone star that is indigo and muslin. It was made by the owners grandmother in Germany sometime in the 1880’s. The owner is around my age (64). I repieced the center and then appliqued the whole seven pointed star to a piece of muslin. It looks really nice. My helper and I are now hand quilting the star and will do some more hand quilting on the background and then bind it. The owner wants to hang it on her wall. She must have a very large space because this is a large quilt but very beautiful. But to get back to your question of the significance of the seven points – no, I don’t have any idea why someone would make just seven.

Judy White Connecticut Quilt Restorer

From: joan kiplinger <jkip@>

Earlier this year I had a discussion with somebody on this list about creating an index for a book. I lost her email address when my email folders mysteriously went kaput during the night several months ago. Whomever, please contact me privately, and anyone else who has had adventures in creating an extensive index for a book. Need all the help I can get. Sorry for this slightly off-topic post but it’s the only way I can yell for help.

From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>

>Can anyone tell me if there is a significance to the 7 points as >opposed to 8? Any idea as to a native American significance?

I’ve had a couple of 7-pointed stars over the years and my feeling always was that they were not intentional – I think the maker finished the 7 points and realized there was no room for an 8th! I’ve also seen a couple with 9 points – a similar problem but in this case the 8 would not come together. Call me a party pooper if you will, but this is more believable to me than someone actually planning to make a star with seven points! It would take some advanced calculation to figure out the template for a seven-pointed star. – Judy

From: “kim baird”

I seriously doubt your star is a Native American quilt. The local Lakota make so many star quilts, I think they can do it in their sleep. They don’t mess up and have room for only 7 points.

Kim in Fargo

Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 16:18:39 -0400 | From: “Alan” <alan@>

I tried bidding on the prettiest quilt today. Didn’t get it, but I still have a question. The setting blocks were of a peachy- yellow fabric, until you get right on top of it, and then I realized it was printed, line after line. It sort of looked like a double yellow. But then, it was 1860-1870, and I was wondering if maybe is was a bouton d’or.

Alan

Alan R. Kelchner Fiber Artist Http://www.alanrkelchner.com