April 5 – 20, 1999

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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:

  1. Bettina Pattern Sheets and Home Art Studios — Members identify ‘Bettina’ as a brand name used by Home Art Studios and discuss pattern-sheet collecting.
  2. Marking and Signing Quilts — Pepper Cory’s advice on permanent marking methods for quilts sparks a wider discussion.
  3. Burgoyne Surrounded Block History — Research into the history and alternate names of the Burgoyne Surrounded quilt pattern. (see the article on Burgoyne Surrounded)
  4. Tabby Fabric Definition — An extended thread on the historical textile term ‘tabby’ and its connection to plain-weave silk and taffeta. (see the article on cotton and textile terms)
  5. Riverside Online Quilt Exhibit — Members share and discuss an online quilt exhibit featuring notable historical quilts.
  6. 100 Historic Quilts Exhibition in Omaha — Announcement of a major exhibit of 1800–1960s quilts at Fort Omaha, tied to national quilting conventions.
  7. University Credit for Quilt History — Pat Crews announces an opportunity to earn university credit studying quiltmaking history.
  8. New Member Introductions — Several new subscribers introduce themselves, including an art historian and a textile scientist.
  9. Hexagon Quilt Top from c. 1840 — A member acquires a remarkable quilt top made of 8,000 one-inch hexagons dating to approximately 1840. (see the article on Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts)

Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 02:52:12 +0000 | From: Steve and Jean Loken sandjloken@

I just counted the pattern sheets in my box – 22. I think it’s complete, because it’s sat on my book shelf probably since the day I got it (not counting moves). Must give it a closer look. If anyone has questions about it or the patterns, e-mail me privately and I’ll check. The book is copyrighted 1963, and I think I got it when new. I never realized who wrote it until the thread started. But I thought of it just the other day, when we documented a supposedly very early (1770s?) chenille quilt, and I remembered it was one of the chapters, so I’ll sit right down and read that chapter to find out more about what we saw.
Jean in Minn

Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 09:04:59 -0500 (EST) | From: quiltsnbears@ (Roberta Geanangel)

The book is a compilation of 50 years of needlework, one of the most comprehensive collections of its time. We simply *must* put these books in perspective. With all their faults they were sincerely and painstakingly done. They give us a picture of the time when they were written as to what was important during that particular era. Keep in mind that in the 1960’s women were freeing themselves from “women’s work”, not embracing it. It was more exciting *being* a flower child than embroidering one!
Roberta

Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 21:47:53 +1000 | From: Lorraine Olsson sven@

Hello All I have just seen the most unusual quilt back on an old quilt on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item84462318

This is the first time have seen the use of printed doll fabric on the back of a quilt. Please look and tell me if this is at all common.
(I would love a piece of the fabric too, MMMMMMmmmm!)
Lorraine in Oz

Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 08:36:54 EDT | From: Baglady111@

In reply to XENIA’s post reLANCASTER YEP!!!! LAST CALL THE FEEDSACK CLUB has moved and we will be at the Holiday INN on Greenfield Road..when you come out of THE HOST..take a left and it is two miles down Rt 30..and across from the TOURIST CENTER!!! Just remember GREENFIELD RD..or call us..717-299-2551..we’ll point the way!!!

And Xenia, if I am not helf captive..I’ll be there to shop and chat…and at nite..when all quiets down….bring any of those UNSOLD. (that’s impossible to believe) down to us and you’ll go home with empty hands…evenings are big nites for us..those who like to prowl the QHC show..come and see us at nite..lectures.show and tell on Fri AND ON Sat nites..so popular we have to hold it two nites..we open Thurs nite at 6pm.//it is vendors and volunteers nite..Fri and Sat 10am til 9pm or sometimes, LAST ONE OUT, TURN OFF THE LITES!!! see you soon XENIA and all Jane http://members.aol.com/baglady111/ httpmembers.aol.com/lscmsw/feedsackclub/page1.html

Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 11:43:11 EDT | From: QuiltFixer@

Wow Pepper, what a great bit of information on marking quilts. Thank you. Please share with us what quilt tops you get to look at. ) Toni B.
QuiltFixer@
RedworkLdy@ http://idahoquilt.com/redwork.htm

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 08:57:42 +1000 | From: Lorraine Olsson sven@

Hello All, I recieved this wonderful reply to my query, from Xenia, and had to share it with everyone.
Thanks Xenia!!!
Lorraine in Oz Xenia Cord wrote

> Hi, Lorraine – that is indeed an unusual back for a quilt. Although the seller does not say so, that fabric was from the Arnold Print Works. In the 1890s they printed a number of stuffed toy fabric designs, which came on a bolt and were purchased by the repeat. I know this because I have a length of Jocko the monkey, and one for an owl (he doesn’t get a name!). I sell these repeats (front, back, base, mfgr.’s logo) uncut for $50 per repeat. The problem with them is that I think the fabric is somewhat brittle, and the designs are mostly in brown/black, with the possiblity that the ink will cause splitting on the design lines. They would be great framed – they are printed across the 24″ width.

> I have never seen the doll, but apparently there were a lot of these designs.

> Xenia, in Indiana

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 22:56:21 -0700 | From: “susanm@” susanm@

Dear Friends, I’ve been asked to query all the experts to find a solution to removing acrylic paint from a quilt. A friends husband spilt some craft paint on a prized quilt and he’s in the proverbial dog house. The paint has long since dried, of course, but any advice would be appreciated. Please email me privately. As an aside, we have a very popular Block of the Month Millennium Quilt on our web site, over 12,000 hits a month, with quilters world wide taking part, stop by for a visit. http://www.patchworkstudio.com Kind Regards, Susan Purney-Mark www.patchworkstudio.com

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 22:50:43 -0300 | From: susan silva woody@

Greetings QHL friends!
Can anyone out there tell me if there are any museums in Seattle that have quilts for display? LaConner is great, but I wont’ be going north this trip, just staying in the city.
Also I have a cute story…You know us quilters are pack rats and when my husband and I got married in 95′ we merged his stuff with my stuff.

Two pack rats and lots of stuff. So yesterday I’m cleaning out this laundry/storage room and I discover this box with rolls of old wallpaper. Hum something to donate to charity…deeper into the box I discover tons of beautiful crochet doilies and things. The deeper I go I discover this huge safety pin, and it has 20 OLD QUILT BLOCKS attached to it!!!Brite green & yellow and a blue/pink lemoyne star in the middle. Sounds bizzare but they are beautiful. So spring cleaning does have it’s benefits. When I called my DH he said they must have been his mom’s, though he never knew her to be a quilter, although his grandmother definately was. What a treasure, and spring cleaning does have it’s rewards….
Happy Quilting susan in spokane

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 22:57:04 -0800 | From: “Norma I. Herbold” normah@

Dear quilters, I posed a question regarding your experiences with 3 Pfaff sewing machines, 3 Bernina�s, and an Elna about a week and a half ago. I promised to have a summary of the responses posted by last Tuesday.
Well, life got in the way. My apologizes. ( I am so behind on reading my digests…I know there is some great theme/discussion I am missing out on.)
First, I would like to thank all of you who took the time to email your thoughts. Your responses were thought provoking, interesting, and in many ways, made my choice easier, and in others more difficult.

Of the sheer numbers, Pfaff owners were most responsive with positive comments about their machines.. the model number is given first…then the number of responses. 7550-5, 7570-3, 7510-4, 7530-2, 6270-1, 2020-0, 1171-1. Bernina responses 1530-4, 140-0, 150-0, 160-2, 1008-1. Two New Home owners and two Viking owners suggested I give their machines a try. Comments that caused me to think�I was a Viking Owner for years/always thought Berninas were overpriced…but it�s a bit like driving a Corolla (perfectly fine car) and then switching to an Audi…there is a big difference, even though both a decent cars.� �I would like to tell you to buy the dealer when you buy a machine. You want someone who will stand behind their product, answer 80 million questions and still smile, give you guide lessons when you buy the machine, fix it in their shop, not send it out, and someone you feel comfortable with.� �I agree with one of the other members who said….DEALER DEALER DEALER…� �P.S. I wouldn�t buy a machine with a computer chip until after 1/1/00, and you can test drive it to make sure…you have to ask about the chip,. and make sure the person selling it really knows…� �Stay away from Elna, they have those stupid drop in bobbins. Whenever I have a student with a drop in bobbin machine, I know we will have problems.� Of all of the Pfaff and Bernina owners in all my guilds, etc., I�ve never heard anyone who did not like their machine. I think you can�t go wrong with either.� ..�take one of your projects…a quilty one, a slinky one and take any machine you are considering for a nice test drive! Make notes about the things you like, don�t like, and then make an informed decision.� I finally sat down and made a check list of the features and the number of responses I received that commented on that feature. The features I listed were walking foot, auto needle threader, 47 decorative stitches, twin needles, cross stitch, Alphabet-1, Numbers 0-9, Alphabet-5, animal Designs, Additional feet, animal designs, Service, weight, sewing table, case for carrying, dealer reputation. When I mentioned what i was doing at last club meeting and i had run your emails off so that i could have them to mull over, they were practically ripped from my hands and i had to hunt them down before i left that day… apparently I�m not the only one who is considering a new machine! Which one did I choose? I�m going for a test drive this Friday on the Pfaff 7530 …something quilty…I don’t have anything slinky…and I�m calling around to see if any of the dealers in the area have a used 1530 Bernina. Thanks to all of you for helping me make an informed decision.
Norma Herbold Greenhaven Enterprises Quilt Retreats on the olympic Peninsula http://www.olypen.com/normah

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 04:04:06 EDT | From: Peeks1234@

Hello everyone, I’m writing to tell you about a new web site my friend, Pat Tribbey, has just put up. Some of you may recognize her name from EQlist and eqClub, as well as being a pattern contributor to Sew Precise. Her new site gives a listing of Florida Quilt Shops and Guilds, and Quilt events. She’s taking submissions if you know of any that aren’t listed. Please take a moment to have a look. <A HREF”http://members.aol.com/anotherpat/flquilts.html”>http://members.aol.com/ anotherpat/flquilts.html </A>
Warm quilt hugs, Janice — in sunny Massachusetts

Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 05:54:16 +0000 | From: Shirley McElderry tigersoup@

To Julie and all”Bettina” was one of the names used by the Home Art Studios based in Des Moines IA, but also had a South Paulina St. address in Chicago IL. The company was owned by H. Ver Mehran, and his bed-sized medallion quilt patterns were (along with Marie Webster) among the most innovative in the 21st Century. These patterns were syndicated in the late 1920’s and the 30’s, also Mr Ver Mehran made new designs for the ABC publications in the 1960’s. Alice Brooks (along with Laura Wheeler, Carol Curtis, etc.) was one of the names used by the syndicated Needlecraft Service of Old Chelsea Station NYC in the 1930’s. Sometimes these patterns were designed so that a secondary pattern was formed when the blocks were stitched together.
Shirley Mc from IA

Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 08:09:13 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner quiltfix@

Melissa, methinks you’re the victim of bad photography <G> – them pics were awfully dark. But the quilt top looks quite nice (I’m being reserved – always am over internet photos). But for the rest of you who didn’t look, these variable (Ohio? can’t keep ’em straight) stars are set on point with setting blocks of what appears to be to-die-for double purples in excellent condition color-wise. Not faded. IMO, Melissa, you got a deal, not to mention a neat top. Let us know how you feel about it when you get it ! Anyone have any tips on the care and feeding of beautiful double-purples (I haven’t had such an animal yet).
Alan

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 11:11:59 EDT | From: Harr32@

Dear Folks, I just learned about the International Quilt show August 12-15 in Greensboro, NC. Barbara Brackman will be there as well as host of others. I only saw a brochure, I don’t have one on hand…yet.
Anyone planning to attend?
Thanks Dana in warm and sunny southwest VA/TN

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 11:59:13 EDT | From: QuiltFixer@

Many thanks Shirley for always coming through with information on the things we “need to know.” You are a great part of our History List. Toni Baumgard QuiltFixer@

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 11:22:47 -0500 (CDT) | From: Marcia Kaylakie marciak@

Hi one and all, I am writing this to all of you v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y due to a sprained left thumb, and yes, I am left-handed! But, my news is more exciting! Monday night, I bid and got a crazy quilt top for $15 at our guild’s second chance boutique. Now I have never owned one and, taking Laura & Lisa’s advice, felt I should do so. The guild had received it many years ago from an unknown source. When they were cleaning out storage, they came across it and felt that someone with an interest should care for it properly. That would be me <;.)>! While it is only a top, and has mild to moderate deterioration, there’s what intrigues mesome of the silk panels have painted stencils of various items on them. My DH examined the paint and feels that it is tempra. The paint has eaten through some (2-5) panels but not others. Thre is very little embroidery other than the outline edges of the materials. Does anyone know of stenciling on crazy quilts and can you point me in a direction to read more about it? I would be glad to bring this one to Paducah for anyone to see. Just adding to my collectionI think $15 is a good price, no? BTW, I have had some success in locating names and people on my mystery signature quilt. Am keeping a journal, TTYL, Marcia Kaylakie, Austin, TX

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 09:30:43 -0700 | From: “Melissa Devin” mldevin@

Alan and all, When I saw this quilt top, my heart skipped a beat. I am looking VERY forward to seeing this top in person so that I can inspect the cutting and hand sewing. The points of the Ohio stars in the photos and description claim to all be on point–none cut off, and very exact sewing. I haven’t seen many late 1800’s tops or quilts up close, but I know that even when I am very careful sewing with my machine, I don’t always have every point accounted for. The double purple did look VERY nice too. And I think that was part of the reason that I HAD to have this top. The same seller had sold another quilt top on Ebay last week, in the Antique section called Hearts and Gizzards…
I didn’t realize that it came from the same estate, but that one was a gorgeous quilt top as well in red and white. That top sold for over $500!

So I felt very fortunate that the person that I won my bid over, only bid in $1.00 incriments at the last minute!! Surely not the way to bid on something that appears this excellent. The same seller also told me that she is keeping a blue and white school house quilt, made by the same person.
I would love to see that one!!

I have found out the piecer’s name and place of residence (along with lots of side notes–she was a seamstress–clothing, for one), so I am all ready to have that put on the quilt label, as well as the handquilter’s name that I have lined up for next summer. When people receive tops in this condition (excellent–no tears, rip, or undone hand piecing), what is the general concensous on finishing it? I almost feel that I shouldn’t, but I want to. And when they are finished, what type of fabric? Period, or repro, or ? I want to keep the integrity of this top intact, and not detract from it–this is why I am almost hesitant to finish it!
In The Beginning in Seattle is having a Antique quilt class to go over quilt restoration, repair, etc. I signed up for it yesterday, so I am looking forward to showing off this top.

I was really curious to know that if the products out now to set dyes like Synthropal and Retayne would harm this top? I have had one person tell me not to expose it to being washed because quilts made in the 1800’s more likely than not, used vegetable dyes, and products out now would remove that. Turning the gorgeous double purples to brown!
Well, anyway… I know that when I get this top (with my white gloved paws!)
I know that i won’t be able to control myself and will have to sing it’s praises yet again. I will probably try to get a good picture and scan of the whole top and put it somewhere on our website for all to see.
Melissa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mldevin@ Go Cougs!!
WAshington State Internet Quilters ~WASIQ~ http://www.wasiq.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 19:40:17 EDT | From: AlineMcK@

Yes, I’m a sucker. And no, I do NOT need a fourth dog. But I rescued a 3-month-old terrified puppy from a parking lot in Dallas yesterday, and am trying to find a home for her. She appears to be a retriever/german shepherd mix (ie, she’s going to be big). Very timid but sweet. Help me! Help me!

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 23:28:17 +0100 | From: “Jenni Dobson” jenni@

Sorry to be so much behind in reading my mail but thought I’d add another variation on this theme. I currently have in my care (en route elsewhere) an antique silk & velvet quilt. It isn’t actually a crazy but the backing is a fine silk which has been ornamented with little bows of silk ribbon at regular intervals on the back – but not attaching the backing to any of the above layer/s! It’s charming and looks almost as if someone might have seen the back of another work &
didn’t realise the ties were there for a purpose!
Jenni in UK.

Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 21:52:24 -0500 | From: KAREN BUSH Birdsong@

I’m still trying to catch up on my digests, and e-mails. I started looking in the sewing room closet for a book the other night…one thing led to another….I NOW have a thoroughly cleaned out closet, the kitchen repainted…the sewing room in the living room awaiting the new paint to dry in there…the quilting room…well, it’s just FULL of living room stuff…sigh…

> and I can’t even REMEMBER (((what)) I was looking for in the closet in the first place!!

But, I wanted to tell you, because of all your answers to my design class question, and encouragement, I’m set up with my first classes in August at the quilt shop, and have a BRAND spanking new ‘class’ room in my house, (it’s the ‘former’ quilting room) and students already signed up for private classes..!! Design classes AND beginners hand quilting….I’m really excited! THANK YOU!!!!!!
So…now with a cuppa, I’m trying to catch up on the digests…) kb

> —

—
Birdsong@ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~* – http://www.idahoquilt.com -“QUILT AS DESIRED” THE “TELL ALL BOOK” of hand quilting!!!!
–

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 15:34:33 -0400 | From: Christine_Grant@

Hello!

I was recently perusing a copy of “The Delineator” from September 1891, and came across something in the “Artistic Needlework” section that I thought might interest this list. Some of our recent threads are referred to, so I’ll quote the whole entry – the description followed by the instructions. Really, it isn’t that long! “Another quilt fever, which promises to be quite as infectious as that for the mosaic or crazy quilt of a short time ago, has seized both young and old, and it is now a fad to get from each of one’s friends or acquaintances a square of silk, linen or bolting cloth upon which some comic picture or face, figure, etc., is done in watercolors, with pen and ink or in outline embroidery. Some of these quilts are studies in natural history, all sorts of animals and birds being pictured upon them; others show only children’s faces and figures, while others combine everything from a mouse to a human face. PICTURE QUILT(instructions) This unique quilt is made of squares of silk, bolting cloth or linen, upon which figures, faces, etc., are done in water-colors, pen-and-ink or embroidery. The squares are joined and the seams are decorated with fancy stitching, which may be all of one color or combine a variety of colors. The quilt is usually lined with silk, satin, Surah, sateen or any pretty material.” No mention of tempera, or stencils, but the ‘lining’ suggestions are interesting. Has anyone seen a “picture quilt”? I have seen painted fabric included in crazy quilts, but not a complete quilt of painted or drawn squares.
Maybe the fad didn’t catch on? Or are there thousands of these quilts out there and I just haven’t noticed? Possibly a preservation nightmare… I would be interested in your responses.
Elsewhere in this magazine, it was reported that Nile green would be a fashionable colour for the Fall. A previous issue complained that the ‘new’
colours for that season where really old colours with new names, and gave some equivalents, which still didn’t help me much! What’s in a (colour) name?
Chris in Cornwall, Ontario

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 18:04:36 EDT | From: Peeks1234@

I have a client who would like me to make her a blue and cream Burgoyne Surrounded quilt. I thought having a little quilt history to accompany the quilt would be in order. But, I’ve been searching my books all day and can’t find the story about the quilt. (This is frustrating, I know I have it somewhere!) If anyone can help with a web site or book reference, I’d be forever grateful. Thank you.
Warm quilt hugs, Janice — Massachusetts

Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 22:13:33 -0400 | From: Peg Gilson gilsons@

Norma H. wrote

>I wouldn�t buy a machine with a computer chip until after 1/1/00

As a computer professional, I respectfully disagree with holding off until after 1/1/2000 if you want a computerized sewing machine now. The potential for a Y2K problem ONLY exists in machines that run software where events are set to run based on a date or time. You can’t set your sewing machine to come on at a specific time like a coffee maker -) The software gives the instructions; the chip just carries them out.
Peg Gilson Technical Support Engineer

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 20:37:21 -0700 | From: “Catherine Kypta” vger@

To<qhl@>

Hello all! I am fortunate enough to have 3 tops with the double purple fabric and also a quilt where all the sashing and the wide borders are double purple, and these are all in find shape. But I have another quilt, star and crescent, where the double purple is mottled and some of it has turned brown entirely. I think the “later” purples, Perkins Purple?, were like the one in your top and the ones in my other pieces and held up real well. The star and crescent with the mottley looking purples appears to be around 1870 or earlier and exposure to light seems to be the thing I have found with these pieces that really turns the purple brown quicker. The nice quilt I have with the double purples was never washed and I haven’t washed it either, I’m terrified of the purple going all brown. I have hung it, but only for 30 days at a time, and then it goes back in hibernation.
Anyone else have any experience with the purples turning brown? Or any other info on the Perkins Purple dye? Seems to me I knew this once upon a time, but can’t remember and am too tired to go look it up Catherine in Rainy and Sunny Sacramento – waiting desperately for Spring!

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 06:37:57 -0400 | From: “Cathy Hooley” goosetracks@

To<QHL@>
Janice – there’s a reference in American Heritage Quilts by Better Homes &

Gardens – which states “Burgoyne Surrounded block recalls the Revolutionary War of Saratoga. On October 17, 1777, a small force of Americans surrounded the army of British General John Burgoyne, forcing him to surrender. Ironically, the block’s name immortalizes the defeated Burgoyne rather than the victor.” However, the book goes on to question whether the pattern name is authentic, since it says that the earliest known publication of the block wasn’t until 1890, and the name given at that time was Beauregard’s Surroundings, however, the name Burgoyne Surrounded is most often used to refer to this block.
Hope this helps.
Cathy Hooley Goose Tracks Quilts http://www.albany.net/~gooset

Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 08:46:24 -0400 | From: Beth Donaldson quilts@

At the MSU Museum we have a quilt made in 1931 by Laura Clarke, Detroit, Michigan. She used a Ruby McKim pattern called Flower Garden. The pattern was probably ordered through the Detroit News Column by Edith Crumb (Laura, her mother and sister-in-law often read and saved this column). The flowers were colored on paper with crayons, pressed with a hot iron onto the fabric, then outlined with some kind of dark permanent ink. It is sashed with a lovely green floral calico, then quilted (by Laura’s mother Bozena, in 1932) with large stitches and pearl cotton. The workmanship is excellent and it is preserved beautifully.
Beth Donaldson Quilt Collections Assistant Michigan State University Museum

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 09:03:37 -0400 | From: “Dee Stark” dee@

To<QHL@>

Greetings, all! I’m just finishing up restoration on the most lovely crazy quilt, and one of the patches is red, white, and blue, and reads “ARC Division Headquarters”. It sounds very familiar, but I can’t place it in any of my reference books, and I’m hoping to give the owner as much documentation as possible back with the quilt. If this rings any bells, I would be ever so grateful for some insight -)
Thanks!
dee dee@ Victorian Handcrafts http://www.nf2g.com/vh

Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 06:20:52 -0300 | From: susan silva woody@

Hi Kris, I have been reviewing some of my posts and was kind of overwhelmed with all the different quilt groups and what exactly they do. Would it be possible to list groups you are aware of and then post them to QHL.
We should have a group called acronoyms annonymous. AIQ, NQA, ACS…
all these groups but I’m not sure what they all are, and what they do.
Just a thought to help us quilters join one more group.Thanks Susan in Spokane, who just LOVES QHL

Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 14:29:20 -0400 | From: nancy roberts robertsn@

Some of the history that relates to this pattern can be found in an American History book. “Gentleman John” Burgoyne was an English general during the American Revolution. He was part of the military plan to cut the communications and supply lines of the 13 colonies by getting control of New York. He was to come south into New York from Canda by way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson Valley. The plan was that he would meet with two other generals (St. Ledger and Howe) in Albany after all three had secured their areas.
If I recall correctly, something happened with Howe’s orders and he left New York City to go to Philadelphia rather than come north up the Hudson River. St. Ledger’s troops were stopped in the Mohawk River Valley of New York by General Nicholas Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany.
Burgoyne’s army was stopped by the patriot army at the famous Battle of Saratoga, also known as “the Turning Point” of the American Revolution.
He had sent some of his Hessian troops (mercenary soldiers) into Vermont for supplies and they were defeated at the Battle of Bennington.
You might also look up Jane McCrea. She met a brutal end at the hands of some Iroquois who were allies of the British. Her death occurred during Burgoyne’s march south and poem/song about it was used to rally the patriot troops.
Is this lots more than you wanted to know? I’m a former NYS history teacher. Hope you can use some of it with your quilt. Nancy Roberts

Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 17:27:09 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen nadyne@

Dear Marilyn Now that you mention it, the NQA magazine is great! The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon (also a non-profit organization, whose purpose is “…to preserve and promote the textile arts”) has been a member of the NQA for several years and have received their publicatio n (and archived the copies in our research library), since before it was in full color glossies.

Speaking of the research library I would like to update the group on the status of the back dated Undercoverings books that I was seeking to c omplete the Latimer Center’s collection. With a few donations from friend s and the rest of the set filled out by the American Quilt Study Group (A QSG), we can proudly say that we now have a complete set at the Center, f or use by the public, on the premises (no we don’t loan books either). We would like to publicly thank the AQSG for their support of the Latimer C enter’s mission to be a resource center, for textiles in the Northwest!
Come check us out the next time you are traveling the west coast (we’
re on HWY 101). Also you can visit via our WEB page as follows….
http://www.oregoncoast.com/latimertextile
Sincerely Denise Clausen Director Latimer Quilt and Textile Center Marilyn Maddalena wrote

> I’ve been catching up on my QHL lists after having an “incident” occur

which caused an injury and has pretty much put me out of commission for t he last two months. I’m still not back in full force — and may not be — but at least I can now spend a little time catching up on my e-mail. Sin ce I am the Publications Chair for the NQA and am responsible for their m agazine, The Quilting Quarterly, I was a bit surprised to not see it ment ioned by anyone on this list. Nor have I seen comments on The American Qu ilter, which is published by AQS. NQA is a nonprofit organization and as such depends on memberships and donations to operate. The fact that we ar e able to put out a magazine with color pages and as many articles as we do is rather amazing, I must say, since we are a volunteer organization.
I certainly don’t get paid for what I do — and neither do most of the pe ople involved with NQA. (Obviously we pay for printing and some writing a nd design, but that’s about it.) We are not “for

> profit” as are QNM and the other magazines mentioned which are availabl

e on newstands. I must agree that QNM has gone through changes, not neces sarily good, as have several other for-profit magazines. The Quilting Qua rterly is only available to NQA members. There are other organizations, s uch as VQTS, QRS, The Feedsack Club, etc., which have newsletters geared toward their members’ particular interests also. The quilting world is qu ite diverse, and obviously it’s not possible to please everyone. The NQA does not publish patterns in our magazine — we publish items of interest to the quilting world in general and try to be as diverse as possible. I think perhaps people forget about all the wonderful volunteer quilting o rganizations across our country, and more attention should and could be p aid to the marvelous information available to “quiltdom” through other me ans — such as libraries, museums, quilting organizations (QRS, VQTS, as two examples), not just magazines for sale on

> newstands which have to depend on advertisers and subscriptions and are

out to make a profit. Okay, I just stepped off my soap box. But I would be interested in others’ thoughts along this line also. By the way, you c an check out NQA on their website — http://www.his.com/~queenb/nqa. Mari lyn in Sacramento

> Marilyn Maddalena
> “Sew Special”
> Quilt Appraiser — Quilt Judge — Antique Quilt Presentations
> Publications Chair, NQA, The Quilting Quarterly
> Secretary, CHQP

————–50FE0EDA6F815F9FBD1254FC Content-Typetext/html; charsetus-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding7bit <!doctype html public “-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en”>
Dear Marilyn Now that you mention it, the NQA magazine is great! The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon (also a non-profit organization, whose purpose is “…to preserve and promote the textile arts”) has been a member of the NQA for several years and have received their publication (and archived the copies in our research library), since before it was in full color glossies.

Speaking of the research library I would like to update the group on the status of the back dated Undercoverings books that I was seeking to complete the Latimer Center’s collection. With a few donations from friends and the rest of the set filled out by the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG), we can proudly say that we now have a complete set at the Center, for use by the public, on the premises (no we don’t loan books either). We would like to publicly thank the AQSG for their support of the Latimer Center’s mission to be a resource center, for textiles in the Northwest!
Come check us out the next time you are traveling the west coast (we’re on HWY 101). Also you can visit via our WEB page as follows….
http://www.oregoncoast.com/latimertextile

Sincerely Denise Clausen Director Latimer Quilt and Textile Center Marilyn Maddalena wrote I’ve been catching up on my QHL lists after having an “incident” occur which caused an injury and has pretty much put me out of commission for the last two months. I’m still not back in full force — and may not be — but at least I can now spend a little time catching up on my e-mail. Since I am the Publications Chair for the NQA and am responsible for their magazine, The Quilting Quarterly, I was a bit surprised to not see it mentioned by anyone on this list. Nor have I seen comments on The American Quilter, which is published by AQS. NQA is a nonprofit organization and as such depends on memberships and donations to operate. The fact that we are able to put out a magazine with color pages and as many articles as we do is rather amazing, I must say, since we are a volunteer organization. I certainly don’t get paid for what I do — and neither do most of the people involved with NQA. (Obviously we pay for printing and some writing and design, but that’s about it.) We are not “for profit” as are QNM and the other magazines mentioned which are available on newstands. I must agree that QNM has gone through changes, not necessarily good, as have several other for-profit magazines. The Quilting Quarterly is only available to NQA members. There are other organizations, such as VQTS, QRS, The Feedsack Club, etc., which have newsletters geared toward their members’ particular interests also. The quilting world is quite diverse, and obviously it’s not possible to please everyone. The NQA does not publish patterns in our magazine — we publish items of interest to the quilting world in general and try to be as diverse as possible. I think perhaps people forget about all the wonderful volunteer quilting organizations across our country, and more attention should and could be paid to the marvelous information available to “quiltdom” through other means — such as libraries, museums, quilting organizations (QRS, VQTS, as two examples), not just magazines for sale on newstands which have to depend on advertisers and subscriptions and are out to make a profit. Okay, I just stepped off my soap box. But I would be interested in others’ thoughts along this line also. By the way, you can check out NQA on their website — http://www.his.com/~queenb/nqa. Marilyn in Sacramento Marilyn Maddalena “Sew Special”
Quilt Appraiser — Quilt Judge — Antique Quilt Presentations Publications Chair, NQA, The Quilting Quarterly Secretary, CHQP

Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 22:10:22 EDT | From: Quilt97@

Lauri, This is indeed a wonderful website – spectacular quilts. But it is an online quilt exhibition — not on America Online only. I sent it to a quilter who is not on AOL and she accessed it with no problem.
Elisabeth
http://www.ci.riverside.ca.us/museum/exhibit/quilts.html

> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 19:47:31 -0700
> From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@

Re: discrepancy in quilt values Altho I have only been placing a financial valuation on textiles for a year, I have been looking at and evaluating them for over 25 years.

What strikes me in almost every case of a serious discrepancy – if the owner isn’t lying like Bobby suggested – is that one appraisal comes from an appraiser who is a qualified conoisseur who knows what she/he is looking at, while the other appraisal comes from a “professional”
appraiser who comes at this as a business first.(Meaning that you can appraise anything as long as you do your research.)

Technically, there is nothing wrong with this approach if they either know what they are looking at, or the object is so cut and dried -(a gradmother’s flowergarden quilt) that the information is easily retrieved.
I just held a very good friend’s hand over just this very situation.

She had very early 19th c. portraits appraised by one of the biggest “hotshots” in Philadelphia. This woman had no idea what she was looking at. These portraits are not typical, and not reasily researched. But she did not know that because her area of expertise is not portraiture. The moral of the story is that you must only hire an appraiser who is a connoisseur in the the field where the object belongs. For instance, don’t hire me to appraise a contemporary quilt, right Bobby? -Although I’m studying hard!
Cheers, Newbie in DC where we are about to be shut down by the 50th anniversary of NATO – first beavers, now NATO!

Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 11:33:49 -0500 | From: “Larry Orr and Hanna Witte Orr” witteorr@

Hi everybody, my name is Hanna; I’m an art historian, homeschooling mom, quilter and am interested in textile history in general. At the moment I’m trying to write an article about a box of shirting samples my husband inherited from his grandparents.

The samples are mostly 3×13″ pieces, about 1/3 of them are still in the original sample books. Books are about 3×6″, either weird oil (?) cloth and tied or cardboard and tied. Each sample has a number on it, but there is no other record of who assembled the books or manufactured the fabric. The strange thing is that the same fabric can show up in 2 different books with 2 different numbers, usually it’s 1 or a few digits off. The numbers range from 1000 to 15500, the fabrics are sorted by quality — the 1000 range has plain white shirting with small printed motifs, the 15000 range has elaborately woven but thin fabric with for example silvergrey background with scrolls and woven in flowers of a different color. Larry’s grandfather was a “commercial traveler”, sold mother-of-pearl buttons for several Muscatine IA button factories and perhaps shirts (my mother in law was 6 when he died so she doesn’t know details about his career). My suspicion is that these samples were assembled by one of the shirt companies he dealt with, but I’d like to confirm this: has anybody seen books like these and does know what they were used for ? From a 1902 Sears&Roebuck catalog I gathered that you could order sample books for all their readymade clothing, but they had tapemeasures and instructions with them, so I don’t think that our books are S&R’s. And mill sample books, as far as I have seen them in publications, were of an entirely different format.
Thanks for your help ! Hanna

Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 12:37:32 -0500 | From: Pat Crews txcd003@

Hello. My name is Pat Crews and I am a relatively new subscriber to QHL.

(I have been lurking off and on for about six months.) This is my first posting. I have the good fortune of being the director of the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska, with its collection of more than 900 quilts donated by Robert and Ardis James. We have a wonderful quilt exhibition currently on display and another one opens to the public in May. If any of you are traveling to NQA in Omaha in June or are planning a road trip through Nebraska this summer, I wanted to let you know about these two exhibitions so that you could plan accordingly. Fanciful Flowers: Botany and the American Quilt is on display through January 2001 at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. The two-year exhibit features 52 quilts, all but one from the 19th century. Thirteen quilts will be on display at any one time and the display will be changed every six months out of long-term conservation concerns for the quilts. This show has an appeal that goes beyond a love for quilts. It allows people to see the influence of botany and gardening on the quilts of the 19th century. Botany was the most popular science in the 19th century, especially for women, and that is beautifully illustrated in these quilts. Fanciful Flowers is on display for two years, so theres plenty of time to schedule a trip! The University of Nebraska State Museum is located at 645 N 14th Street on the universitys city campus. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays. Another incredible show, Covered by the Stars: Selected Quilts from the James Collection, opens May 17 and will be on display through July 30, 1999 at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on the University of Nebraska-Lincolns east campus.

This show was organized initially by guest curator Merikay Waldvogel in association with the Museum of Our National Heritage, Lexington, Massachusetts. The stunning star quilts in this show range in date from the early 1800s to the 1930s. They feature vivid color combinations, exceptional needlework and its a wonderful chance to see the evolution of textile technology with such a wide variety of early printed fabrics.
The gallery is located on the second floor of the Home Economics Building on the universitys east campus. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. and selected Sundays by appointment.
Hope to see you this summer in Nebraska.
Pat Crews

Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 21:26:53 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@>

Hi, all – Lancaster and Quilters’ Heritage Celebration are behind us, but I am happy to say that I met many QHLers at the show, and our own listmom Kris (and her Japanese intern) at the Feedsack convention – putting faces to the names is a great part of the fun of shows like this. Also at the show, a friend gave me a piece of an old, very distressed quilt that she found on the floor of an antique/junque shop in Ohio. On the front are isolated print designs against backgrounds of fine engraving (the sample has 4 different ones). These fabrics have tan or brown backgrounds, with the motifs in madders, pink, and teal, with brown or black. On the fragment back is a wonderful architectural design cotton with motifs resembling church arches and keyhole crosses, in brown, teal, and madder on white. The registration is somewhat haphazard, and the design looks more like it was painted casually, rather than printed by hand or machine. In fact the back fabric looks Indian to me, and the front prints somewhat like those of Provence. The batting is cotton, and the quilting…ah, the quilting! it is done in “Baptist fans” in arcs about 1″ apart.
Weren’t we talking about the age of that quilting design some time ago?
The fabrics in this piece appear to me to be from the 1820-40 period, but possibly of non-American origin. Of course it is also possible that the original quilt was made elsewhere, too.
The floor is open for discussion…
Xenia

Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 21:31:27 -0500 | From: “Kirk Collection” kirkcoll3@

A friend of mine, Alice Snyder from Hapco products in Missouri, has an extra room in LaCenter about 20 miles west of Paducah that is available. If you are driving and still need a room give her a call — (314) 698-2102.

The place is called the Country Style Inn. I’ve stayed there for several years — it’s a funny little place next to the Vet Hospital. Just 4 rooms and a hallway. Linen closet down the hall if you want fresh sheets and towels. The beds are ok and it is clean. That’s about all except it is incredibly cheap. I don’t know the rate this year but ;ast year it was $165 per room for the WEEK!
I leave for Paducah Saturday. Will have an open house in my room at the Executive Inn on Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Drop by and say hi and have a soda.

Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 23:07:29 -0400 | From: “John Cawley” cawley@

One of the highlights of Quilters Heritage was Xenia’s talk at the = Heritage was Xenia’s talk at the = dinner on Friday night. In keeping with the theme of the show she = talked about Nine Patch quilts and had a marvelous variety to show us = (old and new). The variations of that simple design were fascinating. = One of my favorites was composed of blue and white Nine Patch blocks = with a variety of blue setting blocks, incredibly subtle. It’s such a = treat to see the quilts in the cloth. Thanks, Xenia.
I think the charm of the immediate Lancaster area has all but = disappeared. Right across the road from Sauder’s, the best of the = fabric shops, is an enormous (it must be the length of 10 football = fields) food distribution center with its very own turnpike exit.
= There are still islands of tranquility to be found in the county, but = the casual visitor will never find them. I wonder how long it will be = until the last Amish family moves to an area more friendly to preserving = their culture and values.

The exhibit at the Peoples Place Museum was disappointing (to me). = Last year’s exhibit was breathtaking; this one lacked the kind of = drop-dead beautiful examples I’d hoped to see. The Mifflin Co. Amish = quilts were interesting, but the Mennonite quilts from the Shenandoah = Valley were (with one expection) quite ordinary and there were way too = many utilitarian Crazies for such a small exhibit. The Pennsylvania = Mennonite quilts I’ve seen led me to expect much more variety and = exhuberance. Barb Garrett, did you get there? What do you think?
Speaking of Barb, my friend Denise and I went to the Feedsack Show = where we saw Barb and Kris. We were sorry to miss Jane. Denise bought = a copy of the Rose Wilder Lane book complete with patterns (she saw it = before I did–I have the book but no patterns), what a treasure!
One of the dealers at QHC had a sewing chicken (remeber that thread) = for $125. Wacky! It was just like mine for which I paid $8.=20 Cinda on the Eastern Shore

Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:56:20 -0500 | From: lessmann@ (Ellen Lessmann)

I don’t post often, but thought this might be of interest to some of you.
It came in the mail today as a press release from the county historical society.

“100 Historic Quilts” from private collections that date from 1800 to the 1960s will be exhibited June 20 through July 11 at the General Crook House Museum and at Building 7 at Fort Omaha. The show is produced by the Historical Society of Douglas County in tribute to the 25th anniversary of Metro. Comm. College, which established its first campus at Fort Omaha, and is held in conjunction with the National Quilters of America national convention and two regional needlework conferences in Omaha. The “100 Historic Quilts” exhibit will feature extended hours, a reception, needlework demonstrations, and decorative arts patterns in textiles and in the “carpet beds” of the Crook House Victorian Heirloom Garden. The two exhibitions will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays June 26 and July 10 and Sunday June 27. Sunday hours on June 20 and July 11 will be 1 to 4 p.m. The Crook House and the exhibits will be closed July 3 through July 5.
Adult admission/donation is $5 for one exhibit or $8 for both.
The exhibit at the Crook House will be “A Little Piece of the Past:
Childrens and Doll Quilts.” Admission will include a tour of the 1879 military commander’s home.

The second exhibit is 75 full size quilts and quilting memorabilia, “Quilts: Every Woman’s Art,” will be at Building 7 on the Fort Omaha Campus……(Other events are planned, but this post is tooo long, and if anyone has questions, I will be glad to find the answers–sounds wonderful to me!) — Ellen in Omaha

Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 09:40:31 +0100 | From: “Audrey Cameron” audrey.cameron@

I recently bought a wonderful quilt top. 8000 one inch hexagons!! c1840.
I love hexagon quilts. I couldn’t resist it, even though I knew it needed work.

Some of the fabrics are tendered and someone beautifully appliqued replacement patches, with the tiniest stitches, and perfect precision. The problem is they used the most awful fabrics. They didn’t even try to match the other fabrics in the top. They used fabrics from the 1980’s. Probably used what they had. So now I have removed the offending patches and have to applique 100+ small hexagons!!! I think I have enough period fabrics to work with.
Just have to get started.!!!
Can someone tell me why we do these things?
Laurette in So. California

Kris Driessen is a quilt designer, writer, teacher, former quilt shop owner, retired quilt appraiser and restorer, and founder of the Quilt History List. She created this site for curious people who want to know more about the quilts they have inherited, collected, rescued, or simply admired.

Her articles focus on quilt history, fabric clues, care, preservation, research resources, and the stories that help turn an old quilt into something more than “that quilt in the closet.” Her hope is that readers will see old quilts as treasures worth saving, studying, and passing along.

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