August 8 - 10, 2006 - QuiltHistory

Oral History & Documentation, Quilt Block History, Quilt History Resources

These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

Primary topics of this QHL Digest:

Underground Railroad Quilt Myth — A guild’s trunk show presents Hidden in Plain View as fact, the museum’s director responds, and members weigh how to correct the story.
Quilt Marking Before 1860 — Members share what they know about chalk, pouncing, scratch marking with a needle, India ink, and Hera markers as period-correct ways to mark a quilt.
Spam-Warning Glitch on the List — Several posts arrive cut off behind spam-filter warnings, and Kris suspects HTML or MIME formatting while members resend their messages.
New Quilt Books — Members announce and price Quilts of Virginia, the Darwin Bearley Amish collection book, and Barbara Brackman’s upcoming title.
Member Questions and Events — Queries about the Princess Feather pattern, the 1807 slave importation ban, a teacher’s real name, and odd batting stories share space with a quilt sharing event at the Oakland Museum.

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 00:29:12 -0400 | From: kim1964hay

Hello all, I received my copy about a week and a half ago – I ordered it from the publisher, http://www.Schifferbooks.com. The price was 29.95. Kim Haynes Kim1964hay

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 09:34:10 -0400 | From: Debby Kratovil (kratovil)

Does anyone know an approximate date for when the Princess Feather (or Prince’s Feather) first appeared as a quilt pattern? Thanks! Debby — Debby (with a “y” and not “ie”) Kratovil Special Projects Editor, QUILT Magazine http://www.quiltmag.com Quilt Workshops & Programs http://www.quilterbydesign.com

Date: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:43:33 +0000 | From: albeaumont

The UGRR quilt myth received an surprising amount of reinforcement here in Greeley, Colorado in the last month. The July program of the local quilt guild was a trunk show presented by a representative of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. She recommended “Hidden In Plain View” to us and treated the contents without mentioning the lack of support by quilt historians for Tobin’s story. The guild was left with the impression that HIPV is completely factual. She also repeated the black square in log cabin quilts indicating a safe house as completely factual also. I was surprised that this was the approach of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. This was a very small part of an otherwise enjoyable and informative presentation. I had never seen a tobacco pouch before, or a quilt made from them. A Colorado quilt historian in a previous program for the guild held an opinion on a different topic that is contrary to the current state of quilt history. She stated that most historians didn’t have the same opinion. I respected her thoroughly for her treatment, informing us that she was holding a controversial opinion and exposing the group to the other side of the story. However, this was not done with the July trunk show. At the same guild meeting, a member was handing out information on the upcoming “High Plains Chatauqua” , the theme being the Civil War . Jacqueline Tobin was to present a program on the quilt code. I was unable to attend this and can’t discuss what she said. However, her inclusion in an event dedicated to history implies a stamp of approval. It wouldn’t surprise me if all of Greeley firmly believes the myth, starting with the quilt guild. Since Jacqueline Tobin is based in Denver, I wonder if part of Colorado’s acceptance of HIPV is because she is a “favorite son” I am very pleased at the timing of the press release for “Fabric and Fabrications”, and will bring it to the attention of the guild. It really should be in the guild library. Perhaps some of you are wondering why I didn’t challenge the RMQM presenter. Her talk went long and she left before there was a break in the meeting. Also, I doubt that I would have been taken seriously by many members of the guild, since I have never done any Civil War research, my expertise being elsewhere. I am so glad that someone of Barbara Brackman’s stature is publishing an alternative to HIPV.

Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont in Greeley, Colorado

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 07:30:04 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen (krisdriessen)

Well, the fact a quilt historian is perpetuating the myth is somewhat disappointing. But, to play the devils advocate, how do we know it is a myth? Just because there is no proof, does that mean it doesn’t exist?

I still think Ozella made it up to sell quilts, but she isn’t the main perpetrator of the myth. Eleanor Burns is. (Ouch! Who hit me?) Seriously, most quilters who believe in the myth do so because of her book.

I do have a history question though. I understood that the US stopped importing slaves in 1807, when An Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves into any Port or Place Within the Jurisdiction of the United States was passed. Yet, I have recently read an article by a black woman who said her (slave) ancestor was brought into the country in 1850. Was the illegal importation of slaves possible or even probable?

Kris

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 11:05:27 -0400 | From: Candace Perry (candace)

I think that lady is confused…perhaps she was thinking of interstate slave trade, vs. importation. Candace Perry

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 13:33:43 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF

Announcing the publication of the book about The Darwin D. Bearley Collection of Antique Ohio Amish Quilts. Thanks to the generosity of the Bernina Sewing Machine Co. of Zurich,Switzerland, a book has just been published showing the entire 138 quilt co llectionof Darwin D. Bearley This is a hard cover book containing 160 pages showing the 138 Antique Ohio Amish Quilts in full color. The photography and color are both beyond compare. The text is printed in English, French and German. Jonathan Holstein has written the introduction and Darwin D. Bearley haswritten an essay about the collection. The book is now available for purchase for $65 plus $5.00 shipping. If you like antique quilts, especially Amish Quilts, you will want a copy o fthis book. It is the only book devoted completely to the quilts of the Ohi oAmish. Bearley has spent 30 years of his life putting this collection together and it may well be the only collection of it size made up exclusively of Antiqu eOhio Amish Quilts. The quilts in the collection date from as early as 1881 and as late as themid-194099s. Along with full size examples, the collection includes Cribquilts, Lounge quilts and Doll quilts. To order your copy, please contact Darwin at: ddbstuff

Date: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:43:46 +0000 | From: pkeirstead

FYI, I just pre-ordered BB’s new book on Amazon, and they gave me an estimated shipping date. of Jan. 2, 2007.

Hard to wait that long!

Peggy Keirstead north central Texas

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 11:27:47 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings (pat)

The C&T catalog estimates a November publication date.

Pat — pkeirstead wrote:

> FYI, I just pre-ordered BB’s new book on Amazon, and > they gave me an estimated shipping date. of Jan. 2, > 2007.

From: Debbie (russhill)

Dear list members, First I am wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to get approved as a new member? My friend has signed up and it has been a while since then and she is still not approved. Second I have a question on what was the proper or most used technique for marking a quilt say 1850’s – 60’s? There is evidence of bluing made into an ink used to mark for embroidery, needlework and the like but nothing mentions quilts. My friend and I are working on the Hexagon quilt that was posted in 1830’s Godeys and she is getting ready to quilt it. We take our quilts with us to 1830 events and CW events so she is hoping to be able to do a period correct form of quilting and marking. She also would like some proper information to give. She had done a lot of research but has found nothing on marking for quilts. Any information you can give would be so helpful for both of us. Thanks Debbie Russell russhill

Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 20:27:18 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen (krisdriessen)

Debbie, et al,

After a person subscribes, they are automatically send a confirm notice to verify the E-mail address. They have to respond to that confirm notice to start receiving the list. (This is called a double opt-in.) If your friend didn’t receive the confirm notice, she may have accidentally mispelled her E-mail address when she signed up. Have her sign up again and then watch her E-mail carefully for the confirm notice. If she is on AOL or Earthlink, it may end up in her sp*m folder. If all else fails, have her E-mail me and I will track down the problem.

Kris

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 07:56:18 -0400 | From: Lynne Z. Bassett (lzbassett)

Dear Debbie, I have found references in diaries and memoirs from the early 19th century to “chalking” a design on a quilt. Chalk was used both to draw a design directly on the surface of the quilt, and to chalk a string, pull it tight, and snap it ac

Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:09:25 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Is there anyone else getting the following preface to QHL messages besides myself?? It just started this morning with Lynn’s message. I’m only printing the first few lines of the warning. Xenia — your full post was cut off as you can see. .

Xenia Cord wrote:

Quilters in the north of England – and I suspect elsewhere – also marked their quilts by drawing the tip of a needle along the designs to be quilted. It probably takes some experience to mark deeply enough to hold the pattern, but not so deeply that

Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:11:44 -0400 | From: kathie holland (kathieholland)

> Is there anyone else getting the following preface to QHL > messages besides myself?? It just started this morning with Lynn’s > message.

Yes and your message came thru fine…..wonder why? Kathie in NJ

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 10:11:14 EDT | From: Mitzioakes

I seem to have misplaced the legal title of B. Brackman’s new book on the UGRR, etc. Anyone care to share the title so I can get one on order? Mitzi from Vermont

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 16:13:37 +0200 | From: Margareta.Faust

Yepp, I had it on Xenia’s message and the one before. Margareta

From: Sarah Hough

Yes, it keep marking everything that has anything to do with marking quilts as spam. Says the message is attached but it isn’t. Sarah Hough

Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:35:49 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Lynne — change of heading appears to make no difference. I think this has something to do Q system gone amok. Possibly Kris can check.

Lynne Z. Bassett wrote:

Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:38:22 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Have no idea why that went through but everyone else’s message is coming through truncated and with that warning.

kathie holland wrote:

Yes and your message came thru fine…..wonder why?

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 10:26:30 -0700 (PDT) | From: Barbara Burnham (barbaraburnham)

Bummer–I am really interested in this topic. It’s like somebody hit the remote on the TV, or the power went out just when the movie gets interesting! I hope those of you who responded will Re-post when this gets fixed.

Xenia Cord (xenia) wrote:

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 13:42:53 -0400 | From: Pepper Cory (pepcory)

I’ve seen any number of markers used to mark quilting patterns but these were common in the 19th century–chalk (after school chalk became available), writing pencil, and pouncing powder (same as carpenters used). Also seen: laundry blueing mixed wit

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 13:25:36 -0500 | From: Susan Wildemuth (ksandbcw)

Hi — There was a discussion on Powerpoint/projector earlier in the summer would the lady who uses Powerpoint/projector for her presentations please e-mail me off list. Thanks– Sue

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:36:15 +1000 | From: Janet O’Dell (janet)

Here in Australia I am getting the spam messages also but oddly not for your message. I am sending this to your personal email also, to see if that makes any difference. Janet O’Dell

Joan asked:>>> Is there anyone else getting the following preface to QHL messages besides myself??

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 20:32:57 EDT | From: TEXTIQUE

I’m posting this for RMQM & Paula: In response to the post regarding a representative for the Rocky MountainQuilt Museum presenting UGRR quilts as fact:I am the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. As you undoubtedly know, much of the work that gets done at the museum is performed by volunteers. We have over 100 active volunteers who do everything from docent ing to office work to outreach. Although we make every effort to properly trainour volunteers, it is not possible for us to be monitoring every move theymake. We have a new Volunteer Coordinator on board who has made it a priori ty tofurther develop our volunteer training (and on-going training) program. Thi sincludes addressing the issue of embellishing or expandin g on storieswithout a substantive factual basis. (Note: This is a problem that many mus eumsencounter when dealing with interpretation of exhibits.)

We will againemphasize that all mentions of the UGRR theories are controversial and must bebalanced with the statement that they are theories, etc. and while the RMQM does not take any one stand, as an institution of research, it does desire20 toremain neutral and present all sides of a controversy. While the story of UGRR quilts is appealing and can engage an audience, wehave stressed that, at this point, it is just a story and should be presente d as such. In fact, I prefer the word folklore. As an exampl e, when we talkto schoolchildren about quilts and mention the story of UGRR quilts, we nee dto ask them if they believe such a story and why. What would be the likelih oodof having a code of quilts? Most importantly, what is the EVIDENCE thatsuch a system existed?

We want to teach them about how historians sort outfact from fiction, based on PRIMARY SOURCES, such as diaries, journals ornewspaper articles, and SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. I don99t know of any si tuation wheresomething is deemed as fact based on one person99s word, as seems to have beendone with the UGRR quilts. Ms. Tobin’99’s book seems to have received a lot of coverage without mu ch question of her sources. This is true throughout the U.S., and not something peculiar to Colorado. I believe it is unfair to suggest that because Ms. Tob in isbased in Denver that people here are somehow going to blindly accept everything she says as fact. It remains that the bulk of the population, bot h in Colorado and elsewhere, is not well-educated on quilt and textile history, a nd has generally heard only one side of the story, which they find intriguing.

My personal opinion (which is NOT the official stance of the museum) is tha twe find much of folklore is based on a grain of truth, which through thegenerations can be distorted and magnified. I believe this could also be th ecase with the UGRR quilts. Perhaps one or two escaping slaves had a special connection where a quilt was used as a signal. However, ev en this remainsundocumented, and it seems extremely unlikely that a code20 was ever widelyused. I would never present the UGRR quilt story as fact without some sort ofcorroboration.

I appreciate the concern expressed that the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum would be perpetuating a myth. It is our goal to educate the public about qui lts and quilt history, and to do so in a factual and responsible way. I will personally contact the guild in Greeley and make an appointment to speak wit h themabout this issue. Paula M. B. Pahl Executive Director Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum 1111 Washington Ave. Golden, CO 80401

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 08:21:07 -0700 (PDT) | From: CAROL GODREAU (imaquilter2)

I received my book “Quilts of Virginia” last week. Great job, great book! I have not finished reading but for anyone interested in quilt history it’s a book you might like to have in your library. I purchased mine throught the consortium. Carol

Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 18:52:15 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen (krisdriessen)

I did write to the Quiltropolis people to see if they could figure out what is going on. My quick and dirty guess is that people are posting in enhanced text (HTML or MIME) instead of Plain Text.

I’ll try to keep an eye on it, but I do have to work tomorrow so I may not be able to do anything right away.

Kris, in Coopersville MI

From: JESSICA VAUGHN

Jan, Did I miss a post? The original that the RMQM was perpetuating the “myth”? Enlighten me please….

Jessica M. Vaughn Aurora, CO

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 01:24:24 EDT | From: TEXTIQUE

are you subscribed to qhl? if not, I’ll include it below FYI but if I remember you are subscribed. there was a post yesterday about the museum that wasn’t too flattering about a trunk show that flat out supported the book, even showing a copy. this info is apparently not in her script so she added it herself without checking the museum’s stance. whether one believes the UGRR quilt theory (and friend Carolyn Mazloomi thinks its crap) or not, Jan Spaulding and her husband took a position of endorsement and did not tell of the reservations many UGRR and quilt historians have about Jackie Tobin’s research. we have to be extremely careful that what we tell others is balanced. there are other things, completely documented things, that we can definitely say are true, false or folklore. representation of the museum comes with the responsibility of being honest but balanced in presentations. this would include our docents – when they greet visitors and become the first and sometimes only connection to the organization. volunteers can leave a lasting impression on the public but they must follow standard, basic rules. this should not stifle their creativity but give them the grounding to know that what they say is true to the museum’s policy.

I lived in a town in OH with many documented UGRR sites and was involved in much research on the subject. When Jackie’s book was released, my heart fell; the story was just too good and hit at a time when people were hungry to know anything and everything about it. a simplistic view in my mind. i read it immediately after it was published and knew her research and documentation was very shaky. I had to constantly explain to others that it was a theory and Jackie herself admits that. who cares if most UGRR and quilt historians and researchers think and logically state it to be an extremely unsound theory. I have lost a friend or two over my opinion but I am a very careful documenter and know a well researched, sound book when I read it. knowing that fact they chose to ignore my explanations of the problems in Jackie’s theory by telling me that it is too good a story not to be true. great reason to believe something is fact….it has gone way beyond theory now to just plain fact in the eyes of many without an objective mind.

i was never raised to see differences in people and the thought, frankly, never crosses my mind when I view others. how can one not see those differences??? it is a person’s soul and mind that I see first and last.

i do not know your position on this subject and i value your friendship too much to think that i should sway you one way or the other. i can tell you this though, sound research and excellent documentation is the best posture a book can have. i knew after reading the first chapter, before there was any controversy, that her suppositions sounded somewhat far-fetched and that was confirmed to me the more I read. do we want a world that reacts only to a good story or one that supports all the work it takes to present a well thought out position? i for one choose the later. it grows wearisome to constantly have to tell others to ‘stop, look both ways and then cross the street’.

i have already spoken to the woman who posted to qhl and she seems very nice and grateful that someone considered her important enough to deserve a response. friends can disagree and still be friends. the artist, Bing Davis, she mentions in the book was my art instructor and a wonderful person. i try to see him whenever I go home. the first three things he taught me were to document, document and document, don’t write something as fact that you can’t prove and explain a theory as just what it is – a theory.

huggs see below:

Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont in Greeley, Colorado

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 08:29:56 -0500 | From: Xenia Cord (xenia)

Hopefully the security glitch is cleared up, and here is what I tried to say yesterday about marking:

We might anticipate the same technique, considering the amount of influence British quilting had here.

Xenia

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:03:42 -0400 | From: Teddy Pruett (aprayzer)

Hi there QHLers – I am calling in my chips – whatever chips I have out, I do not know, but I like the expression anyway. I need your collective help, as many many eyes and experiences are better than one.

Please E-MAIL ME PRIVATELY AT aprayzer with your answers, not to the list. To utilize another poker phrase, I’m holding my cards close to my chest for right now. Isnt that strange? I dont gamble at all, have never played poker, and didn’t even play a game of cards durng the string of hurricanes and ensuing power outages.

But- I digress – I am good at that.

Please e-mail me with any unusual, strange, bizarre, sweet, sad, or even vaguely interesting battings you have seen. I have personally come across enough bizarre batts to begin a good list, but I want to hear from yall. Tell me your batty stories. Remember, DO NOT reply to the list. And I am excited already – can’t wait to hear what yall have to say.

As a freebie, I will tell you what a lady told me in SC after my lecture on Tuesday night. She had actually saved the cotton out of her medicine bottles!! I have one or two that top that, but I can’t wait to hear what yall have seen. Thanks a lot – Teddy Pruett

Teddy Pruett Beam me up, Scotty – Outta this swamp and into the Rockies www.teddypruett.com

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:27:26 -0400 | From: Teddy Pruett (aprayzer)

Many years ago, there was an instructor at the Jinny Beyer seminars named Jay Romano. DOes anyone happen to know what her actual name was? What would be a name for which Jay would be a nickname??

Teddy Pruett Beam me up, Scotty – Outta this swamp and into the Rockies www.teddypruett.com

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:48:24 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Teddy — Jay might have stood for the initial J. There are a lot of

names that begin with J. Keeping in the Italian vein, Josephine for one.

Teddy Pruett wrote:

Many years ago, there was an instructor at the Jinny Beyer seminars named Jay Romano. DOes anyone happen to know what her actual name was? What would be a name for which Jay would be a nickname??

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:46:36 -0700 | From: Julie Silber (quiltcomplex)

Hi All,

I will be co-hosting a “Quilt Sharing” of quilts made before 1950 at the Oakland Museum in Northern California this Sunday, August 13 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. It is part of an annual celebration of textiles, called “Samplings” at the museum. My co-host is Inez Brooks Myers, the Textile Curator at the O.M. Inez is expert in costume and fabrics.

We have done this event many times and it always brings out some great antique quilts and fabulous stories! It’s always fun. This is a FREE event. Details available from Inez at inez or the msuem’s website: http://www.museumca.org/cal-public/calendar.cgi?month08

Judy Mathiessen will lecture on her own work following the Sharing – at 3:00 p.m.

Here is their blurb:

A Festival of Textiles. Bring a quilt for a “Quilt Sharing” with quilt expert/author Julie Silber and OMCA Curator Inez Brooks-Myers. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. they will identify and date quilts and discuss fabrics, quilting and piecing patterns (one quilt per person). At 3 p.m., hear quilt artist Judy Mathieson discuss her work. The day includes a Make-A-Quilt project for families and demonstrations of embroidery, spinning, knitting, needlepoint, lace, crocheting, smocking, doll making, and Shibori. Be sure to enter the raffle for a 1930’s Eight-Pointed Star quilt. 12-4 p.m. Second Sundays are free.

Hope to see you Locals!

Julie Silber

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:51:10 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings (pat)

An alternative to marking with a needle is the Hera Markers. This is a tool made of plastic (usually) and it makes a wider, non-permanent mark. With this method, only a small portion of the area is marked at any one time. Some of these Hera Markers are now sold with little wheels to make them glide more easily.

Pat Cummings

— Xenia Cord (xenia) wrote:

> Quilters in the north of England – and I suspect > elsewhere – also marked their quilts by drawing the tip of a needle along the designs to be quilted.

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 06:10:10 -0700 (PDT) | From: CAROL GODREAU (imaquilter2)

In my post yesterday I had tried to put an attachment with information on ordering Quilts of Virginia from the consortium but post was rejected because of attachment. The information is as follows for anyone interested:

Make checks payable to Virginia Consortium of Quilters VCQ c/o Maren Lindberg 8710 Wytheland Road Richmond, VA 23229

Include your name, shipping address, city, st, zip, phone, email, amount enclosed and number of copies.

Special Advance Purchase Price $29.95 20% discount $5.99 Shipping (1-2 books) $ 4.05 Those in VA add 5% Sales tax $1.20

You can email: wool or visit www.vcq.org

Have a great day, Carol,

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:23:14 -0500 | From: Debbie (russhill)

Xenia. Thank you for resending and I also request any other post that were messed up as well on the topic, if they could be resent as well. I sure would be grateful. Debbie Russell russhill

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:54:06 -0400 | From: Pepper Cory (pepcory)

More than you wanted to know about quilt marking–About the marking with a needle—here in the US that technique was called ‘scratch marking.’ Most of the prize-winning Mountain Mist quilts, the originals photographed for batting wrappers in the 1930s, were marked with this method. I have a friend whose grandmother was the organizer of a group of hotshot quilters in Kentucky. Mountain Mist would send quilt tops to this group to be quilted and it was a particular point of pride that all quilting was ‘scratch-marked’ and pencil was never used. The group organizer was also the postmistress in her tiny town and guarded the identity of her quilters jealously, even ‘misplacing’ letters to them inquiring about quilting for someone else ! Now we would be appalled as tampering with the mail is a federal offense. If by chance a quilt came back quilted but she could see pencil marks, that quilter was docked some of her pay–tough boss. I’ve seen any number of markers used to mark quilting patterns but these were common in the 19th century–chalk (after school chalk became available), writing pencil, and pouncing powder (same as carpenters used). Also seen: laundry blueing mixed with flour and a little water to make a sticky paste. The quilting pattern (usually a cable, sometimes formed of metal, sometimes handcarved wood) dipped in the paste and then stamped on the quilt. Saw these in new England and PA. From south of the Mason-Dixon: ‘fat pine’ sticks slowly burned to hard charcoal and then used as markers and flour-water paste in which a long string was dipped and then the string ‘pinged’ corner-to-corner across the quilt as it was stretched in the frame. This made a white-ish mark that was later supposed to brush off or come out in the first laundry. Problem is, here in the verdent south where plants and animals grow non-stop, is that if the flour-marked quilt wasn’t washed but laid away in a trunk as is, it might become bug’s dinner. I’ve had the unpleasant experience of unfolding an old, otherwise mint, quilt at an auction and there, along the white flour markings, were carcasses of enormous roaches—eeeewwwww! Pepper

Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:49:34 -0400 | From: Karen Evans

They used very fine India ink to mark backstitched quilts, at least in the 18th century. Earlier than that no one knows, but my bet’s on something like diluted ink, pounce, or maybe silverpoint or graphite of some sort.

Karen Evans