July 28 – August 3, 2006
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:
- Button Strings and the 999 Button Story — A museum sign about a girl sewing 999 buttons prompts members to test the story against books and collections.
- Origins of the Term “String Quilt” — Members recall when string quilts got their name and share examples pieced on newspaper foundations.
- Nancy Page Patterns — A request for a definitive list of Nancy Page patterns and their images.
- Quilting Quotes and Bumper Stickers — Members trade favorite quilter sayings from T-shirts and bumper stickers.
- Storing Old Thread and Sewing Baskets — Advice on whether inherited thread from sewing baskets is still good to use. (see the article on caring for antique quilts)
- Templates, Letters and Imported Cottons — Research on a Chicago template company and on Revolutionary War era letters about European printed cottons.
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 3:09:33 -0700 | From: <suereich@>
Take a look at the link to 14 pages of AQSG 2006 study quilts featured in American Patchwork & Quilting’s October, 2006 issue, then EXHALE !!! The magazine features our study center on page 114 with an applique quilt made by Janet Locey. It is a beauty! This web site will direct you to 13 more pages of quilts that will knock your socks off. All I can say is Wow! Way to go AQSG quilters ! http://www.bhg.com/bhg/slideshow/slideShow.jhtml?slideid/templatedata/bhg/slide show/data/1154010592826.xml&page1&catrefcat840004 Many thanks to Heidi Kaisand and the staff at American Patchwork & Quilting. sue reich
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 3:25:24 -0700 | From: <suereich@>
Try this link to the Study Quilts
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/slideshow/slideShow.jhtml
Hope this works for you. Otherwise, try www.bhg.com/aqsg
sue
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:58:49 -0700 | From: Alice Kinsler <alicek@>
Dear List, My niece and her husband have purchased and are restoring a mid-19th c
house in Kentucky on the river, just across from Ohio. She has e-mailed me that she wants to make a quilt for her second wedding anniversary that is simple, easy to sew, and “Something that could have
been found inA0our Kentucky home when it was built in 1890 would be neat.” Any ideas? Thanks, Alice
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 00:35:50 EDT | From: TEXTIQUE@
Hi all;
Recently I visited a small museum in the Rockies and saw a long strip of inch wide fabric on which were sewn a LOT of buttons appearing to date from the late nineteenth & early 20th century. A sign next to it read “there are 999 buttons on this strand. It was a tradition that a young girl would sew 999 buttons in a string throughout her childhood. The 1000th button was added after she married”. I have heard too many quilt myths which probably makes me overly suspicious of such tales.
Has any of you in quilt cyber land heard this.
Jan Thomas Colorado Springs
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 21:50:37 -0700 | From: “Alan” <alan@>
Nope, it’s true. Kinda like charm quilts. I’ve had a couple of button strings like that. All them buttons, no two alike. Sounds like quite a chore.
Alan
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 0:38:55 -0700 | From: <suereich@>
I found this link while planning my visit to the Lowell Quilt Festival next week. http://www.hinghamhistorical.org/html/newsletter.html
For those of you who can’t make it to Boston’s South Shore this summer, click on June, 2006. The link opens the newsletter from the Hingham Historical Society featuring its collection and exhibit of quilts. Just an fyi. sue reich
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:16:27 +0200 | From: adi hirsh <adamroni@>
. It was a tradition that a young girl > would sew 999 buttons in a string throughout her childhood. The 1000th button was added after she married.” Has any of you in quilt cyber land heard this?.
Here’s a quote from Laurette Carroll’s article, “The Charm Quilt, the Queen of the Scrap Quilts'” published here: http://www.fabrics.net/charmQuilts.asp and referring to this button fad:
There is reason to believe that this type of quilt is related to the 19th Century fad of collecting buttons and making Charm “strings. These Button Charm strings were reportedly made by young women who made a game of accumulating great numbers of buttons that were often borrowed or begged from family or friends. These buttons, with no two alike, were then strung on a length of strong string. The goal was to make a string with 999 buttons, with the young lady waiting until she was married before adding the 1000th button. These button strings are often found in old boxes of saved buttons, and are a great find for button collectors.”
Ady in Israel
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2006 10:02:02 -0500 | From: “Debbie” <russhill@>
A while ago there was talking about stab quilting being the only period way to quilt for 1830’s . Well my friend who is very well read in period topics informed me that in ” A Workwoman’s Guide” which was published in 1837 has instructions for quilting and it said a rocking stitch was used. Now I think this was for a quilted petticoat or some decoration. What I will do over the weekend is look at my copy and see if I can find it and then send what it says about quilting. I will post what I find. But there is a primary source out there on quilting in 1830’s Debbie Russell russhill@
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:33:38 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>
At the fabulous Filson Historical Society in Louisville (worth a visit…I think you need to make an appt. to see the museum — you can also harass them to see their quilts) they have a marvelous button “necklace” with an actual photo of the little girl maker wearing it. It’s to die for. Candace Perry
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 08:27:48 -0500 | From: “Karan Flanscha” <SadieRose@>
My friend, Susan Kraftcheck from Canada, is seeking info… hope maybe someone on our list could help her…
Hi everyone,
I am looking for the following two patterns:
Farmer’s Magazine Prairie Rose Quilt
Nancy Page’s 1937 Nursery Rhyme Quilt
I have been looking through some quilting things Laurie bought from a local auction of a while back. Among the bits and pieces are 4 blocks of hand appliqued pink and mint green Prairie Rose, the templates, and the pattern sheet from Farmer’s Magazine, Toronto. I know the magazine was published between 1910 and the 18, by two separate publishers, (MacLean and later Consolidated Press) but the pattern does not specify a date or publisher. Is anyone familiar with that pattern at all? It is like an Ohio Rose but has a yellow centre. I am trying to date it, as I would like to make two more blocks and assemble them into a quilt, and I would like to put the information on the label. It would also be interesting to know how the blocks were intended to be set. I have seen many Ohio Rose quilts in similar shades of pink and green listed online as 1930’s. That would fit with the dated newspaper clippings and feedsack prints that were also part of her belongings, but I would like confirmation, if I can find it.
She also had a wonderful set of 9 Nancy Page nursery rhyme blocks from 1937, and another 8 blocks are missing. I am on the hunt for a source of the missing blocks. The blocks illustrate the rhyme One Two Buckle My Shoe. The children are redwork with appliqued clothing.
It would be wonderful if anyone out there could help me in my search. Susan in ON Susan Kraftcheck [skraftcheck@]
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 17:27:26 -0400 | From: “Teddy Pruett” <aprayzer@>
HI Jan and all – The button string is not a myth, you can find reference to them pretty easily. They were called charm strings, and coincided with the charm quilts. I’d heard of them back in the late 80’s, and had decided to make one. If I remember correctly, which would be a minor miracle, there are a few pictured in one of Jinny Beyer’s early books.
Once, during a particularly stressful time inflicted by a teenager, I decided to play with my buttons and make a charm string. From the photos they had looked to be – oh, maybe 18-to 22 inches long. WRONG!!!!! FIrst of all, 999 different buttons creates quite a pile. When I began to string them together, the big buttons “ate ” the tiny buttons, causing them to virtually disappear. SO, I took them off, and strung them differently so that each could be seen in it’s own right. TO do this, you must actually loop the wore through the shanked buttons instead of simply running them onto the wire. FOr butttons with holes, run the wire in one hole and out the other, where the button sits on top of the wire, so to speak. WOrks like a charm!! (couldn’t resist it.)
So, when completed, my charm string was 44 feet long. Forty four feet long. How kewl is that??? I am doing three lectures in South Caroliona next week, and the lecture on Aug 8th actually features my charm string. Now, is that more than you ever wanted to know about charm strings????
Teddy Pruett Beam me up, Scotty – Outta this swamp and into the Rockies www.teddypruett.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:30:48 -1000 | From: Loretta Woodard <Lwoodard@>
Summer visitors to Hawaii nei will be pleased (and surprised) to learn that they will have an opportunity to see For the Joy of It!, the Judy Roche collection co-curated by our very own Lynne Bassett and Deborah Kraack at the Honolulu Academy of Arts through August 29th. http://www.honoluluacademy.org/cmshaa/academy/index.aspx?id1411
For Hawaiian quilts, Mission Houses Museum has five quilts on display in the exhibit, Treasures of Hawaii’s Past, now through January 27, 2007. http://www.missionhouses.org/Default.aspx? ContentID18&ExhibitionID40&Returnfalse
The show received a nice write-up in the local newspaper recently. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jul/23/il/ FP607230320.html
Laurie Woodard
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 22:46:16 -0500 | From: “Debbie” <russhill@>
I found the information in my copy of “Workwoman’s Guide” It is on pg 7 Quilting “Is generally employed for coverlets, silk shoes, cushions, linings of work-baskets; also for babies’ bonnets, hoods,etc. and is well adapted to those purposes for which warmth and softness are essential. It is done in the following manner. Lay a piece of flannel, demet, or other soft substance, between the satin(or other material) and the lining of whatever you are going to make. Run it together, taking care that the stitches go through, not only the satin, but the flannel and lining. The running is done in diamonds, squares, octagons, or any other pattern with very small stitches, in silk color as the material. coverlets are often quilted with patterns of birds, fish, stars, etc. “
So quilting using the stabbing method may have been done but it also looks like the other type of running stitch which is what many of us do today was also used. I hope this helps those ladies at Lincoln’s homestead. Debbie Russell russhill@
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 09:26:18 -0400 | From: “Amy Korn” <amyokorn@>
The button story below is one that I have definitely heard as well – in fact, I use it in a program that I do on “Charm Quilts.” The Victorians frequently collected one of a kind buttons, stringing them together in friendship strings, and trading and swapping buttons with friends. The 1000th button was to be brought to the young woman by her one true love, taken from his coat. Out of this story came the charm quilt tradition of the 1880s and 1890s. Instead of trading buttons, women traded fabric resulting in a charm quilt with no repeated fabrics and often having 1000 different fabrics. Understanding both the compulsion to collect – and the need to celebrate romantic traditions, I certainly believe that this story could be true!
Amy Korn ——-
Recently I visited a small museum in the Rockies and saw a long strip of inch wide fabric on which were sewn a LOT of buttons appearing to date from the late nineteenth & early 20th century. A sign next to it read “there are 999 buttons on this strand. It was a tradition that a young girl would sew 999 buttons in a string throughout her childhood. The 1000th button was added after she married”. I have heard too many quilt myths which probably makes me overly suspicious of such tales.
Has any of you in quilt cyber land heard this.
Jan Thomas Colorado Springs
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 11:54:03 -0700 (PDT) | From: Susan Riley <blackeyedsewsan@>
While on ‘dementia duty’ in w. TX for July (my mom), I had planned to post my 2 promised items. I took all of my QHL notes to write up the Hingham Old Ordinary show and my children’s quilt bibliography only to discover my sister had taken her CPU with her in the camper. I have not unpacked yet but do want to write up the Hinham Historical Society Quilts from the Old Ordinary first in case anyone is going to Lowell & swings through Hingham. (anything beats unpacking!) The quilts were wonderful and it is amazing their good condition considering how they were stored for decades; they were in boxes/trunks in a hot/cold attic for years. No one knew their real worth… The historical society owns 41 quilts ranging in age from 1775-1940 that were all owned by Hingham inhabitants. All but 4 are hand pieced/stitched. The gift shop had many small handwork/fabric fragments examples but their descriptions will make this writeup too lengthy…. In the Old Ordinary House parlour was Aunt Eliza’s Evening Star (Evening Star) created between 1800-1825 by Susan Hersey Thayer, wife of a trader named Elihu. The red/green stars, on point, had alternate blocks of a neutral fabric with dotted fronds & blue flowers (6 spi) and was draped upon a chair. On another parlour chair was an 1870 LeMoyne Star with pink sashing quilted minimally at 6 spi. Block layout is on point. In the taproom was a Star of Bethleham (8 spi) in blue with red stars cut out. 1860 In the pantry was another LeMoyne Star created in brown chintz with alternate blocks in browns and pinks and quilted at 4 spi. It was marked HLC. A Log Cabin & Courthouse Steps, 1875-1899, displayed in the kitchen had a number of shirting fabrics and one ‘god block’ and was quilted with wool batting at 6 spi. A 2nd kitchen quilt was from 1860 of an Italian design with alternate blocks on point. (7 spi) In the first bedroom was a French stuffed whole cloth cotton quilt of grapes from 1775-1800 on the bed. It involved a highly skilled technique of outline cording but not quilting. The inside work was pleated and was probably imported from France. It was originally owned by Mehitable Lincoln. It was so stunning and took your breath away. In that same room was an Ocean Waves, 1800-1825, in cotton and wool in pinks, beige, and blue; some of the fabric was chintz and Trenton tape was used as a binding. Layout was repeated blocks, side by side. It was quilted at 6 spi with wool batting. In that same bedroom was a Grandmothers Flower Garden, 1800-1825, in a rocker. Its path was white with toiles around the center and a wool batting was used. 7 spi The all–over mosaic layout was hand pieced and quilted using the English paper-pieced technique. In bedroom 2 was a Double Anchor, 1870, in double pinks with shirting fabrics that was quilted in the ditch at 6 spi. Layout of blocks was side by side with 2” lattice strips. (can’t read my writing at this point but I think I abbreviated pink & blue) On the bed was a tulip quilt from 1860 with a diamond center; the cotton, a green patterned with red flowers was faded and shot. The bed was stuffed with corn husks (ouch!). The baby cradle held an 1870 4 patch quilt. Bedroom 3 had an Old Maids Puzzle hand pieced and quilted in 1885. Fabrics included shirtings, New England mill fabrics, as well as Centennial, Garibaldi, and mourning prints. The layout was on point with a narrow red lattice and knife edge binding. I think this room also had a bed with a Star of Bethlehem, 1850, with gorgeous quilting motifs of feathers and wreaths.On one of these beds was a peach colored wedding outfit from 1756 WITH matching SHOES! The hall was amazing: 4 quilts! One was an Hourglass created in pinks and browns and this was most likely a coffin quilt. A wall display coordinated with coffin embroidered framed pieces and a large reverse painting on glass. A 2nd quilt, Toile by Jouy”, was a whole cloth with a center medallion of French red toile from 1800. The backing was earlier than the top, created in cotton and linen. #3 was a Brickwall from the late 1800’s created in paisleys and quilted diagonally at 7 spi. 1850-1875. #4 was a Brown toile from 1830 quilted with a clam shell motif at 9 spi. Wool batting. In the library was yet another Grandmother’s Flower Garden from 1850, created with English paper piecing with chintz and corduroy. 6spi Another hallway upstairs had a red and blue Log Patch from 1875 that looked absolutely NEW. Created with fussy cut strips & shirtings, it had no batting or quilting. The colors were bold and rich and you really had to keep looking at the date to realize it was over 135 years old. There were other pieces displayed in other buildings, but I hope that this will give you an idea of what you will see/what you missed. I am truly sorry I could not get to this as planned but at this point my mother cannot be left alone so I could not be inventive and locate a computer…hope this is helpful and the children’s quilt bibliography will be next but I do have to unpack~Susan Riley, Hingham MA
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 18:02:21 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@
This new (to me) story of ‘button strings’ has got me intrigued. Anyone out there that has one of these 1000 button strings be willing to loan it for a show? I am gathering all kinds of quilt hisotry items (those not too familiar with everyone) to set up a display for our guild’s quilt show in November and one of those button strings would really compliment a charm quilt that may be part of my display. Just wondering Mitzi from Vermont
From: “Velia Lauerman”
Dear Button Lovers, The Historical Museum in Wayne, Michigan owns and displays a 99 button collection nicely placed on a beautiful velvet background with maybe wooden or cardboard frame inside. When living in Wayne I gave a Quilt lecture for the Historical Society which I belonged to. As I knew the curator I asked to borrow it for a show. They said yes but ..Cloned one to match which worked fine rather than disturb or be responsible for theirs. Audiences love to look and try to duplicate them. Now have a workshop for sewing on buttons. It entails different methods of sewing on buttons. The tradition lives on here in Hudson, Michigan anyway. Surprising how many people can’t or don’t sew on buttons. Velia
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 02:15:30 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@
You have given me a whole new idea for a workshop!!!!! Or maybe a working display at our upcoming quilt show!!!! I am going to look into this old idea a bit more. Thanks for making my day (it is 2am in Vermont and I am nursing a bad traveling cold – having just returned from a Swedish family reunion and sitting in the plane for a zillion hours with cold air blowing down on necks). Sure do enjoy this site. Mitz from Vermont
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 19:54:50 -0700 | From: Karen Alexander <karenquilt@>
Hello everyone! Have been back a little over a week now from the induction of Jinny Avery into The Quilters Hall of Fame and am now catching up on two weeks worth of posts. Thank you for all those who donated items to our Live & Silent auctions. I know there are some on this list that attended the QHf Celebration. Would love to have QHL receive a report from other than myself. Sometimes I am too close to the forest to see the trees. But I know I sure had a lot of fun this year!! Jazz will do it to me every time! Jinny was fantastic at the piano. I even talked my husband into flying in from Seattle to play clarinet with her. He’s glad he did. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. Sorry the Mid-West Quilt Study Group was unable to make it to Sue Reich’s World War II workshop in mass. We expected about 45 and got less than half that. You missed an incredible workshop. We have some very exciting things planned for 2007. Hope you will all mark your calendars for July 19-21 when Mary Schafer of Flushing, Michigan is inducted as our 37th Honoree. I will post the slate of teachers and subjects soon as well as a short bio of Mary Schafer.
Karen Alexander
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 23:44:06 -0500 | From: “Karan Flanscha” <SadieRose@>
Jinny Beyer’s book “The Scrap Look” © 1985 EPM Publications, on pgs. 117-120 information on ‘charm strings’ of buttons, and the connection to charm patch quilts. There is a photo of a charm string circa 1875 from the collection of the State Museum of Pennsylvania on page 118. Plenty of details and quotes about charm strings, described as “another Victorian fad from around 1860 to 1900”. Hope that is helpful!! Karan from steamy Iowa
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:15:14 -0400 | From: Debby Kratovil <kratovil@>
Is there a definitive list of patterns under the Nancy Page name? (Yes, I know that wasn’t her real name). Also, a source for the pattern images? I have Block Base, but that doesn’t include the applique patterns. 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: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:30:50 -0500 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
I recall that many years ago there was a favorite quote being passed around – even as a Bumper Sticker – it was: “Quilters Don’t Do Buttons!”
Actually, I inherited a huge collection of buttons from a pro seamstress. Many I have sold on original cards at Quilt Shows so maybe “Quilters Do, Do Buttons” nowadays! About 35 years ago I do recall teaching some 4H boys how to sew on buttons during a county fair because they needed to look good when they showed their livestock and no mothers were there for them. I was there as a Mom and a 4H Leader for my 3 daughters! The girls were amused. The boys were embarrassed. But later one told me he appreciated it a few years later when he went off to college!
opps! Sorry! Off topic. But I do have a quilt related question: What is your opinion on adding buttons to quilts? Was there a DATE when this began? Has anyone done a study on this? I have seen more quilts lately using buttons as part of the Tying or Tacking aspect of quilting, as well as for purely decorative purposes. When did this begin?
Back in 1981 I attended a seminar at which a VIP quilter suggested that a Button could hide badly stitched centers of Lemoyne Stars! She was “judging” a quilt that had this problem. She told the maker to add buttons to cover up her problem and to create a “charming appearance” – everyone GASPED! Choked! And probably went out to buy Buttons as soon as the class was over!
I simply recall deciding that Buttons were not a good idea on Crib Quilts! Which was probably the safest decision. I was not doing “folk art” or “decorative” quilts.
I’d heard of the Button Charm Collections but had forgotten them. I do recall that my mother always cut off all buttons before tossing out an old shirt or dress or turning it into dust rags. But she did not make a Button Stringf. She sewed them onto a new shirt or dress and recycled!
CB, In muggy MO. ——
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:51:54 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>
I found this one in a T-shirt years ago—-
“Asking a quilter to hem your pants is like asking Van Gogh to paint your garage!”
Pepper
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:59:30 -0400 | From: “deb” <deb@>
When my great aunts went into nursing homes or passed away, I inherited all their sewing baskets because I was the only one who sewed anymore. One of the baskets was actually a wooden bucket filled with buttons – like ones all strung together on thread so they could be used again, some wrapped in clean tissues to keep them together, others in small plastic boxes, but most of them just loose. They never threw buttons away when the clothing was too worn out to be worn, everything was kept to be used again, these were women of the depression.
I laugh when I see the thread – wooden spools, plastic spools, cardboard spools & Styrofoam spools! None of it is any good anymore but I have all the baskets – including my Mother-in-law’s – on a shelf in my sewing room. I need to put each one’s name in it so future generations will know what was from who.
Debbie Bayville, NJ
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 11:00:33 -0500 | From: SoldierGrrrl <soldier.grrrl@>
Hi all.
I’m a newbie and I thought I’d just drop in a say hi.
Currently, I’m a wife, a student in San Antonio, Texas, a soldier, and an OIF III vet, and a whole bunch of other things. I’m a member of the New Braunfels Area Quilting Guild, and attend the Bulverde Quilt Group meetings when I can.
I’m working on my first charity quilt, made from an Ugly Fabric exchange with the Bulverde quilters, and although my machine is currently on the fritz, I’m still excited. 🙂
I’m interested in learning more about quilt history and vintage textiles and fashion in general.
Have a wonderful day! Jen — Blonde. It’s not just a hair color; it’s a way of life. http://soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com/
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:05:26 -0700 (PDT) | From: Susan Riley <blackeyedsewsan@>
If anyone is going to Lowell (and swinging by Hingham): 1. Wed.100 degrees 2. Thursrain…umbrella 3. They are putting a train UNDER Hingham and up until today we’ve had at least 1 access through town…none as of today unless you know the back ways. The 2 main items to ask for are if lost are The Main Talbots Store (original one) or the Lincoln statue. North: get off at Quincy exit from the Expressway and follow all 3A signs. In Hingham at the 3A light intersection with Brooks/Exon Station are 4 choices; bear towards 1:00 onto Lincoln St. The Old Ordinary will be on your left right before the Lincoln Statue. (actually as I fell asleep, I realized that the peach wedding dress was actually at the Benjamin Lincoln house, which has been in the family since it was built in 1637) SOUTH: 0n (also known as 128) at the So.Shore Plaza, follow the right fork for RT 3 south towards the Cape. Take the Rockland/Hingham exit, turn left at the Home Depot light & follow Rt 228 (Main Street) all the way to JackAss Park (maybe 5 miles) and take a LEFT onto Hersey St. At 1st stop sign take a L, follow that all the way to the Tedeschi Store, pass it and take a R onto North St. This will lead you to the Lincoln Statue; a L onto Lincoln St and the Old Ordinary will be on your right. At the Lincoln Statue, a R would take you to the main Talbots store. This is a rough guide but if googled/map quested it will give you a better idea of where you are going because I was told as of this a.m. the policemen on duty are getting a little testy. Enjoy! Susan Riley, Hingham
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:12:00 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger <jkip@>
Deb — if thread has been properly stored, it will be good forever. I am still machine and hand sewing with thread dating from early 1900s and upwards on my grandkids playclothes and everything else. Nothing beats it. So take care of that thread as your relatives did.
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 13:45:05 -0700 (PDT) | From: Melissa Slaton <orangelemonbruner@>
Hello,
I am trying to get in touch with Jill Sutton Filo who wrote an article on Ruby Short McKim that appeared in Uncoverings in 1994. I’m trying to get information about the photos of McKim that appeared in the article. If anyone on the list knows has her contact info would you please email me off list?
Thanks,
Melissa Slaton
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:36:25 -0700 | From: “Julie Silber” <quiltcomplex@>
Hi,
I have a friend going to Silverton, Durango and maybe Golden, CO. She is interested in quilt shops for fabric — and in old quilts, for sale or on exhibition. I, of course, told her of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden. Any other suggestions?
Thanks, Julie Silber quiltcomplex@
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 07:46:11 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
Hello,
Can anyone tell me when the term “String Quilt” first came into use? Seems to me it is fairly contemporary
Thanks,
Darwin
Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:36:56 -0400 | From: “Newbie Richardson” <pastcrafts@>
Dear QHLers, In researching the availability of continental European printed cottons in the American (British) colonies, I was perusing some letters from Anne Ogle to her daughter, Molly, written during the American Revolution. Anne had taken her son to school in Britain before the war -and then decamped to France as the cost of living – plus the political situation – made life in Britain a bit difficult for someone from Maryland.
Her letters are quite intimate and gossipy – with some nice textile references. I am having trouble with one of the quotes and am hoping that someone on the list may have more knowledge than I do. I am wondering if one of our French members might be able to shed some light – Danielle?
Here is the passage – the transcription is accurate; “If you save all your old silk gowns no matter of what sort or color, black only excepted, or how dirty & ravil it out, cutt it about two inches long, send it to Bordeaux & if it weighs two and half pounds you may have a new robe for it – this is better than giving it to worthless maids.”
I think she means to cut up the fabric into strips to be unraveled and then respun (?) into new cloth? She would be getting the equivalent of a new robe ( front opening gown) either in fabric or cash? – This reuse would certainly result in slubbed, nubby silk, however we are told that there was no “nubby” or slub silk worn in the 18th c ( I have never seen any in American or even in what French collections I have been in). Could this have been for the secondary market – thus not present in our collections?
anyone have any thoughts?
A.Newbold “Newbie” Richardson The Costume and Textile Specialists Appraisals, Conservation, & Exhibition Alexandria and Richmond, VA 703-684-0863/804-261-4998 www.costumeandtextile.net
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 22:40:48 -0400 | From: “Louise” <ltiemann@>
I just recently came across some cardboard templates of various design motifs. The seller indicated that her great grandmother used them to decorate pinafores and embroider on crazy quilts in the late 1800’s. In examining them closely, I found the name Thos. Charles, Chicago imprinted on them. Here is a summary of what I was able to find out about the company.
Thomas Charles Company of Chicago, Illinois Kindergarten and school supplies
1882: Agent for the Milton Bradley Company for toys and games made by them 1891: THE KINDERGARTEN Home and School Culture, hardcover 1898: Early Plays Index: School Room Plays: As Found In Songs For Little Children, 25 cents 1915 and 1921: Cass City Chronicles, school budget bills paid to Thos. Charles Co.
The motifs fit into the style of redwork that was done in the 1880’s to 1890’s. I was wondering if anyone has heard of these types of templates. Mine range in size of 3×4 to about 4×6 inches.
Also, I have been trying to reach Deborah Harding (author of Red and White) if anyone can help me out.
Thanks, Louise
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 10:31:36 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>
Hi Darwin, I heard the term ‘string quilts’ being used in the early 1970s by women who were 60-80 years old. They usually referred to a type of scrap quilt popular in the Depression. Their explanation: ‘string quilts’ were those made with scraps and ‘strings’ (those narrow pieces left after pants hemming) that
were machine-sewn over newspaper squares. It was also the title of an early quilt book String Quilts ‘n Things by Marjorie Puckett, published by Orange Patchwork Publishing June 1979. More than you wanted to know- Pepper Cory in absolutely sweltering coastal North Carolina
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 15:41:50 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>
Hi,
After reading Jinny Beyer’s information about charm quilts and charm button strings, etc. in her out of print book, “Scrap Look,” I asked her if she would consider adding some of this information to her website.
She has agreed! However, this will have to take a back seat to her current project.
To remain updated as to when the new info. is posted, visit Jinny’s terrific website at: www.jinnybeyer.com and sign up for her e-mail list.
I am pleased that she will share this information with all of you.
Best,
Patricia Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 19:38:27 EDT | From: TEXTIQUE@
Hi all;
Thanks to Pat and all the others who sent info about the ‘button charm strings’, which I now can name. I’m going to pass this all on to the museum I visited as I promised to them. I’ve been reading your various perspectives with such delight. I think I might even send the idea of a charm quilt and charm button strings on to our new curator for an exhibit idea at the RMQM. I’ve been painting and updating my office storage to accommodate my ever expanding book (addict) collection to explain my late response (excuse) for all you’ve sent. I can’t wait to read about them on Jinny Beyer’s site.
Thanks again for your wonderful sharing.
Jan Thomas
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:32:23 -0400 | From: sandy7827@
Morning Everyone, Since this subject started,I find it very interesting, my question is……is there a picture of one of these on the Internet or does anyone have one to share?
Thanks Sandra in Illinois
An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 08:48:56 -0500 | From: Mary Persyn <Mary.Persyn@>
I have some string-pieced stars with newspaper foundation in which the newspaper pieces refer to the change of the century, i.e., around Jan. 1, 1900. And as Pepper said, string piecing was popular in the 1970s-80s. (I’m a member of String-A-Long Quilt Guild which was founded in 1982).
FWIW,
Mary
— Mary G. Persyn 219-465-7830 Associate Dean for Library Services School of Law Library Valparaiso University 656 S. Greenwich St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Mary.Persyn@ Fax: 219-465-7917
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:25:38 -0400 | From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <Cupp5@>
http://www.keephomesteadmuseum.org/button_archive.htm
Debbie Cupp Virginia Beach
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 15:32:58 -0700 | From: “Julie Silber” <quiltcomplex@>
Hi,
We have a quilt that we are certain is not original, though we have not seen it before. It is an appliqued and embroidered Cowboy Rodeo Bucking Bronc design with a large Cowboy image in the center surrounded by solid red ribbon-like lasso borders. The four corners are filled with Western images such as a saddle, pistol, etc.
Very cool, but definitely designed.
We have listed the full photo and a detail on the eBoard. If anyone knows the manufacturer or designer or year, please let us know. Thanks!
Julie Silber quiltcomplex@
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 18:58:10 -0700 (PDT) | From: Claire Alexander <claire63us@>
Sorry to be dumb, but Ican’t tell from this message why I would want to swing by Hingham. And I only recently heard of the lowell museum–a well timed hearing as I am headed that way in October (too bad I am missing the show this week!). I am new to the list, so there may have been something earlier that would have answered my question.
A bit of intro. i’ve been quilting since the 70s with a 20 year break for various reasons. I have only been on the fringes of quilt history, so I’ll mostly listen. I’ve enjoyed the bits about buttons so far.
Claire in Indiana
