June 7 – 13, 2004
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:
- Tobacco Premium Textiles and Cigar Bands — A long thread digs into cigar-band silks and other tobacco-company premium textiles that turn up in antique quilts and table covers.
- Princess Feather Block Research — Members search for published sources documenting the history of the Princess Feather quilt block.
- Scissors for Quilters with Thumb Trouble — Recommendations for spring-loaded and ergonomic scissors for quilters dealing with thumb pain, which drifts into a tangent about washing machine reliability.
- Crazy Quilt Convention Follow-Up — Continued sharing of hanky and doll-quilt history sparked by the earlier Omaha convention report. (see the article on Victorian crazy quilts)
From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>
I love my Fiskars. I have a couple of pairs of the small style and one of the larger one. Straight cutting scissors. The spring loading makes a lot of difference when I’m doing a lot of patch cutting and they are invaluable when making a flannel rag-style quilt! The spring on the straight-cutting scissors is not as stiff as that reported here for the pinking shears. I really like to use the large size scissors for large cutting projects when I’m not using the rotary cutter.
The Fiskars would be great for someone having thumb trouble, Jean. You don’t need to use your thumb.
I, too, prefer Ginghers for fine cutting for appliqué. But they do need to be sharpened occasionally.
The Fiskars are not self sharpening, and I don’t know why they hold the sharp edge for so long. But they do. And they’re very affordable (sometimes downright cheap) for quality scissors.
My “very-satisfied-customer” story about Fiskars involves the spring. It broke on one of my small pairs, and I couldn’t find a replacement spring the right size in a local hardware store. I wrote to customer service at Fiskars about the problem, and they sent me two replacements, no charge. The scissors are no good without the spring!
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>
Jean wrote: <<i think they added one too many 0s(maybe it should read $2,000) for the embroidered quilt at
http://www.kroghauctions.com/images/big2.jpg
RESPONSE: I am not an appraiser, but I doubt that that quilt would be valued for only $2000 IF the description of it is completely accurate. Aren’t there different appraisal rates depending on whether one is looking for an insurance appraisal or a value/replacement appraisal or a sales price appraisal?
The $20,000 appraisal is good only if someone actually wants to pay that amount. And this is an auction. The $20,000 pricetag may be what they WANT out of the sale, not necessarily what they are going to get.
I was interested, when I went to the site, to read that the same quilter quilted this embroidered quilt with 13 stitches to the inch and the Round the World quilt with only 8.
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
From: billie nelle <billienellepearson@>
hi~ i’m a newbie to this site and to the lap quilting. i would “love’ to think that i could ever get so much for a quilt someday!!! my grandmother made several quilts and many tops she never got to finish..nor intended to quilt…hoped at least one of her grandkids would someday pick it up too. long story short….my cousins all got these quilts and tops…none of who care about quilts or sewing…no chance i will ever get one now. but i do know she made some from clothing my great grandma brought over with her from germany….they’re being used for dog blankets!!! i have some linen pieces tho that are dated 1907,signatures in the powder ink. can anyone tell me how to clean or restore these pieces or should i leave them as is. some stains on them, and dont know if they’re a treasure or something i can cut up for crazy quilt pieces??? helpp this dumby please??? bille
From: “Karen Quilts Texas”
I was in JoAnns (the Nat’l chain store) today(Saturday), and they had all cutting implements 50% off… just today!
Karen
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 12:47:08 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@
we all know how wonderful quilters are, and proof of the pudding is: i received lots and lots of feedback on fiskar scissors(all positive)…i bought a pair on sale at joann’s and they are just grrrrrrrreat… the largest size had just a little too wide and expanse for my mobility..but the medium and small size are perfect… i can’t thank you all enough…for all of the advice/tips have a great weekend. PS a little tip about keeping the thumb fairly close to the palm…i take a piece of Nexcare flexible clear first aid tape(bought it at CVS)…it comes on a dispenser just like scotch tape….i tape a 4 inch long piece to the back of my hand(each one)from the bottom of the index finger to the bottom of the thumb..limiting the spread to 3/4s of what it would be naturally… i can send a line drawing of my tape idea…if you want just email me individually so i can attach it to an email . thanks again jeanL
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 12:56:47 -0400 | From: “Sondra Biacchi” <quilt@>
Since we are on the subject of tobacco ephemera I will attempt to put a pic on eboard of an antique quilt made of floral tobacco silks that I purchased in an antique show recently. I found it under a pile of fabrics in a basket and couldn’t believe my eyes. I think it was waiting for me. The tag read Kensita tobacco silks. Kensita was a brand of cigarettes sold in England . There are 140 silks sewn together to make this gorgeous little quilt each measuring 1-1/2″ x 2-1/4″. There are silks of every flower imaginable and they are beautiful. The dealer told me she had purchased it in England. I found some information on the net at http://www.kensitasflowers.co.uk/weavers.htm
<img align=”left” alt=”click on the thumbnail to see this up close” border=”2″ height=”107″ src=”images/floralsilk_small.jpg” width=”100″/> The biggest mystery surrounding Kensitas flowers concerns the questions that everybody wants answered.Where were they woven? Who designed them? They were woven in Coventry and the factory and the records were destroyed in the Second World war. The County Archivist of Warwickshire and also the Keeper of Industry at The Herbert museum in Coventry, both confirm that, although Coventry had a large silk weaving industry, there is no evidence to suggest Kensitas silks were produced there. The firm of J. J. Cash which is still in existence (producing amongst other things name tags for sewing into childrens school clothing) again draws a blank. One of the largest cigarette card dealers in America – Franklyn Roberts suggests on his webpage that “Kensitas silks were woven by mid-european peasant labour on primitive looms”. Other people have suggested that they were woven in Eastern Europe but offer no firm evidence. Can anyone shed any more light on this lovely little piece?
Sondra Pennsylvania
From: “Sandra Millett” <smillett@>
You must contact Kumiko through her publisher. I wrote a profile article about her for McCall’s Quilting several years ago and she will not talk directly to anyone, it must all go through an intermediary.
Good luck. Sandra Sandra Millett Author, Freelance Writer Quilting the Savory Garden, Krause Publications Needle ‘n Pen columnist, The Quilter Magazine
From: “Sandra Millett” <smillett@>
I am now using Heritage Cutlery Scissors almost exclusively. The VP23 is a small trimmer with micro-tips that will clip even 2mm machine stitches. They are American made in Bolivar, NY. And are resharpened free.
Another point, Chris Olix, the engineer for Heritage says that using “pap er scissors” is not necessary. It is an old wives tales started when the br and under discussion began marketing. All you have to do is wipe the scissor blades free of paper fibers residue and they are good to go for fabrics. The paper residue is what causes dulling.
The company has a new VP3 ergonomic scissor that pops open when released.= Also like the removable soft cussion inserts in the finger holes in some.= Go to www.HeritageCutlery.com for sources. Hope this helps. Sandra Sandra Millett Author, Freelance Writer Quilting the Savory Garden, Krause Publications Needle ‘n Pen columnist, The Quilter Magazine
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Thanks, doll. These are tow wonder ful table covers, donated to the Valentine, archival mounted and framed. One has strips of bias binding(?) used to stretch out the cigar bands. The other one is only cigar bands – even some in turquoise blue. It almost looks like she did some kind of cigar band ‘swap’, as there are so many diferent brands represented. Best, Newbie
,
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 | From: “Newbie Richardson” <pastcrafts@>
You are a dear. These are two table covers, professionally mounted and framed, now at the Valentine. One has bias ribbon – or tape- used to fill in for lack of cigar ribbons. The other is solid ribbons, some in turquoise. There are so many different brands represented that I would think she belonged to some kind of “swap” club. This is the same period as charm quilts, no? Best, Newbie
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 17:41:19 -0400 | From: “Newbie Richardson” <pastcrafts@>
Lynn, For what it is worth, the company as well as the folks at Sears whom I talked to, claim that the mildew dorr gasget problem has been fixed in the later models….I am also looking at Sear’s copy cat version. I have always had luck with Kemore stuff. I am not plunking down my money just yet! At least I can sit and read at the laudromat! ( and if I don’t turn on my cell I can be blissfully OUT OF REACH! Newbie
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Dear list, I am quiet for months and suddenly need your collective wisdom several times in one week! A very dear friend, and very knowledgeable collector of early clothing, has acquired an early corset and chemise from an estate in NY. We are trying to date the pieces. Styllisticaly they could be anywhere from 1800 – 1835. The geneology confirms dates in the 1800 to 1840 period. But… Both the corset and the chemise have an ink stamp of a federal eagle motif surrounding the stamped name of the woman who ( we think) owned the garments. The whole is clearly one complete stamp and not two separate stamps. If the geneology is correct, then she wore the corset as a teen ager, c 1815, (as sort of a training bra). Also, she used the stamp several times on the same garment. (I remember my own teen-aged daughters stamping everything in sight when they got a set of ink stamps as a gift one year!) Stylistically, this is ok – but so is a later date. The corset is not that small. It has a waist of 24″, so could have been worn by either an adolescent or young woman. I am thinking that the clue to the date maybe the stamp. My experience with stamps on clothing is more 1830 on, and more as manufacturer markings, not on what is clearly home made clothing. I am possibly of the opinion that the pieces were for another daughter of the family, who would have had the same name, if the sibling had died,( they did that a lot in the 19th c as many of you know) thus dating the clothes closer to 1830 and the kind of ink stamp that I have seen in that period. I just think that c 1815 is too early for such a stamp – any thoughts? Best Newbie Richardson
From: Barb Garrett
I always know when it’s a slow night — I get to catch up on emails and bookmarks and houseclean <grin>. I know the auction is over, but I thought you might enjoy the picture show of mostly Pennsylvania quilts at this site — they do a good job of photographing, and don’t forget to click on the quilt a second time for an enlargement. http://www.williambunchauctions.com/content/images/040608/InvCat_0086.htm
Actually, I was hoping that the auction results would be listed like he did on the last large auction he had, but it’s just the catalog, no prices.
Barb in sunny southeastern PA
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 22:21:15 -0400 | From: QuiltsRI@
I have had my FISHER-PAYKEL for over and love it. Other than making otherworldly noises when it spins, it is the tops. It is so energy efficient, the state of Maryland didn’t charge sales tax. Cathy Smith
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 23:59:32 -0400 | From: “Karen”
Somebody else who uses a laundromat! At last!
I do it for the people-watching, actually…you can learn an enormous amount about humanity…:)
Karen Evans (who never, ever, washes quilts at the laundromat….:) ) —– Original Message —– From: “Newbie Richardson” <pastcrafts@> To: “Quilt History List” <qhl@> Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 5:41 PM Subject: [qhl] RE: washer
> Lynn, > For what it is worth, the company as well as the folks at Sears whom I > talked to, claim that the mildew dorr gasget problem has been fixed in the > later models….I am also looking at Sear’s copy cat version. I have always > had luck with Kemore stuff. > I am not plunking down my money just yet! At least I can sit and read at > the laudromat! ( and if I don’t turn on my cell I can be blissfully OUT OF > REACH! > Newbie > > —–Original Message—– > From: Palampore@ [Palampore@] > Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 10:33 AM > To: Quilt History List > Subject: [qhl] washer > > > Newbie, DON’T get a NEPTUNE/Maytag. I have one and HATE it. It washs > clothes very well, but it is a mildewed mess around the rubber seal and no > amount of cleaning will fix it. I have complained to the person I bought it > from but he says I have no recourse because it says in the Owner’s Manuel > that I should have been doing a Clorox only wash about every week or so. > Well, guess what! I didn’t read that and because of it I have a mess mess > mess. What happens is that at the end of the wash I should have been wiping > the door and seal DRY before closing it. (Washing for a family of 5 with > about 1 or 2 loads a day…) If you are complusive about cleaning, which I > am not, it will be fine. Newbie, you are like me so you don’t need one. > Look at a Fisher/Pycal (not sure about spelling). It got great reviews and > I debated about it. Wish I had gotten that instead. > I will soon have to replace my Neptune, and I will look at those. Have had > the Neptune 3 yrs. > My 2 cents worth, Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC > > > — >
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 00:16:20 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>
> Karen Evans > (who never, ever, washes quilts at the laundromat….:) )
I have used the Laundromat twice in 45 years, and both times were to wash those newfangled raggedy ravelly quilts. I did it. I did it twice. Make those quilts I mean. It must have been some sort of bacillus in the food I’d eaten, or perhaps a funny mushroom. I’m much more careful now.
Judy Ringo judygrow@
Who spent this evening bonding with my seam ripper. I even bought two new ones today, knowing what lay ahead.
