October 1 – 4, 1999
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:
- Eagle-Motif Quilts — Members trace a newly made eagle quilt’s design back through published sources like Kiracofe & Johnson’s The American Quilt and Orlofsky’s Quilts in America, and confirm the pattern came from an old quilt magazine.
- Seven-Pointed Star Identification — A member asks for help identifying a seven-pointed star pattern, prompting others to share sources and an eBay listing of a related top.
- WCTU Blue-and-White Symbolism — Members debate whether the blue-and-white color scheme in some quilts was chosen to signal Woman’s Christian Temperance Union sympathies. (see the article on temperance quilts)
- Feed Sack Care and Collecting — A member asks how to clean an unwashed feed sack without fading its graphic, while another asks whether advertising feed sacks are as sought-after as printed calicoes. (see the article on the feedsack story)
- Fire Screen Fabric and Quick Questions — A member seeks fabric to mount on an antique fire screen, sparking a detour into historical canvaswork gauge, plus short questions on polyester batting dates and cigar-silk fabric.
- Pennsylvania Quilt Style Research — Barb Garrett relays quilt historian Jeannette Lasansky’s research identifying a distinctive north-central Pennsylvania quilt style.
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 11:04:42 +0200 | From: “Tilde Binger” <binger.hougaard@
Hi Another pop out from lurk-dom Went and looked at the Eagle-quilt you have been discussing and thought “I have seen on like it recently”. There is a pic. of one in Kiracofe and Johnson’ “The American Quilt“. It is figure 196 (p.194 in my edition), and they write : “Quilts with a configuration of four eagles on them are often erroneously dated c. 1875, on the assumption that they were made at the time of the American Centennial Celebration. Many date from the 1880s but, as this example shows (made and dated Nov. 1926), they were made well into the 20th century. Most of the known example have a Pennsylvania origin …” I’m sorry if this has already been quoted, but just thought I would share. After reading the Kiracofe note, I seriously doubt that the quilt in question is “First half of the 19th century” as the seller writes. Sounds to me like s/he is off by about a century.
And then in my former post, I referred to “Ambra”. It is according to my English herbal called “Southernwood” (at least in the UK), and has the Latin name artemisia abrotanum. Cheers Tilde in Copenhagen
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 07:31:24 -0500 | From: Jan Smith <quiltdr@>
I have a Red Goose Feed sack that has never been washed (but needs to be.) Is there any way to do this without fading the graphic?
Jan in Dallas Where the fall weather is great!
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 09:53:39 EDT | From: JQuilt@
could some one tell me where i can see a picture/diagram/pattern of a seven pointed star? thanks in advance jean
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 07:04:08 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne@>
Dear friends
Jane Stapel is presenting “Those Fabulous Feedsacks” at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center Thursday, October 14, 1999, 1 p.m., Tickets: $10.00 (includes admission to the Latimer Center)
Jane will cover “where were they made?,” “who designed them?,” what were they used for after using up the contents of the bags?” She also provides a trunk show of collectable feedsacks as well as fashions and household memorabilia.Feedsacks were a basic part of rural Americans’ lives from the 1920s through the 1950s. Today they have become a treasured collectible to be saved as is or made into quilts.
If your in the area, come join the fun. Denise Clausen Director LQTC
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:17:02 EDT | From: Chyral@
Hi all,
I’ve been trying to get caught up on the recent discussions (after some computer problems), and I really wish I had the time to dig around in my “archives” for some eagle quilts…… There is a sort-of-related quilt pictured on page 459 of the current (October ’99) issue of The Magazine Antiques. (Are those eagles? Or turkeys? Or maybe….peacocks?)
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:49:02 EDT | From: RBCochran@
In a message dated 10/1/99 10:34:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Chyral@ writes:
<< I’ve been trying to get caught up on the recent discussions (after some computer problems), and I really wish I had the time to dig around in my “archives” for some eagle quilts…… There is a sort-of-related quilt pictured on page 459 of the current (October ’99) issue of The Magazine Antiques. (Are those eagles? Or turkeys? Or maybe….peacocks?) >> I think they’re eagles. There is also an eagle quilt similar to the one in Antiques in the Quilt Engagement Calendar 2000. I don’t have my own copy yet, so I can’t give you exact page, but I think it was early in the year. Rachel in NJ
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 11:02:48 -0400 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judy@>
Hi – I started this conversation when I referred to a seven-pointed star quilt top I had sold on eBay a while back – the photos are still there – you can go to http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=134674329 to view them. I thought this was probably an accident but this message thread has made me think it could have been intentional! The quilt top is early 19th century. Like the other 7-pointed star tops I have now learned about, it is in a “sunburst” arrangement. I’m going to let the collector who bought this know about the QHL observations – I’m sure she will be delighted!
At 09:53 AM 10/1/99 -0400, JQuilt@ wrote: >could some one tell me where i can see a picture/diagram/pattern of a seven >pointed star? >thanks in advance >jean
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 16:04:12 -0500 | From: “Hohmann, Frank” <fhohmann@> (b
I have an 18th century American fire or pole screen which requires fabric for the screen. It is vertically oval and is roughly 12 by 20 inches. Do you have any suggestions?
Frank fhohmann@
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 03:02:32 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@>
The early fire screens I have seen have often had a needlepoint or petitpoint design inserted into the frame. I have sold two, both from England, and they had exquisitely embroidered textiles made especially for the screen. One had a coat of arms, the other a complex floral/acanthus leaf design.
Xenia, in Indiana
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 17:33:52 -0400 | From: “Store E-Mail Acct.” <qps@>
Does anyone have an approximate date that polyester batting started to be produced and used? I know I have the information somewhere . . . . but it is much easier to ask all of you than to have to sort through all my stuff! VBG Thanks, Debbie in NJ
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 19:22:30 +0000 | From: Audrey Waite <awquiltr@>
Is there much interest in feedsacks with advertising or do people like the ones with printed calicoes better? I have an antique dealer friend that has some with advertising she would like to sell if anyone is interested, you can e-mail me privately.
Audrey awquiltr@
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 13:58:49 +0200 | From: Ady Hirsch <adamroni@>
Hi, I’m new to the list, so I’m not sure I’m doing this right, but here goes: There’s a good picture of an Eagle quilt dated to c. 1880 in America’s Glorious Qui;t (no. 48, p. 78) as well as a c. 1850 Eagle crib quilt (no. 144, p. 182). In “Quilts in America”, Ms. Orlofsky says (pp. 324-325): “Liberty quilts displaying an eagleas subject matter were made from Revolutionary days until the late 1830s. The eagles are usually stylized and found in the center of the quilt, surrounded by a wteath of stars…. Union quilts employing eagles as subjects, but arranged diagonally across the corner of the quilt and having stars or other geometric designs as a cntral decoration, were highly popular during the 1860s. The Union quilt design was used primarily yb quilt makers in the North during the Civil War, with the greatest number of Union Quilts apparently being made in Pennsylvania. Hope this is helpful Ady
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 08:14:10 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Hi Jan, try soaking it in clear cool water. If you read the “ink removal” directions it says to “boil, or wash in HOT water” and then it took several times to remove the ink. Orvis might not take it out either……but you’ll never know till you try <G>! Laura At 07:31 AM 10/01/1999 -0500, Jan Smith wrote: >I have a Red Goose Feed sack that has never been washed (but needs to >be.) Is there any way to do this without fading the graphic? > >Jan in Dallas >Where the fall weather is great! > > >
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 16:49:28 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM@
RE: blue in WCTU quilts and Mary
I think the WCTU was predominantly Protestant, which would minimize the chances that it was done to honor Mary. There may not have been a symbolic reason…just that blue was readily available. <G> Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 16:13:15 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
According to the research that I’ve found, blue and white were the organizations colors, although as some have already said, not all quilts making “silent statements” as to the makers affiliation with the group, or their opinion of temperance were only blue and white. I have a red and white Four T’s quilt that I have on loan from a client for use in my “Silent Statements” lecture that I’ll be giving to the Dallas Assistance League in November. Does anyone know of any other quilt patterns that were favored by the WCTU other than the usual…..Drunkards Path, Goblet, Four T’s…. Laura At 04:49 PM 10/02/1999 -0400, JOCELYNM@ wrote: >RE: blue in WCTU quilts and Mary > >I think the WCTU was predominantly Protestant, which would minimize the >chances that it was done to honor Mary. >There may not have been a symbolic reason…just that blue was readily >available. <G> >Jocelyn > > >
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 14:51:30 -0700 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
I have an antique quilt in a Mariner’s Compass variation made in faded browns (maybe originally green-) and soft pinks. Looks 1860’s to me. An eagle motif is quilted in the white areas between the compasses. The eagle is defintiely a home-grown bird as he’s got spindly chicken legs and his body is composed of a primitive shield. Rather looks like he’s been squashed on the road! It is a small quilt (70″) and I purchased it in Flint, Michigan about 10 years ago. I read somewhere that Michigan, after New York and Pennsylvania, contributed the most soldiers to the Union cause even though it had only been a state since 1857. Pepper Cory
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 20:29:47 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett@>
Hi all –
I had an opportunity today to ask Jeannette Lasansky about these quilts — she is the person who introduced me to them years ago, and to my knowledge has done the most research on them.
Her comments —
She believes they are a north central PA quilt style — she has definite family documentation for some made in Snyder and Union Counties, pretty good documentation for Centre and Northumberland Counties. Those that she has learned of that live in other states either have no documentation, or are traceable to PA. Backgrounds include white, blue, orange, yellow.
She doesn’t know of a printed pattern, and she has looked.
But she said “it all fell into place” when she saw a slide of a coverlet — it had the 4 eagles, central concentric circles, shield breast.
The earliest documentable date she has found is 1870, with dates going up through the 1920s.
I just got home and haven’t had time to check on the coverlet idea, but wanted to let you know her observations. Will let you know if I learn anything else.
Barb in southeastern PA <bgarrett@>
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 22:07:53 -0700 | From: pastcrafts@
Xenia is correct that most firescreens were decorated with needlepoint. But to really get picky (!) you have to realize that 18th c. “canvaswork” was much finer than that done in the 19th or 20th. The canvas gauge ranged from 18 to 52 threads per inch. The finest canvas available today (if you really hunt) is 24 inches to the inch. These screens were worked with the idea of imitating the very expensive and desireable loom woven European tapestries, such as those made by the Goblein workrooms in France. The most common stitches were the tent stitch, and the Irish stitch. There were some done in cross stitch but only when it was worked over just one thread at a time. If you can get hold of some period tapestry fabric, that would be an acceptable cover. We see more fabric covered screens in France and England than in America because of the cost of importing the fabric. The women imitated the fabric in needlework – just as they later developed what we now refer to as “Broderie Perse” in imitation of the chintz covers that were so expensive to purchase. All you need to know comes from Susan Burrows Swan, pioneer curator of embroidery at Winterthur. Her definitive book, Plain and Fancy, American Women and their Needlework was publishd n 1977. I heard a rumour that it was going to be reprinted but haven’t seen it yet. Thats what they said about Florence Montgomery’s Printed Cottons in America, too. Newbie in Alexandria (The George Washington Slept Here Capitol of the US) VA.
Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 23:00:41 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM@
On 29-SEP-1999 22:05:53.3 QHL said to JOCELYNM
> A friend of mine used to spray her dog’s bedding with Febreeze daily.
>= About 4 months ago, she read a warning about the fumes or residue causing death to pets. I think this product should be used with extreme = caution. Sue Reich – Connecticut Sue,
I’m happy to report that this is an urban myth. P&G has investigated, and there are no legitimate reports of pet deaths associated with fumes. It may or may not be connected with P&G’s lawsuit against Amway for spreading rumors that they are a disreputable company. The Mining Company (www.miningco.com) has a great list of urban myths and rumors going around the Internet, and they research whether there’s any truth to them.
> When I see the TVcommercial with the B&B couple Febreezing their antique quilts my teeth grind! I agree the product was probably not tested on the kinds of textiles we generally see. Sharon.
I wouldn’t use it on an antique quilt except as an absolute last resort (it was so stinky it was unuseable, and I’d tried everything else). BUT… the quilt mentioned here was a 1970s quilt (which probably means polyester, anyway, and more color-fast dyes) which is why I thought it was worth considering. If it’s a choice between throwing the item away after Mr. Tomcat has had his way with it <G>, OR using Febreze, it’s an option. Even if the dyes look splattered, that’s better than having to throw it away. Splattered dye, I’d still display…but not if if smelled like a fresh litterbox! <G>
Jocelyn
Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 05:06:06 -0400 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judy@>
Found an interesting quilt on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=174671384.
I’ve never seen a quilt made like this before, especially with the striped background behind what are probably appliqued stars – has anyone else? The seller also writes that the quilting on top and bottom has different patterns and invites your input on why this is so. Unfortunately, there is only one photo – no closeups.
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 07:42:54 EDT | From: JQuilt@
maybe the women in the wctu felt the connection to the blue stocking society…and their fight for prohibition also some “blue laws” were concerned with alcohol ..one theory is that these moral laws were printed on blue paper in the american colony of New Haven 1638-65 bluestocking: [After the *Blue Stocking* Society, a nickname for a chiefly female literary club of 18th cent. London.] A scholarly or pedantic woman. Word history: The term bluestocking seems always to have been one of contempt and derision, for it originally signified one who was informally and unfashionably dressed in blue worsted rather than black silk stockings.
Such informal wear was common at literary and intellectual gatherings in 18th-century London, which were scornfully dubbed “bluestocking” societies by those who preferred parties where they could play cards and indulge in other idle amusements in their best and most fashionalbe clothes. Since the literary gatherings were organized and attended primarily by women, the term bluestocking was transferred, sneer and all, to any woman with pretensions or aspirations to literature and learning. From the Feminist Dictionary, edited by Cheris Kramarae and Paula A. Treichler, 1985:
“Viewy women who gather for artistic, literary, intellectual and witty exchanges. Critics have used the term to refer to learned, and thus in their minds, unfeminine and pretentious women. The origin of the term is in dispute but was evidently first used in the 1750s to refer to women and men in London who gathered for conversation; one of the people attending wore blue worsted instead of black silk stockings. The women who attended were first derisively called bluestockingers and Blue Stocking Ladies and later Bluestockings and Blues. The terms were thus first used to denote informal or homely dress and then to refer to intellectual, literary, or learned women. To “wear your blues” became a metaphor for evenings of intellectual and witty conversation. As the term bluestocking associated with the women who held salons and who put their energies and emotions into work with each other, it became a term of abuse, with connotations of snob and misfit. The bluestockings, excluded from politics, law, education and employment because they were female, formed an alternative, knowledgeable, supportive, competent and intellectually self-sufficient group. There are many bluestockings today, learning, reading, writing, and exchanging ideas in women’s groups. (Susan Conrad 1976; Seon Manley and Susan Belcher 1972; Barbara Schnorrenberg and Jean E. Hunter 1980; Dale Spender 1982b; Edith Rolt Wheeler 1919b) “He has left off his old friends and his blue stockings.” (Lady Mary Wortley Montague 1757, Oxford English Dictionary) P.S. [from Mardi]: my friend jean
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 09:15:22 -0700 | From: onthego@
Sorry to post to group, but my address book is not working the way it should….
I need Jane’s email.
Thanks! Dana
—– Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html ) The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere!
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 09:45:49 -0700 | From: “Melissa Devin” <mldevin@>
I know this has probably already been discussed, but last night I finally broke down and bought a book that I had been checking out at the library for a couple years (off and on). In The American Quilt–A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950 (0-517-57535-3), there is a quilt design that is listed on page 101 that shows a Double Wedding Ring design, but in an album setting (the album blocks are set within the centers of each ring). This is from 1850, New England. As for any other documentation about the Double Wedding Ring, I haven’t seen any. It appears not to be actually pieced, but as blue and yellow bias strips. Also, many Eagle quilts are shown in this book. pg 194 shows an eagle quilt, not greatly detailed, in red, green and two different yellows. Although this one is from 1926, it states that “Quilts with a configuration of four eagles on them are often erroneously dated c. 1875, on the assumption that they were made at the time of the the American Centennial Celebration. Many date from the 1880s but, as this example shows [described above], they were made well into the 20th century. Most of the known examples have a Pennsylvania origin, leading to the speculation the pattern was shared or copied among a regional group of quiltmakers, as no such printed pattern is known to exist before the last quarter of the 19th century.”
There is another quilt, titled Eagles and Stars (pg 134) 1870, Maryland. Although this one is not set up as four eagles, the eagle design itself is very similar to the others I have seen mentioned.
Another, pg 123, 1850-75, northeastern Ohio, shows the four eagle desgin, but it has a Baltimore Album design. this quilt has green and red eagles (4), and they have appliqued grapes and leaves circled around each (I assume to be grapes and leaves–this applique is also red berries and green foliage). The outside border is of appliqued grapes and leaves. It states that “the eagle was a popular motif in Baltimore Album quilts; it was also popular from time of the Civil War well into the 20th century”
Although this book is older (1993, first edition, have there been later editions?), it does have some very good all-around information, starting with a dabbling into the textiles, then to quilts. This is probably old information for most, but for others it is a good book to check out at the library.
Melissa
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 13:30:51 EDT | From: AlineMcK@
More photos have been posted on that wool starburst quilt. Very unusual design. They’ve also added that old wheeze about the “intentional mistakes.” Ah well.
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 18:47:08 -0400 | From: “Wykes Family” <wykesfcn@>
>>>>>>is a small quilt (70″) and I purchased it in >Flint, Michigan about 10 years ago. I read somewhere that Michigan, after >New York and Pennsylvania, contributed the most soldiers to the Union cause >even though it had only been a state since 1857. Pepper Cory
Hi Pepper:
Michigan has been a state since 1837. Michigan was among the highest in the participants in the Civil War. 90,000 Michigan soldiers were enlisted in the war. (Lincoln proclaimed “Thank God for Michigan!”) During the war, Michigan raised 45 regiments and contributed soldiers to over 50 other military units (other states) and 600 men to the Navy. During the war, over half of the men of military age were enlisted in the Union army. 14,000 Michigan soldiers lost their lives in the war. (Source: Michigan History Magazine, 1998)
These facts are from my museum curator husband but I am heavily involved in making a Civil War style quilt from Barbara Brackman’s book. And I’m from Monroe, MI, one of the last stops on the underground railroad.
Debbie Wykes Monroe, MI
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 19:54:05 -0700 | From: “Melissa Devin” <mldevin@>
Some of you may know Bonnie Hunter (she does custom machine quilting)… well, she had recently finished an eagle quilt. Even though this is a new quilt, she said that the eagle pattern came from an old quilt magazine. She also said that the colors aren’t true to scan, but deeper in reality. I had mentioned to her about the discussion on here about eagle quilts, and wanted to see her newly completed quilt 🙂 (she said to feel free to share with others here). Here is a link to the picture:
http://www.quiltville.com/bon&eagle.jpg http://www.quiltville.com (her front page)
Melissa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mldevin@ Go Cougs!! WAshington State Internet Quilters ~WASIQ~ http://www.wasiq.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 23:32:10 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett@>
Hi Melissa and others –
Thanks for posting about Bonnie’s newly made eagle quilt — I haven’t been home much this weekend to do any looking, but when you said she found the pattern in an old magazine, the light bulb lit as they say. McCall’s Super-Book of Quilting, copyrights 1964 through 1976, has directions for making a copy of an old eagle quilt Their antique quilt is green and red on cheddar, and the caption reads —
Four wide-winged eagles make an impressive display on a field of bright yellow.
The eagle motif, popular since the Revolution, became bolder and more stylized in the 19th century. Eagle quilts were also known as Union quilts.
Ours was made around 1890 in Pennsylvania. Directions on page 106.
In looking at Bonnie’s quilt — her center compass is different from the concentric star and circle in the antique McCalls quilt. Can you find out what magazine she got the pattern from — it would be fun to compare their antique quilt to the others we’ve seen. Thanks, Melissa.
Barb in southeastern PA <bgarrett@>
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 07:29:57 -0500 | From: Karen Bush <Birdsong@>
There are several more pix on this one now. I’m just wondering if she used another Quilt for the backing? If it was quilted ‘twice’? and in a different design. I don’t know ((why)) she would have done this, but, I can’t figure out another way she Could have. ?? Looks like a Great quilt, though! kb — background behind what are probably appliqued stars – has anyone else? The > seller also writes that the quilting on top and bottom has different > patterns and invites your input on why this is so. Unfortunately, there is Ebay Seller, User name: karenbush
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 09:45:29 -0400 | From: denise nordberg <quiltdiva@>
To Frank, I another life, when I did counted crosstitch, there were firescreens available for mounting the crosstitch and then it would be backed by some yardage. Hope this helps, Denise in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 09:51:19 -0400 | From: denise nordberg <quiltdiva@>
Plain and Fancy by Susan Burrows Swan WAS reprinted – in 1997, I think. I have a copy and it is worth having. There’s quite a bit more information in the new one.
Denise in NE Pennsylvania
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 11:10:14 -0700 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Thanks Debbie for your timely correction of my ‘facts’ regarding Michigan. It’s MSU (my alma mater) that was founded in 1857! Got my sevens confused! Pepper
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 13:22:21 -0000 | From: “Jeanne Fetzer” <jeanne.fetzer@>
Can anyone give me help on good quilt stores in Washington D.C. or = Arlington, VA? Also, any museums with good quilts. Thank you! jeanne.fetzer@
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 16:35:40 -0600 | From: Brooke Flynn <brookef
Hello – I’d appreciate a word about the cigar “silks”. It seems like I have seen them on a kind of nappy fabric.
I am looking at a quilt that has patches of flags of many nations. I know the flags must have been cut out of an overall print but would like more information for the quilt’s owner. Thanks!
Brooke Flynn Quilt Frame Company
