October 24 – 28, 2001
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:
- Long, Narrow ‘Portiere’ Crazy Quilts — Members work out that a puzzling style of long, narrow crazy quilts under discussion were likely portieres — decorative doorway hangings — rather than bed quilts, alongside notes on possible Civil War-era examples. (see the article on Victorian crazy quilts)
- Working With Silk Batting — A member asks about using silk batting for the first time and gets feedback from others who have worked with it. (see the article on quilt batting)
- Orvus Paste and Safe Quilt Washing — A follow-up explainer on what Orvus paste actually is chemically, and why it’s considered safe for washing antique quilts and textiles. (see the article on cleaning antique quilts)
- What Counts as ‘Future History’ — Prompted by a question about documenting quilts being made today, members reflect on which contemporary quiltmaking practices and events are worth recording for future historians.
- U.S. Sanitary Commission Quilts — A member identifies a mystery long quilt style as likely a Civil War-era U.S. Sanitary Commission quilt, made for hospital and camp use.
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 22:11:01 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
Regarding “long, narrow quilts”, The Amish of Ohio made what they
referred to
as “Lounge Quilts”. These were made for daybeds which was often found
in the
living room and used as a sofa. These quilts usually measured around
45″ to
54″ wide and about 60″ to 75″ long.
They are quite rare and very desirable among collectors of Amish
Quilts.
Darwin
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 08:41:55 -0400 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee@
Carol mentioned:
Cinda’s post about two crazy quilts which measured 7 feet by 4 feet
sent me to Barbara Brackman’s Quilts from the Civil War, as I
recall
soldier’s quilts were often made long and narrow to fit a cot or
hospital bed.
Could they have been coffin covers? A popular item when “laying out”
was
done in the home.
dee
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 11:10:36 EDT | From: JQuilt@
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 01 11:22:49 -0600 | From: woodford <haq@
In regard to possible Civil War quilts, I have a potential one. This
is
50in x 7ft and reversible. One side is wool challis pineapple log
cabin
and the other is double nine patch in cotton prints of the era. It is
really solid and well done, in very good condition. In spite of the
doubling up, it is very lightweight.
So, like Carol Berry, I am puzzled.
Would someone go to all that trouble to make a quilt to go to war?
Obviously it didn’t get to the war, unless it stayed at General HQ.
Could it have been just a quilt for a daybed or something like that?
The
seller said it was a handyman’s quilt. Well, who would go to all that
trouble for a handyman? (Although if I had a fulltime handyman, I
would
go to a lot of trouble to keep him). Maybe it was for a favorite
maid?
Any ideas?
Barbara Woodford
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 17:02:33 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@
I went to a meeting at the Maryland Historical Society of the
Quilters’
Advisory Committee which helped with the Baltimore Album quilt
exhibit this
summer. I thought you’d all like to know that the exhibit was an all
time
blockbuster for the Museum. Total attendance was 8,000; for the
special
“Summer Quilt Sundays” sponsored by various Maryland quilt guilds
attendance
was almost 1300. The catalogue sold out; revenues at the Museum gift
shop
were three times that of the same period in 2000. This is the only
exhibit
they’ve ever had which earned more for the Museum than it cost to put
on.
To say that the staff is impressed by the interest is quilts is an
understatement.
They have decided to keep the committee going and to offer
special
programs and classes of interest to quiltmakers and collectors. An
addition
to the building, which will be completed in 2004, will have a
permanent
textile gallery. The plan is to always have at least 2 quilts on
exhibit,
one of which will be a Baltimore Album. This was a direct response
to a
suggestion by the committee. After all, most people know three
things about
Baltimore: the Orioles (for BQHLers that’s the baseball team); the
Star
Spangled Banner (the original manuscript is on display at the
Maryland
Historical Society) and Album Quilts. A visitor, during baseball
season,
will be able to see them all.
I remain impressed by the MD Historical Society’s committment to
getting
it right. We will immediately begin to nag them to do an exhibit of
some of
the other fabulous MD quilts in the collection. It’s not just
applique!
Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 14:28:36 +0000 | From: Bobbie Aug <qwltpro@
Darwin,
The Amish (and others) also made what was called a “hired hand”
quilt.
There is one pictured (#44) in Knopf’s Collectors’ Guide which is 41″
x
72″, Lancaster County. I collected “hired hand” quilts for quite
some
time before they became “popular,” which is another way of saying,
“hard
to find” and expensive.
Bobbie Aug
DDBSTUFF@ wrote:
Regarding “long, narrow quilts”, The Amish of Ohio made what they
referred to as “Lounge Quilts”. These were made for daybeds which
was
often found in the living room and used as a sofa. These quilts
usually measured around 45″ to 54″ wide and about 60″ to 75″ long.
They are quite rare and very desirable among collectors of Amish
Quilts.
Darwin
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 20:07:42 -0600 | From: Jennifer Hill <jennifer.hill@
Hi, does anyone have any experience with silk batting? This is brand
new stuff, in a new quilt. At the shop where I work, we just made a
sample with this batting in it, and the result is a beautiful soft
quilt that just whispers “Touch Me!!” My concern is that with all
the touching it’s going to get, it will need cleaning before long.
The label in the batting package said to dry clean, but dry cleaning
a quilt just makes me go ICKKKKK!
Exactly what may happen to this quilt if it is gently wet-washed? It
is hand-quilted at about 0.5″ intervals, about 15 stiches/inch. I’m
considering just quilting up some of the scraps and washing them to
see what happens, but am curious about any tips or long-term concerns
that I should be aware of.
Thanks,
Jennifer Hill
Calgary, AB
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:53:06 EDT | From: CWaiss4459@
Jennifer:
Silk is a natural fiber and gentle handwashing is the recommended way
to wash
a garment or quilt in the same way you would wash a silk blouse or
silk
undies.
When I lived in Omaha, NE and worked at the Kirk Collection we
carried silk
batts and they are wonderful to work with. The only thing is that
you to
carefully dry whatever you wash. I use fans and arrange the wet
quilt or
garment so there is the least amount of stress on the wet object,
turning it
often while the fans are blowing on the object.
I agree with your assessment of dry cleaning any quilts or quilted
garments,
unless they are made of 100 percent wool as a wool quilt is apt to be
very
heavy just to begin with and unbearable heavy when wet. I have taken
apart
very old and tattered and dirty woolen quilts that had been tied and
then I
have hand washed the wool tops or backs and replaced the batt and put
the
quilt back together.
I hope this will be helpful to you.
Chris Waiss Szczepanski
New York State Quilt Repair
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:18:12 -0700 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@
see. And then a very large quilt and textile exhibit. And that led
me
to other pages and then the virtual exhibits of the Smithsonian,
which
I’ve never seen. You could get lost for hours!
Thanks Jean!
Laura in Seattle
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 13:29:36 -0400 | From: Newbie Richardson <pastcrafts@
Dear all,
the “long” crazie quilts under discussion probably were
“portieres”.
At this period in the history of interior design (last 3rd of the
19thc.) more was best! Interiors were draped in all kinds of
textiles,
covering every conceivable surface: mantles, backs of chairs/sofas,
table covers draped in front of doors/ 3 sets of textiles at the
windows. They were all intended to be “decorative.”
At the same time you had the beginings Colonial Revival-with it’s
obsession for the objects of America’s past displayed in accordance
with
Victorain sensibilities! It therefore makes perfect sense that older,
mid19th c applique blocks found in the attic would be incorporated
into
silk crazy work and installed as portieres. 90% of crazy work was
done
for decorative purposes and never intended to be used as a bed cover.
Any historic house that interprets a bedroom with a crazy on the bed
is
wrong! It belongs in the parlor on the chaise longue or the center
table!
For a wonderful, no holds barred, look at the late Victorain
interior
I recommend: Through The Camera’s Eye by William Seale. It is
published
by the American Assoc. for State and Local History (a wonderful
organization BTW). It is still in print. In it William researched,
found, and published LOTS of original photos of interiors from all
over
the US – not just the East Coast.
Newbie
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 11:13:21 +0000 | From: Bobbie Aug <qwltpro@
I have not seen many Old Order Amish quilts prior to 1900, but all
the ones I
have seen – particularly Old Order Amish Lancaster County, PA have
been made of
solid fabrics – the same as their dress remains today. I have;
however, seen
prints used on the backs of quilts.
Bobbie Aug
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 23:08:50 -0400 | From: “Cinda Cawley” <lrcawley@
Newbie,
I think you’re right about the mystery Crazies. I forwarded your
post
to the Historical Society. I love this list! Thanks.
Cinda
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 21:05:03 -0700 | From: donbeld@
Hi, the long quilts were probably U.S. Sanitary Commission Quilts
(collected at Sanitary Fairs) held in the North during the Civil War.
The Sanitary Commission collected approx. 250,000 quilts to be used
in
military hospitals and by the field soldiers. They often were simple
made with ties instead of quilting; but often were very special hand
made and sometimes signature block made quilts. All of you who think
you have one should look on the back for a U.S. Sanitary Commission
stamp–although it’s not being there does not rule out that it is.
They
were military hospital cot size–thus the four by seven foot. Few of
them survived because soldiers who died were often buried in them
because of the lack of coffins. There were made from 1863 until the
end
of the war and often were treasured (as they should be) keepsakes
both
of lost love ones and by soldiers who returned home from the war.
THEY
ARE VERY SPECIAL. Don Beld
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 05:16:12 +0000 | From: “Karen Bush” <karenbush11@
And, didn’t Terry do a GREAT job!! I drooled over those quilts! I had
the
pleasure of taking one of her classes on dating fabrics, etc, and she
was
Wonderful, Great personality and soooooo much learned from her 🙂 kb
http://www.karenbushquilts.com
Karen Bush
It only takes me One day to get a month behind :/
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 09:36:05 EDT | From: @aol.com
Consider this future history: how many of you out there have been
working on
patriotic/mourning quilts since September 11? My local quilt shop
reports
that a lot of their customers have been doing exactly that. I
wondered if
other shops and quilters had reacted in the same way.
Feel free to reply privately instead of to the list. Thanks.
Karen Evans
Easthampton, MA
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 13:06:33 -0400 | From: “Alan R. Kelchner” <quiltfix@
Karen,
If you subscribe to Quiltart, you’ll see soooooo many people doing
so.
There are also two or three sites dedicated to starting quilts
modeled after
the NAMES project (I’m rather against it, but hey, it’s only my
opinion).
There will be a 911 display at Houston I believe.
Quiltart is inundated with talk of 911 quilts, and how 911 affected
them.
Any further opinions I have are mine alone <grin.
Alan
—– Original Message —–
From: <@aol.com
To: <qhl@
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 9:36 AM
Subject: QHL: Question
Consider this future history: how many of you out there have been
working
on
patriotic/mourning quilts since September 11? My local quilt shop
reports
that a lot of their customers have been doing exactly that. I
wondered if
other shops and quilters had reacted in the same way.
Feel free to reply privately instead of to the list. Thanks.
Karen Evans
Easthampton, MA
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 15:02:00 EDT | From: JQuilt@
i agree with alan… the names quilt has an entirely different
significance….
IMHO if quilters want to make quilts about the 9/11 tragedy…they
could make
them and donate them to all of the shelters in NYC…to be
given,first, to
the children,sleeping in these shelters, and then to the
adults…these
quilts,to be taken with them when they have to leave,to spend the day
on the
streets and parks…winter is coming…
another thought.. is to make quilts and send them to all of the
refugee camps
that the afghanis are fleeing to and living in……
maybe if we wrap the people, in flight from their homes, with
love…it might
help them to understand…not all americans want to kill them….
jean
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:37:26 -0700 (PDT) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@
therefore will deteriorate when exposed to regular
household chlorine bleach (although I can’t imagine
anyone using chlorine bleach when washing a quilt, and
am not saying that you plan to do so.) That’s one
reason why Orvus paste is better for washing quilts
than any detergent. I am always nervous when folks
want to wash quilts!
Is First Aid for Family Quilts still in print?
The idea of test washing samples seems like a great
idea. I’d like to know how the batting migrates and
bunches up, and how the surface appearance changes, if
at all. If you do this, please post a report!
Judy Schwender
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 21:53:03 -0500 | From: “Leigh Fellner” <hcquilts@
Orvus *is* detergent (Sodium lauryl sulfate), with a lot of filler
thrown in
to make it “pasty” – the same filler (can’t remember the name right
now,
sodium something – sulfate? Glauber salt?) that makes laundry powder
“powdery” and if I recall correctly also acts as a wetting agent.
The point, from what I’ve read, is that unlike most laundry
detergents,
Orvus (like Synthrapol) is detergent, pure and simple, without a lot
of
unnecessary bells and whistles.
What really galls me is the way Orvus is marketed to quilters. Check
Fons &
Porter’s price, which at 75 cents an ounce is about average:
http://www.fonsandporter.com/storefront/orvus.html
Now here’s the same stuff, from an equine supplier:
http://www.horsehealthusa.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/grooming/orvus.html?E+s
cstore
7.5 pounds for $13.99….or ELEVEN CENTS an ounce.
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 23:07:23 -0400 | From: Eileen Doughty <Quilter@
hi,
i am also on the QuiltArt list. a large number of us on that list
have
made quilts in response to 9/11 (including me). International Quilt
Festival
is having a special, non-juried show of these quilts from anyone who
wanted to send one in. it is called America: From the Heart. i
believe they received about 250, from quilters of all
abilities and styles. (if you want to see mine, it is at
http://www.DoughtyDesigns.com/hawks&doves.html . no, i did not send
mine to Houston.)
over 70 of these quilts have been donated to auction. the organizer,
Karey Bresenhan hopes to raise $100,000 for the FAMILIES OF FREEDOM
SCHOLARSHIP FUND through the Silent Auction. they will shortly be
available to view and bid on the Quilts.com web site.
the following is from someone who’s already seen this exhibit in
Houston:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/features/1107073
is the url of the on-line article the Houston Chronicle did the on
the
America From the Heart exhibit. No pics but the real paper has a
huge
pic
of Amy Windsors quilt and a small pic of mine and one of Sharrie
Spanglers
quilt.
The show looks wonderful. The quilts are getting lots of lookers and
more
than a few have been teary eyed. I think the booths along that aisle
need to
be handing out free tissues. The sheer number of quilts made in such
a
short time has been phenomenal ..people keep commenting…you mean
they
made
these since IT happened?
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 23:50:31 -0500 | From: “quilt97” <quilt97@
To answer Karen Evans’ question:
This list and the many posts concerning quilts from the Civil War era
have run through my mind often since 9-11. After seeing a quilt made
up of blocks picturing south TX, I took my husband’s suggestion, and had
finally begun making a lap quilt for myself, of blocks representing
my home state of Rhode Island. September 11 interrupted that, and now
I’m working with a small group of friends making quilts for the children
of NYC and the Pentagon. When I get back to my quilt, I will include a
block depicting 9-11. My granddaughter is asleep in my spare room/sewing room, so I cannot refer to the website of the quilt
block that may be “the one.” It’s been a few weeks since I have looked at
it, but I believe the block has the the WTC towers in the background and
a fireman and American flag in the foreground.
In the meantime I have made a 44″ square quilt top. The center is a
panel of a majestic eagle in flight over mountains. I surrounded it
with a border of deep green tree print with small flying eagles; then
a 4-patch checkboard border of a feather print and white; then a final
border of the green. It was a project that wouldn’t let me rest
until it was done. It may never be quilted, but it gives me great satisfaction to see our American eagle, the emblem of freedom, as the
quilt top hangs in our living room.
EKarenbeth
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 22:18:36 -0700 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@
Karen Evans asked “Consider this future history: how many of you out
there
have been working on
patriotic/mourning quilts since September 11?”
I’ve been thinking about the future a lot this past month.
I am working on a quilt project with 27 other quilters from around
the U.S.
(and one from New Zealand). The quilt is called “We the People” and
it will
be displayed publicly at the best spots I can find, then sold or
auctioned
to raise funds for those still in need as a result of 911. I set up a
special web page to show progress on the quilt at:
http://www.winnowing.com/wequilt.html
The documentation on the back of the quilt will be a complete as I
can make
it: names, towns, what, why, when. I am thinking of quilters 30 or 40
years
from now who may be on a quilt history discussion list. I hope it
finds a
good home and is preserved for admiration or discussion later.
Christine (Thresh)
on an island in the California Delta
http://www.winnowing.com
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 10:45:25 +0000 | From: “Karen Bush” <karenbush11@
http://www.karenbushquilts.com
Karen Bush
It only takes me One day to get a month behind :/
I had one started ll years ago when my Dad died. It’s now back in the
trunk.
It was ‘therapy’ while I bed-sat him. Then, later, got it out for
other
personal reasons. It was put back. Sept. l2, I took it out again,
it’s out
now, still unfinished, but work on it once in a while when I can.
It’s one
of those ‘on-going/always a comfort’ projects. I doubt that it’s the
quality
of some that are being made now, sometimes the tears would get in the
way/anger had set in and stitches are little wonky, whatever (it’s
hand
pieced), but, never the less, thought I ‘might’ just get it finished
in this
life-time and do something productive with it.
the problem is, it’s REALLY a mourning quilt in the drab colors. I
had
some blacks and browns, nice and crisp and faded/reversed dyed, you
name it,
I abused that fabric to fade to a REAL un-color look. Like I wore
those
‘weeds’ for years before cutting up for a quilt. I wonder if it would
be of
interest for tickets/donations, whatever IF I ever get it finished?
That’s a good idea to keep a ‘progress page’ going. I might just
get some
help from friends to finish it! It’s a Carolina Lily, so, it’s a 60
Degree,
or is it 45?,…diamond, half of an 8 pointed star, with set-in
squares,
hand pieced…ummmmmmm….might have to do some Bribing to get the
help from
my machine-piecing friends! haha..
But, it’s a great idea, and there are some wonderful quilts going
on out
there for this project. I just wish they’d say ‘Friendship Quilts’ or
something like that instead of the ‘9ll’ projects. Just my opinion
and
should probably have kept it to myself. :/ kb
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 08:48:09 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@
If any QHLers are traveling to Houston next week, I invite you to
stop
by my booth for a visit and to put faces with names, I already have
a
group of members from the British Quilt List (cloned from QHL and now
with a vibrant and independent life of its own) on Thursday at noon.
I’m on the main cross aisle, booth #835-37, 934-46 – from the front
of
the hall, down either the 900 0r 800 aisle to the cross aisle.
If you bring in this post, I have a little gift for you –
Xenia (Legacy Quilts)
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 09:49:15 EST | From: @aol.com
I’ve been working on a quilt since late September, and it’s like
nothing I’ve
ever done before. It’s very abstract, with a dark double blue
slashed with
strips of bright red and bright yellow. The border is a strip of
yellow and
a strip of blue and yellow, again with slashes of red, and the
corners are a
black and red swirl fabric slashed with blue.
When I finished piecing, I’m going to quilt in the layout of the WTC
and the
Pentagon, and a single airplane heading away from the center (the
plane that
went down in Pennsylvania). The borders will probably be reserved
for the
date and the dead, but I haven’t decided yet.
When I’m done I’ll post an image. But as I said, it’s completely
unlike
anything I’ve ever done. Rage and grief will do that….
Karen Evans
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 09:53:44 EST | From: JQuilt@
significance….
IMHO if quilters want to make quilts about the 9/11
tragedy…maybe,they
could make quilts and donate them to all of the shelters in NYC…to
be
given,first, to the children,sleeping in these shelters, and then to
the
adults…these quilts,to be taken with them when they have to
leave,to spend
the day on the streets and parks…winter is coming…
another thought.. is to make quilts and send them to all of the
refugee camps
where the afghanis are fleeing to and living in……
maybe if we wrap the people, in flight from their homes, with
love…it might
help them to understand…not all americans want to kill them….
jean
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 10:21:32 EST | From: KareQuilt@
Another Quilt history list to subscribe to? How could I have missed
this.
<g How does one subscribe?
Karen A.
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 15:42:43 -0000 | From: “Sally Ward” <Sally.D.Ward@
Hi Karen
Xenia is very kind, BQHL is a modest affair, but hoping to grow. With
Kris’s
agreement and encouragement I set it up on the same lines as QHL as
a place
for on-topic quilt history discussion with a UK perspective. You can
find out about it, and joining instructions, at our (equally modest )
website www.BritishQuiltHistory.co.uk
Regards
Sally Ward
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 13:19:03 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@
Hiya Leigh-
I should have more detailed about Orvus- sodium
laureth sulfate (a related form) is the main cleaning
component in most shampoos. I bought mine at a farm &
ranch supply (like Big R). Very inexpensive then. If
only used for quilts, perhaps one’s guild could buy
this larger size together and divvy it up.
Judy
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 17:36:18 -0500 | From: “Pam Weeks Worthen” <pamworthen@
Okay, so work built up to the point that I had to stay here and I
cancelled
out of Williamsburg, but I’m all caught up (well, as caught up as you
can
ever be when you work for a non-profit adn only part-time)
and I AM going to follow through with my plans and go to Houston.
Who else? Can we meet for a late lunch on Thursday?
Pam in NH where only the oaks still have leaves, but those range from
orange-brown to deep maroon,and I just heard Gerry Roy give his
‘Women’s
work is never done” talk, and enjoyed it more than I was
anticipating. In
fact, the collection of quilt tops was wonderful!
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 20:15:13 -0500 | From: “Cathy Hooley – – Goose Tracks Quilts” <cathy@
Hi – I’ve been asked to work on an old yo-yo quilt by one of my
customers.
Normally I make new quilts & this is the first yo-yo quilt I’ve
worked on.
The quilt top is unlined – it was made in the 30’s & the yo-yo’s are
beautiful, though a bit brittle. I’m going to put a backing on it,
am
thinking of a quilted backing & then tacking the yo-yo’s to it.
There must
be 500 – I haven’t counted but it’s a full size top with very small
yo-yo’s.
Anyway, I’m interested in alternative ways to back the quilt or any
other
techniques to finish and stabilize the top. Thanks in advance for
any
advice.
Cathy
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Cathy Hooley
Goose Tracks Quilts
http://www.goosetracks.com
