October 31 – November 2, 1998
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:
- Millennium and Y2K Quilts — Rachel August describes her Y2K Quilt List, now at 230 subscribers exchanging charms and ideas for millennium quilts.
- Shaker Quilts and Textiles — Extended discussion of Shaker quilting practices, Beverly Gordon’s Shaker Textile Arts, and a PBS documentary on Shaker life and craft.
- What Looks Old vs. New in Fabrics — Members explore how contemporary reproductions and color choices can fool the eye, and how to distinguish authentic period fabrics from modern ones.
- Marie Webster Quilts and Provenance — A collector shares two documented Marie Webster appliqué quilts and the challenge of authenticating kit quilts from the early 20th century.
- Charleston Quilt Show Update — Pam reports on the annual quilt conference in Charleston, including exhibits and programs.
- Ruby McKim American History Quilt Patterns — Members identify a set of Colonial History embroidery quilt patterns as Ruby McKim syndicated designs from the 1930s.
- Rotary Cutter Safety — Bob Mills shares a cautionary tale about a serious rotary cutter injury, prompting discussion of workshop safety.
- Kirk Collection Feedsack Charms — Rachel August reports on her first experience with Kirk Collection vintage feedsack charm squares, ordered from Alaska. (see the article on the feedsack story)
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 02:13:44 -0800 | From: “August, Rachel” <papillon [at] alaskalife [dot] net>
Quilters all over the world are preparing for the new millenium by making quilts to celebrate the past two. Join us to exchange charms and receive support as you create your masterpiece. This is a narrowly focused list; this is not the place for chat, commentary or sharing which does not pertain to: the creation of millenium quilts. Netiquette rules are strictly enforced. In a nut shell, the subscribers to this list decide what size charms they want to swap, post a notice to the list, then privately exchange addresses. The most common sizes of charms are 2″, 2.5″ and 3″. They also include a a signature square the same size as the charms they are swapping. We have a lot of fun checking our mailboxes and finding squishies (envelopes containing charms) from all over the world…we have swappers in Finland, Iceland, Germany, Austrailia, South Africa, and, of course, the United States. These are one-on-one swaps, not centralized; all swapping is on the honor system.
If you want to join us, click on the URL below my name and follow the instructions. If you do not have internet access, let me know and I can add your name to the list.
See you there…
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 08:50:45 -0500 (EST) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 30-OCT-1998 010618.1 Judygrow said to JOCELYNM
> The term “the whole 9 yards” came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got “the whole 9 yards.”
Judy,
I’d heard that while this is true, the expression didn’t really come into vogue (at least among civilians) until cement trucks were enlarged to hold 9 cubic yards of cement. So if you dump the entire load of cement, you’ve dumped ‘the whole 9 yards’.
Maybe it was a generational thing– that men whose dads were pilots, and who used the expression, applied it to the cement business, and from there it spread throughout the building trades.
Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 08:59:18 EST | From: CToczek [at] aol [dot] com
Regarding Laura’s post about the double knit quilt….
I often wonder if I’m not making a mistake by passing on those polyester bags of fabric my mom finds during her yard sale-ing. I’ll probably regret it years from now….<VBG>
Carla
West Point, NY, where it’s brilliantly sunny and I must keep my kids (and myself) from devouring their candy from the early night of trick-or-treating yesterday……..
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 07:22:13 -0800 | From: Jon & Chrystine Martin <CraftyRN [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
I’ve been trying to reach Marilyn Madellena in Sacramento. Have just been blessed with a 1930’s yo yo quilt that has never been used. Gift from a patients family with absolute rejection of all attempts to return it. I’ve prepared a label with the story on it and will have them all sign next week.
What I want now is an appraisal of this beauty…Graciously covers a Queen bed…done in diamond pattern with cream yo-yo’s forming the diamonds…sturdy and extremely heavy.
Given the thread about family heirlooms..I want to make sure this is well documented and they know the true monitary if not family value of this item. It came to my hands after caring for their mother..still alive…I tend to wear quilty vests which prompted the topic of quilting…Each visit to this wonderful woman uncovers another story of Sacramento and Sierra history. None…even the patient…like or want the quilt or nearly 40 dresden plates ready for applique to background. (all 30’s) seems the quilt items were made by an aunt..no one can remember.
While I would love to retain this piece of history…I want it well documented and them fully informed.
Thanks as always for the QHL help.
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 15:26:29 EST | From: Qltldy10 [at] aol [dot] com
I Need your help for Jane! Many of you have responded with help with photos, now I need another favor- my diamonds are all cut out, and I have been pretty successful reproducing those that I can see in the pictures. Now, having been so successful, I cannot get myself to use the “almost” sashing fabric I have- but, do you think I can find polka dots anywhere? Not! I’ve traveled between Maine and Philadelphis this week, and no luck. Does anyone know of a shop which has white with black polka dots? I think Judy Rothermel might have done it a few years back, but I’ll take any brand, of course. My work colleague and I have not yet met up after work, as I have been on the road for two weeks- so, no new news on the “8 more” quilts. Also, I missed out on a book I didn’t know of (at a local antiques gallery), French Textiles, by Mary Schoeser, who did English and American Textiles. This place doesn’t take credit cards, and when I got there today with the checkbook, it was gone- dang.
Hm, rereading, I guess it hasn’t been all that great of a quilting week…..
Beth in Maine qltldy10 [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 16:10:05 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
Last year we had a wonderful vacation in Nova Scotia and next year we plan on going again. We would like to go to the CAPE BRETON area..can anyone out there guide us as to areas that will include quilt shops/quilt shows (if possible). Please email me privately…many thanx…Jane
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 16:28:51 EST | From: MiamiQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
Sorry about garbled Charleston update. Here goes another attempt. Pam PampeEach year, the annual conference of the American Quilt Study Group is held in a new location. Each year, the conference is filled with heart- stopping quilts, thought-provoking research papers and spectacular scenery. This year was no exception in our host city of Charleston, West Virginia. One hundred and eighty-five attendees from all across the US, Germany, England and the Netherlands enjoyed the pre-conference tours throughout the West Virginia countryside. All the presentations were held in the Cultural Center facilities, including the exhibit of West Virginia quilts, “A Canopy of Dreams.” Book signings, auctions of rare items and the always-popular trademark of an AQSG event, networking, were held at the riverside Charleston House Holiday Inn.
A very special highlight of the weekend was keynote speaker, Dr. Alan Jabbour, Director of the American Folk life Center, who combined performing on a fiddle with comparing quilts and music as a hands-on, passed from generation to generation craft.
Dr. Jabbour entertained again on Saturday night during our live auction, spontaneously playing as many members danced to classic mountain music tunes. There were many first time attendees in West Virginia. They were surprised and delighted to find others who were interested in all aspects of quilts and quilt research. They appreciated the fact that you can be a creator, collector, scholar or dealer in quilts or any shade in-between and still share a love of knowledge and preservation for a fine American folk craft. For those of you that would like to join us for next year’s conference, mark your calendars for October 15-17 1999, in East Lansing, Michigan. You too, can be a part of quilt history and share the next adventure of the American Quilt Study Group.
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 20:27:05 -0600 | From: “Gail Richter” <richter2 [at] frontiernet [dot] net>
Hi Debbie,
This has been an interesting thread. I’m from Michigan originally. My parents had a cabin in Ogemaw county & there is (or was) a corduroy road not far from where it was. If I remember right it was the south boundary of Grouse Haven near Rose City. At that time Grouse Haven was quite undeveloped. I’m not even sure the name is the same now. The road was in a swampy area & at that time (’50’s)graveled over, but it always wore down to the ‘cords’. Quite a rough road!
Gail Richter in NE Wis.
Subject: QHL Corduroy revisited
When the wind blows hard to the east, Lake Erie rolls out something like a tide. Then a real corduroy road is exposed. This road was constructed just before 1812 and appears alongside the modern road in the marshes logs place side by side existing in the shoreline communities, not on park property.
Debbie in Monroe, Michigan
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 23:38:13 -0500 | From: Anthony Jones <ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com>
If you don’t mind contemporary fabrics Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka offer an interesting variety of sizes.
http://www.lunnfabrics.com/cgi-bin/Lunn_store/store.cgi
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 23:53:40 EST | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 10/31/98 72639 AM Pacific Standard Time, CraftyRN [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net writes
<<
I’ve been trying to reach Marilyn Madellena in Sacramento. >> Do you need her E-mail, phone number or has she just not been available? Several years ago I got a never used yo-yo (1930) and the history to go with it. I paid $350.00 at aution and I think it would be worth around $500 to $600 these days. Prices have gone up! Toni Baumgard
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 00:09:49 -0500 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix [at] mail [dot] jax [dot] bellsouth [dot] net>
Alan Kelchner wrote
> If I can ever remember what I was reading, I’ll pass it on (evidently I take entirely TOO MANY books out of the library!), but I can say definitively yes, there was an attempt last century in Utah to create a silk business. It seems it ended up not working well (think the weather didn’t agree really well with the mulberry trees – which are the food of choice for the silk worm). There were a few places in the country that attempted to raise silk worms for profit, but I don’t believe any of them were a great success.
> The process of getting the silk fiber is rather gruesome for the worm. The worm pupates, and makes a cocoon of one continuous fiber. The cocoons are boiled to kill the pupae, and then the cocoons are *unwound*. It’s beyond me how they find the end of that strand! But many strands are wound together to get a thread, and then the thread is woven into fabric.
> I can’t imagine having to unwind all those cocoons by hand. Gives a whole new aspect of respect for the Chinese, who created the fabric. What causes someone to decide to unwrap a cocoon to make fabric? Evidently they were masochists
> So there is fact to the story. Now if I can only remember what I was reading…..
> Alan
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 10:13:43 -0500 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee [at] nf2g [dot] com>
>print on a white background. The dark purple did “look wrong”. It actually looked very contemporary. Any other info available on
these?
If you would like some more info on Calico buttons, along with other china buttons, you can visit the Button Byte Light website at http://www.tias.com/articles/buttons/
And then page down to the April 5, 1998 issue, and click on “Articles”, about china buttons. There is also a bibliography after the article for books with more information!
dee dee [at] nf2g [dot] com
Victorian Handcrafts http://www.nf2g.com/vh
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 11:45:29 -0000 | From: “Audrey Cameron” <audrey.cameron [at] virgin [dot] net>
Hi Everyone,
A long time ago we had a line running on Shakers – did they make quilts? We did not come to any conclusions as no one could find any references to generic Shaker quilts. Now Katrina seems to access to a book (Shaker Textiles by Ruth Gordon). Does this book have anything to say about this subject: .
Audrey Cameron in windy but bright & sunny England audrey.cameron [at] virgin [dot] net
Hi Everyone,
A long time ago we had = a line running on Shakers – did they make quilts? We did not come to any = conclusions as no one could find any references to generic Shaker = quilts. Now Katrina seems to access to a book (Shaker Textiles by Ruth = Gordon). Does this book have anything to say about this = subject. Audrey Cameron in windy but bright & sunny = England
audrey.cameron [at] virgin [dot] net
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 18:29:46 -0000 | From: “Sally Ward” <sward [at] t-ward [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk>
I have a beginner quilting pupil going travelling next month. Can anyone recommend quilt shops in Los Angeles – Marina del Ray, Fairhope near Mobile, or Christchurch New Zealand? Email me at <sward [at] t-ward [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk>
Sally in UK
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN”>
I have a beginner quilting pupil = going=20 travelling next month. Can anyone recommend quilt shops in Los = Angeles -=20 Marina del Ray, Fairhope near Mobile, or Christchurch New Zealand? = Email=20 me at <sward [at] t-ward [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk>=
Sally in = UK
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 12:00:04 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
Hi all and Audrey,
_Shaker Textile Arts_ by Beverly Gordon has very little on quilts. Brief mentions on three pages, one b + w photo of a crazy quilt with one b + w detail of same, and one color photo of another crazy quilt, post-1900. They were far better known for their poplar and reed work, and weaving, especially coverlets. It’s a book worth reading, but not really for quilt information. You’d love the description of their method of acheiving ‘permanent press’ on textiles! Sharon.
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 16:36:46 -0500 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Please tell me some of the things quilters are making for the year 2000.
Thank you Gwen
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 98 20:32:25 EST | From: “Bob Mills” <decision [at] tigger [dot] jvnc [dot] net>
It’s been a while since I could type-had a nasty accident with my 45mm rotary cutter. Even though I have used them extensively since they first came out, all it takes is one second of carelessness or inattention. My cutter can and will cut 1/4 inch deep and didn’t even stop at the nail. YUK. So be less aggressive and more attentive than me. And I ruined a new blade also! Am OK now. I ordered one of those clear lucite ‘sissy bars’ from Pinetree but haven’t put it on yet. I have the feeling that I will find it annoying so am procrastinating using it. Anyone else use one and like or dislike it?
So my profits from my first commissioned quilt goes directly to my surgeon. This was the memory quilt I am making for a family. Now we both have memories about this quilt!
Just sent in my registration for the ‘Eye of the Needle’ Conference. How is registration going Kris?
I brought my ‘3’ quilts in one quilt that we picked partially apart in Omaha to: a beginning quilting class for show and tell. I try to bring in a different old top or quilt each week so they also learn a little quilt history. She told her mother about it who just happened to be in Judy Grow’s shop that week and Judy told her about a double sided quilt with an old quilt inside. My student asked if this could be the same quilt or if these were common. I thought it was very coincidental but my husband didn’t-‘It’s that quilting network of friends…’
Jan Drechsler in NJ
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 20:43:36 -0200 | From: susan silva <woody [at] ior [dot] com>
To: QHL <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
Subject: QHL Restoration work
Message-ID: <363E3593.6EB3 [at] ior [dot] com>
Greetings to all.
Reading all the posts, I wish I could be in the mid-west or east coast to: take advantage of all the resources available. Here in Spokane Wash. I just havent found the place or person to teach me how to do restoration work. I have several things I want to work on and yet I am going to wait, as I do not want to destroy the integrity of the quilts. One is a crazy quilt and the entire back is in shreds. The second is a date: d 1848 quilt with the usual strained, shredded fabric at the to: p/bottom portion of the quilt. I’ve read the QRS book and it is great but I guess I’m just a “hands on” person who would love to connect with someone and take a class. Any suggestions out there? By the way, I’m looking to buy a Singer treadle machine.Does anyone have any words of caution? My DH was puzzled when I told him that I want a treadle machine. I explained that when the Y2K thing explodes in our faces I will have my “leg powered” machine, my kerosene lamp, all the fabric (that’s why I’ve been buying it….hum), rotary cutters, my fireplace with dutch oven, and I can just sew to my hearts content becuz there won’t be ANY interruptions and I will beable to make tons of quilts! He laughed and now he is looking for a Singer treadle machine.
Take care!
Susan in gorgeous autumn colored, Spokane Washington.
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 23:22:15 -0800 | From: Patty <friend [at] cyberverse [dot] com>
Hi All!
I guess I am delurking myself here.
I looked at that quilt on e-Bay, and one thing really bothers me about it. Apparently the blocks are meant to portray North American history. What I would like to know is where the Viking ship comes in.
Now, I know that I read about Leif Ericson when I was in grade school…it seems to me that it was 8th grade maybe. But back then (about 38 years ago), it was told as a “fable”, not as actual history.
Does anyone have any information about when the Vikings became an acknowledged feature in the history of North America? I know this seems picky, but it occurs to me that if a time-frame can be pinpointed (more or less) it could be useful in dating the actual quilt. Or perhaps shed some light on the provenance…ie, would a quilter of Scandanavian heritage be more likely to include this image in a quilt based on history? I am through rambling for the moment. <grin> And, I confess, I *love* this list! I have learned so much here! Thank you all.
Patty from So. Calif.
> Hi All!
> I’m unlurking in an effort to learn more about the origins of these redwork patterns.
<<stuff deleted>>
> There’s another one on e-bay now, and that one is from an estate in Iowa (further provenance unknown). The interesting thing about that one is the fact that the blocks are all numbered (the circled numbers are
embroidered) but the blocks weren’t set according to: number! (My top, and the quilt in “Michigan Quilts”, both have the blocks set in correct numerical sequence, although the blocks aren’t numbered.)
What I’m looking to find out is, was this pattern syndicated? Does anyone know where or when it originated? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
> BTW, the addy for the auction quilt is http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=38436562
> Arlene in Miami
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 21:40:37 -0500 | From: Kathy <DeSchuit [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com
Last year while running a bus trip for 100 quilters, one of the quilters cut her finger with the rotary cutter and required 4 stitches. I purchased and bought one of those lucite finger guard attachments and put it on my 24″ Omnigrid ruler. I like it – it is sometimes hard to see the placement but I have learned to: adjust – I don’t like stitches in my body parts. I also participated in a quilting workshop this Saturday where we had teenagers using the rotary cutter to: help us make quilts for the needy and we had them use my ruler – for safety’s sake.
Bob Mills wrote:
> It’s been a while since I could type-had a nasty accident with my 45mm rotary cutter. Even though I have used them extensively since they first came out, all it takes is one second of carelessness or inattention. My cutter can and will cut 1/4 inch deep and didn’t even stop at the nail. YUK. So be less aggressive and more attentive than me.
> And I ruined a new blade also! Am OK now. I ordered one of those clear lucite ‘sissy bars’ from Pinetree but haven’t put it on yet. I have the feeling that I will find it annoying so am procrastinating using it. Anyone else use one and like or dislike it?
> So my profits from my first commissioned quilt goes directly to my surgeon. This was the memory quilt I am making for a family. Now we both have memories about this quilt!
> Just sent in my registration for the ‘Eye of the Needle’ Conference. How is registration going Kris?
> I brought my ‘3’ quilts in one quilt that we picked partially apart in Omaha to a beginning quilting class for show and tell. I try to bring in a different old top or quilt each week so they also learn a little quilt history. She told her mother about it who just happened to be in Judy Grow’s shop that week and Judy told her about a double sided quilt with an old quilt inside. My student asked if this could be the same quilt or if these were common. I thought it was very coincidental but my husband didn’t-‘It’s that quilting network of friends…’
> Jan Drechsler in NJ
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 22:25:24 EST | From: silkribbon [at] juno [dot] com
Another version of the whole 9 yards. Scotland’s wealth was mostly in oats and cloth. The Scottish nobles would show up in Elizabeth’s court better dressed than some English nobles. So among the laws passed to put down the Scots was one concerning men’s shirts — that they could have no more than 9 yards of fabric in them. (were they calling measurements “yards” back then I wonder?) Anyway these nobles would be hauled before the English magistrates and asked how much fabric was in their shirts. Holding their arms out they would reply “only the whole 9 yards”.
Cathy Grafton
Pontiac, IL
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 19:46:46 -0800 | From: Katrina Worley <kworley [at] ns [dot] net>
On page 87 of Shaker Textiles by Beverly Gordon, it is mentioned that the Children’s Order in Watervliet, NY, pieced 9 tops and quilted 13 in 1846. On page 90 is the following “Very few early quilts remain, and there does not seem to be anything consistently Shaker about them except for the usual fine workmanship.”
She continues…. “To my knowledge, no nineteenth century Shaker applique quilts have been identified.” The anthropologist in me has to state the obvious… what tends to get conserved and curated for later generations is usually the “ritual” or special items. Most of the everyday items (including quilts) used by any group regardless of its religious, ethnic or geographic origin will tend to be used up, and when the item has no further useful purpose it will be discarded without comment. Documentation also tends to follow the not-so-everyday behavior; the everyday stuff is assumed since “everyone knows that.”
When was the last time you described in writing the process of making your bed in enough detail that a future anthropologist could recreate the process? Contemporary accounts will tend to comment on deviations from social norms… if EVERYONE used quilts, and one group didn’t, that would be commented on. The fact that there are so few documented Shaker quilts, but the community records state that they did make quilts and coverlets leads me to believe that they used quilts in an everyday manner just as their non-Shaker contemporaries did. The difference is that they would not have special “fancy” quilts to be used only for special occasions, and to survive to end up in museums. JMNSHO Katrina kworley [at] ns [dot] net
______________________________________________
History: Special people, in special places, at special times Anthropology: Everyone else the rest of the time
KW- 1997
______________________________________________
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 23:44:30 -0800 | From: “August, Rachel” <papillon [at] alaskalife [dot] net>
Gwen wrote…Please tell me some of the things quilters are making for the year 2000.
Because there was so much interest on another quilt list, I started the Y2K Quilt List (URL below). We are up to 230 subscribers. We exchange charms of various sizes, exchange ideas, provide tips, and support each other in our quest to make our millennium quilts.
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 23:49:58 -0800 | From: “August, Rachel” <papillon [at] alaskalife [dot] net>
I took advantage of the internet special the Kirk Collection offered a couple weeks ago…buy one, get one free. I am unfamiliar with vintage fabrics and quilts, so I wanted to start in a small way. I purchased Grandma Kirk’s Charm Squares and got Grandpa Kirk’s Feedsack Charm Squares for free. Well, I certainly understand now why there is so much excitement over these fabrics. I adore the feedsack charms. Unfortunately, because Alaska is such a young state, we don’t have the same access to feedsacks as you folks in the “states.”
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 07:35:28 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
for Sharon..I would like to see you elaborate on the permanent press’ method of the Shakers..sounds like an interesting thread. Thanx, Sharon..
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 07:52:31 -0500 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix [at] mail [dot] jax [dot] bellsouth [dot] net>
One quick remark about the china button that looked too new. Don’t let the “it looks to contemporary” get in the way of realizing it’s old! I have two quilts that if I’d listened to my and another’s opinions, they’d have gone home with someone else (*shudder*)! The first I thought was entirely too new looking, until I turned it to the back. The old muslin told another story (c. 1880 basket, deep double pink and indigo, embroidered initial L or S – can’t tell). The other is an 1852 signature that a friend of mine was POSITIVE was a new forgery. Fortunately I knew better, and refused to let doubts grow. What I’m saying is this – I’m always amazed at the colors used by people 100+ years ago, since we were brought up to expect the more somber *faded* colors. Buttons are fun, too. I have quite a collection myself, and prefer t-o-c metals.
Alan
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 14:21:58 -0000 | From: “Sally Ward” <sward [at] t-ward [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk
Re: what looks old, what looks new: the very first quilt book I picked up (and bought – how easily we get hooked!) in 1971 was Jonathan Holstein’s – because I thought the Amish Trip around the World on the front was modern ‘op art’.
Re: Shaker quilts and not recording what’s familiar: a museum in the north of England failed time and again to reproduce a Roman baking recipe ‘as it was written’ until they realised that roman author had not included the ‘obvious’ ingredients of yeast and water because ‘everyone would know they should be there’!
Sally in UK (where its wet and dismal)
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 07:03:21 -0800 | From: Debra Roby <debroby [at] earthlink [dot] net>
jan,
Ordered one of those safety bars (I like that sissy bar line)… after I to: ok off the top of a finger a couple years ago. I HATED IT. I couldn’t see well through it for accurate cutting (I also can’t see through those rulers with the yellow lines in them. HATE THOSE, TOO.) And removing it just left a sticky residue on the ruler that still persists (inspite of a bath in GOO GONE).
I determined that my boo-boo was caused, in part, to an old ruler where the edge had been trimmed and nicked a number of times. The blade just rode up one of these nicks right over my finger. So check the edge of your rulers. When I tore off the the silly protective bar, I treated myself to a new set of rulers. Have determined that I should probably do that about every 5 years for safety sake.
deb hercules, ca.
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 11:06:44 -0500 | From: “John and Cinda Cawley” <cawley [at] epix [dot] net>
Bethlehem, PA that is. Yesterday was the last day of the exhibit of quilts from the collection of the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts in Bethlehem. Barb Garrett posted about it some time ago and somehow I hadn’t gotten there. By 11:45 a.m. I faced the fact that I would reproach myself for months if I missed it when the round trip to Bethlehem is only 150 miles. Fortunately my friend Denise shares my attitude about seeing quilts and when I called and asked if she could be ready in 15 minutes she didn’t hesitate.
We are very glad we made the effort. Bethlehem is a lovely town (those wonderful southeastern PA stone houses look even more beautiful in fall sunlight). The quilts, all from the museum collection, were very well displayed; 15 were on the walls of the gallery and others were on beds, or folded over couches in period rooms. One room devoted to to: ys and dolls featured several doll quilts. Obviously from such a small sample one can’t make any inferences about a “Moravian” style, but there was a lot of an odd shade of red. My favorite was a truly bizarre, beautifully made, four-block Princess Feather of six plumes in facing pairs of red and green; it looked like lobster claws. I do so admire quiltmakers who hear a different drummer. There was also an amazing Ceasar’s Crown variation; talk about perfect curved seam piecing!
The museum is planning another textile exhibit (not exclusively quilts) for next year or 2000. =20
Cinda in Scranton
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Bethlehem, PA that is. = Yesterday was the=20 last day of the exhibit of quilts from the collection of the Kemerer = Museum of=20 Decorative Arts in Bethlehem. Barb Garrett posted about it some = time ago=20 and somehow I hadn’t gotten there. By 11:45 a.m. I faced the fact = that I=20 would reproach myself for months if I missed it when the round trip to = Bethlehem=20 is only 150 miles. Fortunately my friend Denise shares my attitude = about=20 seeing quilts and when I called and asked if she could be ready in 15 = minutes=20 she didn’t hesitate.
We are very glad = we made the=20 effort. Bethlehem is a lovely town (those wonderful =20 southeastern PA stone houses look even more beautiful in fall = sunlight). =20 The quilts, all from the museum collection, were very well displayed; 15 = were on=20 the walls of the gallery and others were on beds, or folded over couches = in=20 period rooms. One room devoted to toys and dolls featured several = doll=20 quilts. Obviously from such a small sample one can’t make any = inferences=20 about a “Moravian” style, but there was a lot of an odd shade = of=20 red. My favorite was a truly bizarre, beautifully made, four-block = Princess Feather of six plumes in facing pairs of red and green; it = looked like=20 lobster claws. I do so admire quiltmakers who hear a different=20 drummer. There was also an amazing Ceasar’s Crown variation; talk = about=20 perfect curved seam piecing!
The museum is = planning=20 another textile exhibit (not exclusively quilts) for next year or = 2000. =20
Cinda in = Scranton
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 11:23:37 -0500 | From: “John and Cinda Cawley” <cawley [at] epix [dot] net
Has anybody else seen American Quilt Renaissance, the catalogue of the exhibit in Japan of the quilts of Marie Webster and Rose Kretsinger and Carrie Hall’s blocks? I knew that Webster’s book was published in 1915 and that her quilts had first appeared in Ladies Home Journal in 1911, but I guess I’d never really thought about the chronology. Those quilts which look so very 1930’s were (many of them made around 1910): Pink Rose and Poppy, 1909; Iris, 1910; Sunflower, 1911; Daisies, Sunbonnet Lassies and Morning Glory Wreath, 1912; Grapes and Vines, 1914. So I guess what I’m wondering is how quickly and how strongly did these quilts which received wide exposure in Ladies Home Journal influence the quiltmakers of the day?
What do you think?
Cinda in Scranton
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 11:29:54 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com, NinePatchN [at] aol [dot] com, KAFFEE-KLATSCH [at] quilt [dot] com Subject: QHL: feedsack kits
Message-ID: <adc9f062.363dde02 [at] aol [dot] com>
for all who have inquired about the feedsack kits that make a 12″ pillow or the strt of a sampler..YES..there are Christmas kits and you are still in time to: order..
Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 12:36:31 +0000 | From: Jocelyn <jocelynm [at] sw1 [dot] socwel [dot] ukans [dot] edu>
What I’m saying is this – I’m
> always amazed at the colors used by people 100+ years ago, since we were brought up to expect the more somber *faded* colors.
I have a DWR that’s REDREDREDRED!
Obviously, this quilter liked bright colors! There are some of the traditional pale 1930s fabrics in the quilt, but I would imagine that this lady wore bright colored clothes, too, and had lots of red scraps. <G>
Jocelyn
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 14:10:31 -0800 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory [at] bmd [dot] clis [dot] com>
Several years ago, I taught a two-week quilting seminar at Shakertown in Pleasant Hill, KY. I tried to see the quilts in their collection without much success until the last day of the conference when they let me and one other lady into their archives. The quilts were not “Shaker-esque” or unique in style. If I remember right, two were cotton sateen Drunkard’s Path quilts in pastels (white and yellow, pink and white) looking to be from: the 1930’s. The curator said these were found in the buildings when they were bought back from local farmers who had purchased the Shaker properties. So these were likely just plain folks’ quilts. The only other memorable quilt was a hexagon pieced quilt, made over papers, C.1880, in cottons and wool challis prints. I hesitate to call it a Flower Garden since that’s a 20th century name for the pattern. The hexagon-based patterns seem to have been really popular in Kentucky and I have bought and sold a number of Seven Sisters, Rainbow Tile, and other hexagon type quilts made in Kentucky.
My guess is that since Shakers often came to the faith from the outside (joining as adults-) the quilts they made simply reflected popular quilts of the time. At Pleasant Hill they concentrated on herbal medecines, furniture production, some weaving, and some silk culture, although this last never really made it off the ground. The mulberry trees needed to feed the silk worms never acclimated to the sometimes dire Kentucky climate. A few silk handkerchiefs, woven with plaid borders, were made and given as “love gifts” within the community. I’ve never seen a reference to silk yardage being successfully made by the Shakers.
I have seen one old photograph of a Shaker sister quilting at a frame. It’s from: one of the New England settlements. The quilt, what you can see of it, looks like a star pattern and it may be either a red and white or blue and white quilt judging from the contrast in the black and white photo.
Sorry to natter on-
Pepper Cory
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 14:25:34 -0800 | From: arlenegg [at] icanect [dot] net
Hi All!
I’m unlurking in an effort to learn more about the origins of these redwork patterns.
I bought a top from Julie Silber on e-bay in July. She had purchased it in Northern California, but that’s all she knew of its provenance. She to: ld me, however, that she had seen a couple others in Michigan. I bought a couple books at the MSU Museum last month, while there to see the “To Honor & Comfort” exhibit, and both books showed a quilt made with those blocks.
In “Michigan Quilts”, one is shown on page 86, and the description says the Lansing Capital News published the patterns, starting Feb. 12, 1927, and had a contest for the best set of embroidered blocks. “To Honor and Comfort – Native Quilting Traditions” shows one on page 28. This one was made by Indian school children in Hopland, California 1928. The patterns are the same (there are duplicates) but besides the drawing, each block also has (embroidered) a child’s signature and a name for the block (i.e. “minute man”).
There’s another one on e-bay now, and that one is from an estate in Iowa (further provenance unknown). The interesting thing about that one is the fact that the blocks are all numbered (the circled numbers are embroidered) but the blocks weren’t set according to number! (My top, and the quilt in “Michigan Quilts”, both have the blocks set in correct numerical sequence, although the blocks aren’t numbered.) What I’m looking to find out is, was this pattern syndicated? Does anyone know where or when it originated? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Arlene in Miami arlenegg [at] icanect [dot] net
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 17:01:31 EST | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
Sometime back someone wrote about a pattern which combined the T block to make the shape of a dog’s head. I wrote down that info and a telephone number. The number turns out to belong to Leisure Arts publishing company which has no idea of what I was talking about, but they are researching it. If anyone remembers the book or magazine with that pattern, please write.
Thanks.
Elisabeth
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 16:08:11 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller [at] iw [dot] net>
I’ve spotted a platter with the Fruit Basket design that inspired Grace Snyder’s quilt that appears on the cover of her biography, “No Time on My Hands”. I’d be happy to buy it and ship it to anyone who’d like it. Platter is $16, plus shipping. U.S. Mail would be about $6, UPS probably less.
Mary Waller, Vermillion SD
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 17:19:47 EST | From: HKnight453 [at] aol [dot] com
Hello all-
As a Quaker who has spent some time studying Shakers, they did use iutilty or Galway Type quilts for personal use. Some communities supported themselves with knicknack/gift shops, and would sell quilts, dolls etc to appeal to”The World’s People”, or tourists. These quilts would be similar to those made by others in that time period.
Shakers in the Kentucky communities made silk ofr a bit, but it wasn’t economically viable. Brigham Young had the same problem in pre-Civil War Utah, and he had trained silk workers from Britain to help. He had hoped to make Deseret completely self-supporting, even to producing luxury goods such as silk.
Heather in cold RI
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 18:18:09 EST | From: Lalalawyr [at] aol [dot] com
On a semi-related topic, did anyone else see the PBS program that recently aired about the Shakers? It didn’t have anything about Shaker quilts, but it was a fascinating account of the history of the Shakers and their communities. My favorite part was interviews with some elderly Shaker women, and their personal accounts of what it was like to be part of a Shaker community. So check your PBS listings (or lobby your local PBS station)! Given that Shaker-made items are so highly prized today for their workmanship, I find it somewhat surprising that there aren’t more Shaker quilts around. Of course, quilts are going to wear out faster than things like chairs, bureaus and those gorgeous Shaker wooden boxes – but still, you’d think that enough would have survived that we would hear more about them.
Melissa
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 21:08:37 EST | From: Palampore [at] aol [dot] com
T
Hi, I wrote last week about a quilt I just recently saw which was made entirely of silks from Old Mill Cigarettes (VA) and all of the silks had pictures of women on them. The lady who owns it is curious about it’s date and to know who the women are. She and her friends think they were silent movie stars. Anyone out there have any info.? (No one responded last week.) I need Ms. Cozart’s article from AQSG but our guild got rid of all of their UNCOVERINGS because they took up too much room. (no comment) Kris doesn’t have that issue for sale. Is it still in print?
Many thanks for any help you might provide this lady. Thanks, Lynn in New Bern,NC
