96014

 Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 11:15:02 -0800

From: Chris Smith <csmith@mail.coos.or.us>

To:

At 12:52 PM 12/15/96 -0500 Christine T. wrote:

>I worry that the dark thread will look garish where it crosses the light

>yellow-green of the mistletoe rectangles.  Also, my quilting stitches are not

>perfect yet and every flaw will show up. (I could pretend I was a young Amish

>girl just learning the art.) It is hard to take the plunge.

>

I've made a number of Amish quilts and believe it or not, the black quilting does not look garish, no matter what color it crosses. Rather than stand out, the black actually kind of mutes everything and ties it all together, kind of like a shadow, but where the quilting DESIGN stands out, not the individual stitches. I haven't made one in wool, but it seems like the shadow effect might be even more pronounced with the thicker fabric. I love quilting with black so much that it's been hard branching our into other types of quilts where the quilting needs to be in lighter colors. However, am getting there. You might try stitching together some strips of your wool fabrics and do some practice quilting to see what it looks like. Your fabric colors sound really beautiful.

 Hope this helps a little,

 Chris Smith   (csmith@mail.coos.or.us)

Coquille, Oregon

=*=**=*=*=**=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=**=

 ------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 16:07:17 +0000

From: Bev Jordan <qultfix@directcon.net>

To:

Christine,

>

> I worry that the dark thread will look garish where it crosses the light

> yellow-green of the mistletoe rectangles.  Also, my quilting stitches are not

> perfect yet and every flaw will show up.

Take the plunge. I made a quilt for my daughter for her high school

graduation. I used Amish colors and black and put the blocks together in a fan shape. Finished

one evening about 10 and went downstairs to where she was watching TV and tossed

the blocks in her lap and said for her to put them in the lay-out she liked. In

no time at all, she had them in the shape of an "S" which is the initial of her

first name, Sonya. I learned a lot while making and finishing the quilt.

First, when you put fan blocks in the shape of an "S", you need to add 4" sections on the two sides of the "S" to complete the piece. I then added a small border of squares of all the fabrics used and then a larger black border. There were fans in each corner. I used the Hobbs dark polyester batt, which I won't use again because of bearding, but the bearding doesn't show as much as when I've used lighter poly  batts so this is good. I put on the back a mottled piece of fabric that picked up the colors from the front of the quilt.

I wanted to do cables in the wide black borders and I had them continue into the  corner blocks. I found the black thread showed very nicely on all the fabrics and  really didn't have much problem quilting on black with black thread. I just made  sure I had strong light when I quilted. Because of the added 4" pieces, I had to draft  the top and side borders and did this full size using large sheets of butcher paper,  covered both sides with clear contact paper and then cut my stencil with a double  bladed x-acto knife. It was a lot of work but worth it.

 I entered the quilt in the California State Fair and won a third place ribbon so guess the quilt turned out okay. One of the comments was the use of the black which I had, because of not thinking, not paid any attention to grain so it looked like I had used more than one black in the quilt. One of the judges wrote that this is what the Amish do, use more than one black in their quilts. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

 Well, to make a long story short, go ahead and quilt your quilt in black and don't  worry about it. The quilting is really beautiful and shows beautifully on all the rich solid colors and against the black.

 Bev

 ------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 21:56:14 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To:

I will look up the documentation after xmas...but I can tell you absolutely

that there was hand carding of cotton for batts in the South well into the

depression years.

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC  - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 22:05:34 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To:

>Does anyone know if the DAR Museum has a web site?

>--

I have been to see the DAR Museum quilts and their state rooms too.

Fortunately I was also able to go into the vault where they have over 250

exciting wonderful quilts.

They do not have a web site yet but they are working on one.

Go to this program if you can!

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 22:06:31 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

Hi,

 I went into Jean Ann's website and got the address for NinePatch News.  For some reason though, when I tried to subscribe two different times, the mail was bounced back to me as undeliverable.  Does anyone out there know a different online address that I should be subscribing to? yes"> 

 THanks,  Nancy Sentipal

AJSNGS@aol.com  

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 04:53:19 +0000

From: Susan Nixon <Desertsky@worldnet.att.net>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Quilting Long Ago

Message-ID: <19961216045302.AAC19798@LOCALNAME>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I believe it was Carolyn Davis who researched and wrote about the quilts of

an LDS woman in southern Utah. Pinedale, maybe? The woman, even into late

in the century, grew her cotton, carded it for batts, spun it for thread,

wove her own fabric, dyed her own fabric and used it for quilts. She also

tied her thread in knots and all the knots are on the back.

This woman was a genuine artist and I have seen one of her fabulous quilts.

It is well documented that she did all these things. There was no easy

access to the things we all take for granted, or that our grandparents took

for granted! I doubt she was the only woman to continue doing these things

well past the time we consider them outmoded. Women in many times and

places, when they lacked access to what they want, have figured out a way to

make it themselves.

Susan in Sunny Phoenix, Arizona, USA

______

__/ | | \__

/ | | \

\_/| / \ |\_/

| @ @ | Mooory Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!

| | And a Happy Mooo-ooo Year!

\ /

| ^^ |

\ __ /

\/

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 22:23:54 -0700

From: "Mary E Scott" <mscott28@cybertrails.com>

To: <QHL@cuenet.com>, "Jean Ann" <quiltmag@mindspring.com>

Subject: QHL: Re: hand carding

Message-Id: <199612151522.WAA23129@ cybertrails.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I also know that there was hand carding of cotton done well into the

depression years. I have a quilt (look at my webb page it is there) that

the batts in it are hand carded cotton. This quilt was put together in the

middle to late 30's. It was done in either Mumford or Obion, Tenn. I did

not realize that was what the batts were until some ladies told me. I know

there is a lot of cotton trash in the batts.

Mary Scott

mscott28@cybertrails.com

http://inficad.com/~lightsp/suitee/index.html

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 03:41:05 -0500

From: QuiltLine@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #13

Message-ID: <961216034104_874649702@emout17.mail.aol.com>

To All,

If anyone can share any information with me regarding the responsibilities of

guest curating, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Debbie

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 06:07:57 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Nine Patch News

Message-ID: <961216060756_609406185@emout19.mail.aol.com>

Hi Everyone! I'm trying to subscribe to the Nine Patch News! I found an

online address through Jean Ann Eitel's webpage, but when I mail my subscribe

notification, the mail comes back! Anyone have any suggestions?

The address I used is: ListServ@ListServ@aol.com. I've checked this more

than once. Also, when I posted a Help to QuiltBee, several people e-mailed

me because they would also like to subscribe.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

Nancy in Virginia

AJSNGS@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 06:47:50 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Questions...again!

Message-ID: <961216064748_776330157@emout19.mail.aol.com>

Hi,

Forgive the BASIC questions once again! But what is paper piecing? And what

is foundation piecing or quilting (see I'm not even sure what it's called)?

I've heard these terms and am not sure what it is.

Thanks for your patience with a newbie.

Nancy in Virginia

AJSNGS@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 08:54:27 -0600

From: "Lang" <lang@wellsville.com>

To: <QHL@cuenet.com>

Subject: QHL: "batting?"

Message-Id: <199612161455.IAA10672@server.kanza.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

My mother grew up during the depression. She has always loved quilting. I

remember as a child hanging some of the "old" quilts she had made during

the depression years on the clothesline. When the sun would shine through

the quilt you could see the "batting". These quilts were filled with old

worn out clothes. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without was

very true in those days!--Eula<lang@wellsville.com>

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 96 06:31:48 -0900

From: Nick Fuller <nickf@xyz.net>

To: <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: QHL: Re:Amish backs

Message-Id: <199612161540.GAA04751@origin.xyz.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

My mother has a quilt that she beleives is Amish. I don't know for sure,

but her aunt bought it from a neighbor and lived near Pennsylvania so it

is possible. The front is a very thin-strip log cabin of mostly calicos,

not Amishy except the wide brown border, which is quilted in an Amish

cable. The back is wide vertical stripes (8 to 10 inches maybe) of red,

blue, green, Amish tones. The back looked more Amish than the front! I

thought the striped effect was a neat way to do a back and plan to do

some myself this way. Now I can't verify that this quilt is Amish, but

for those just looking for a suitable style, I thought this might help.

If you're *really* interested I have pictures. Maybe after Christmas I'll

have time to design a webpage for them!

Abby Fuller

nickf@xyz.net

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 11:36:37 -0500

From: gridgees@algorithms.com (Merry May)

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #13

Message-Id: <v01510100aedb0b2b1068@[167.152.156.139]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Re: Rabbit's comments

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Rabbit, on your comments yesterday about

documenting what REALLY happened, as opposed to what we've been reading in

romantic accounts of quilt history for so many years. This is what the

American Quilt Study Group is trying to do - chip away at the hearsay, do

the research, and document what's really going on now. If you've never

heard of AQSG (not to be confused with AQS, the American Quilter's Society,

which publishes books and sells them at a discount), you can contact them

by e-mail at: aqsg@aol.com

AQSG sponsors an annual seminar where original research papers are

presented. The papers are also published in an annual journal called

"Uncoverings." These journals are now widely accepted as resources in

libraries throughout the country (including college libraries). If you

contact AQSG, be sure to request a publications list along with your

membership application.

I can't claim to not be affiliated with AQSG, as I'm one of their Regional

Coordinators (volunteer position), but if you're at all interested in quilt

history, this is a very worthwhile group to be associated with. They're

also a very warm, friendly group - not snobby "egghead" types at all - so

everyone can really feel at home with them, no matter what your skill level

may be in quilt history. The overall impression I get is that we're ALL

still learning about this together!

Sorry to ramble on so long - the AQSG is one of my favorite organizations

to be involved in, and I hope to encourage everyone else who's interested

in finding out what REALLY happened in quilt history to join me!

Merry May

gridgees@algorithms.com

------------------------------

I live enar the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio. And have met several

amish

quilters. The women here do all of their piecing by machine, and all of their

quilting by hand.

They may use the compressed air machines, but they also have a repairman who

can

turn any non-computerized machine into a treadle. They do a lot of treadle

sewing..

They use all the modern fabrics, and (if they are making items to sell),

will use

the popular prints. I am not sure what they choose to use for their own

quilts,

though (haven't asked).

I know several Amish women who love rotary cutters and other modern

time-savers.

The Amish are not against modernization. They are only against those things

which may break up and divide a community.

The most important woman in the Holmes county Amish community still "holds" by

the Amish beliefs. But she also has her own car (and driver), Lear jet (and

pilot) so she can travel around the world to get her business completed.

Mrs. Miller is a modern day Old Order Amish...

>

> Barb in southeastern PA

> <bgarrett@fast.net>

------------------------------

Date: 16 Dec 96 17:27:11 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Quilting Long Ago

Message-ID: <961216222711_75444.1037_FHQ32-1@CompuServe.COM>

Thanks for the referrence Yes there certainly were women who did that but again,

we have to be creful not to generalize from them to the entire population of

1890. They were as you say genuine artists and need to be recognized as such. As

artists they hold a very special place and the understanding of textile process

gets tranferred and diffused into and out of a culture is very important to

understand their special place.

------------------------------

Date: 16 Dec 96 17:27:14 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: hand carding

Message-ID: <961216222713_75444.1037_FHQ32-2@CompuServe.COM>

can you show some documentation for "hand" carded batts? other than some ladies

said so? Thaty would be really important. Also, what happened in the depression

is not what happened in the 1840's or pre Civil War or 1890's. We know a great

deal about textile production in many places at many times it is extremely

regional and needs to be looked at regionally and in terms of different

socio-economic classes. What happened in one family living next another family

may have been quite different.

-**************************************

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 06:25:12 -0600 (CST)

From: Amy Lauderdale <laall@olemiss.edu>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-ID:

<Pine.SGI.3.95.961217061758.8839B-100000@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu>

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

> I will look up the documentation after xmas...but I can tell you absolutely

> that there was hand carding of cotton for batts in the South well into the

> depression years.

I am new to the list and haven't seen this whole thread, but I can

say with certainty that it was done even past depression years. I am from

Mississippi and my grandmother lived in a community called "Swampers",

Louisiana. As a child I have seen her card cotton and I was born in 1953.

But she quit carding sometime during my youth.

I have some of her quilts made with flour sacks in the 30's and 40's,

which have this batting though.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 06:39:03 -0600 (CST)

From: Mary Jo Kennedy <KENNEDYAC@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-id: <01ID3V3LDPNI00UW9T@VAX1.Mankato.MSUS.EDU>

Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

I am also new to this list and very interested in quilting. I sure

wish I would have paid more attention to my grandmothers when they

were quilting - in the 1950s. Please explain what "carding" is.

Thank you.

Also, I noticed people don't sign their messages on this listserv,

why is that? Part of the fun of belonging to a listserv is finding

out where people are from and getting to know each other better.

Just a suggestion.

Mary Jo

from BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Mankato, Minnesota

------------------------------

Date: 17 Dec 96 09:54:57 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-ID: <961217145456_75444.1037_FHQ66-4@CompuServe.COM>

Thanks for the referrence

------------------------------

Date: 17 Dec 96 09:54:58 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-ID: <961217145457_75444.1037_FHQ66-5@CompuServe.COM>

carding is the second step in preparation of short fibers such as cotton or wool

for spinning or making batts by the 1790's this could be accomplished by water

power although hand carding persisted in some areas for a long time in

conjunction with water power

Rabbit Goody 75444.1037 CompuServ.com textile historian

------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 20:08:48 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-ID: <961217200846_1820397948@emout04.mail.aol.com>

Oh my goodness..so much has been going on while I have been held captive by

my old server..mesgs out there that I am trying to access..on several digests

I find such gret info..I'm happy to see Nancy of VA still asking great

questions..I am interested in th discussion going on about cotton carding

batt..also the 20 page bibliography on 'history' books..also glad to see two

of my members from the Feedsack Club inin posting such great info..I have a

BIG favor to ask..would it be possible to have Mary Persyn, Barb Garrett,

Susan Nixon (about Carolyn Davis) and all others who posted about Amish and

cotton carding PLEASE email me the posts on these subjects? Inturn, I have a

member who is an expert, and most passionate on cotton, and I know she would

be quite interested in sharing any info you might seek on cotton..also, Barb

Garrett, are you interested in the Amish in the Pgh area, actually, north of

Pgh? I thank you all. Sure have missed what has been going on..hope to

learn how to copy. new address is <baglady111@aol.com> in Pittsburgh,

Pa..OLD address was baglady@nauticom.net

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 20:45:00 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: My newest old quilt

Message-ID: <961217204217_1255047514@emout13.mail.aol.com>

Hi,

I bought an old quilt (c. 1930 Boutinere (sp?) pattern) in a medium bright

green with lovely prints all set on an off white background. The front is

pretty nice considering it's an orphan, but the binding is badly

deteriorating. The back is nasty, disgusting, etc. I saw that first and

didn't hesitate to throw it in the washer to soak. It was gross, and I

wasn't having it in my house until it was a bit cleaner! Anyway, I quickly

pulled out ALL my recent notes from QHL on washing quilts and believe me,

they are coming in handy.

Now, I would like suggestions on how to dress this quilt up. As I said, the

front is quite pretty--definitely worn but that's okay. The back is

yucky--looks like someone died on it! Well maybe I'm exagerating! Anyway, I

would like suggestions on how to put a new backing on it, and how to repair

the binding. Remember, you will be talking to a rank beginner! But this

quilt is something I do want to fix up.

So thanks in advance,

Nancy Sentipal in rainy Virginia

AJSNGS@aol.com

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 96 22:35:43 EST

From: "Bob Mills" <decision@tigger.jvnc.net>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-Id: <decision.1201267783C@tigger.jvnc.net>

Hi Nancy in Virginia,

Paper piecing is drawing the pattern on paper and then sewing fabric to the

paper, rather than making templates. That is a very simplistic description.

I think you would really enjoy rec.crafts.textiles.quilting newsgroup. You

should be able to get that group and get the answers to many of your initial

questions.

Enjoy.

Jan (not Bob)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 1996 23:15:27 PST

From: josiem@tekstar.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Paper Foundation Piecing

Message-Id: <199612180514.XAA25112@perham>

For Nancy and others who are interested there are a number of websites that

will give

you good information about patterns and How-tos.

Start out with the WWQP at http://ttsw.com/MainQuiltingPage.html, then visit

Mary Ann's Cyber Sewing Room at http://www2.nb.net/~maryann/ . Mary Ann has

great links to all the best foundation patchwork sites including Zippy

Publications,

producer of the Foundation Piecer Magazine at

http://www.other-world.com/ftp/QuiltersWeb/ZippyDesigns/index.html. Debby

Kratovil

also has great patterns and information at her website Quilter by Design

http://www.his.com/~queenb/index.html.

Most of these places will have patterns to run off on your printer and

instructions on how

to use them.

Paper foundation patchwork is, to me, a wonderful innovation in sewing

blocks. Because

you sew on the pattern, you get precise and perfect points and a perfect

sized block

every time. Lots of mini blocks are available but a number of books today

are published

with 10 - 12" blocks. Shirley Liby's books, Jane Hall and Dixie Haywood's

Firm

Foundations, plus many more will satisfy those piecers who want to use this

method with

larger blocks.

I would be happy to share anything further with anyone who wishes to write

me privately.

Jo in Minnesota

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 07:53:52 -0500 (EST)

From: Beth Ferrier <APPLEWD@cris.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: Old quilts for sale?

Message-Id: <199612181253.HAA08013@cliff.cris.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Merry Christmas all,

My husband's aunt has three old quilts that she is thinking about selling.

(No matter how longingly I caressed them, there appears to be no chance of

inheriting!) Being no way an expert, I guess that they are feedsack

creations. They are not intricate, rather utilitarian patchwork, but they

are in excellent condition. She would like to know where to sell them. I

wish I could tell her that they are worthless and offer her $30 for the lot!

My find this summer was a blue and white "T" block quilt. I believe it to

be a Temperance quilt. I would love to date the quilt. It is in rough

shape. It was $8, sold as a cutter! I washed it in Orvus in the bathtub,

dried it on the lawn in the shade. It's folded, good side out, on my hutch.

By they way, part of the binding has been burned! Oh, how I wish it could

talk!!

Thank you for this list. I live in an 1860 house and would like to fill it

with wonderful quilts, both old and new. I love history (though I wish I

had paid better attention in high school!). It's been fun learning the

history of this house.

Beth in Saginaw, MI

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 11:55:33 -0500

From: SadieRose@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Beyond the Myths- QH book

Message-ID: <961218114648_1954702178@emout19.mail.aol.com>

I have been busy with holiday preparations, had 2 parties, one at my home,

on Monday. But, I took time to read each post on QHL....left the other e-mail

messages to catch up on later....love this group!! (Thanks, again, Kris!)

Thanks to Merry May for posting about the American Quilt Study Group. This

excellent organization has done much to encourage the research and discovery

of factual information on the history of quilts and their makers. They

published a book in 1994, "Quiltmaking in America- Beyond the Myths". This

book, edited by Laurel Horton, contains articles by 17 different authors,

which first appeared in the AQSG's annual publication, UNCOVERINGS. Here,

they are illustrated with color photographs, as well as b&w photos, maps, and

newspaper reproductions. The articles cover a variety of topics, divided

into 6 chapters: Pattern Development and Distribution, Quilts & Quiltmakers

in Early America, Wars & the Work of Women, Textiles and Tools, Group Quilts,

and Quiltmakers in the 20th Century.

The significant difference about the information in this book, is that it

is based on careful research, not on the myths about quilts and quiltmaking.

Many "facts" about quilt history started as one person's theory, but then

were repeated often enough to become accepted as fact. These generalizations

don't stand up when research from many areas is combined to create a more

accurate picture.

If you are interested in quilt history, or women's history, this is an

excellent book to add to your library. It was published by Rutledge Hill

Press, 1994, in hardcover, 192 pages, $34.95. ISBN# 1-55853-319-2 it should

be available through your local book store.

Karan Flanscha, from the deep freeze (-25 wind chills this morning!)

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 12:07:54 -0500

From: SadieRose@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: QHL-Digest Digest V96 #14

Message-ID: <961218114638_1389222498@emout13.mail.aol.com>

Jane,

If you need some posts forwarded, I think I still have them all in my

incoming mail. Let me know. Sorry to be brief, have to leave for work :(

TTYL.....Karan

PS These are individual posts, I am not on Digest.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 12:55:15 -0500

From: mgoodman@albany.net (Mary Beth Goodman)

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Checking out a Signature Quilt

Message-Id: <v0213050aaedddfa7da0c@[206.72.193.96]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Someone has written me (ah the price of being famous LOL) and asked for

advice about a signature quilt she recently bought - she wants to track

down the signatures and see if they are authentic - one is a President's

wife!

Any helpful hints I can pass along? I pointed her to the State

Museum/Library, which are probably pretty good resources but are

notoriously not very user friendly.....

and of course, I asked if she would like to display this quilt at our show!

Mary Beth Goodman, Coordinator

NYQuilts!

Quilts, Fairfield Fashion Show, vendors, lectures, classes!

June 7 & 8, 1997

Russell Sage College, Troy NY

http://www.albany.net/~mgoodman/NYQuilts.htm

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 14:49:30 -0500

From: "James M. Welch" <hawk@csionline.com>

To: qhl@cue.com

Subject: QHL: old stain

Message-ID: <32B84ACA.31EA@csionline.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi everyone, I have a question for you. I had a customer come into the

shop and ask how to take what seems to be a water stain, brown streak,

out of a circa 1930's quilt top that had been given to her. She took it

to the dry cleaner's and when she saw the look on my face, she hastened

to tell me that they wouldn't touch it, they told her they would

probably make it worse. I suggested she wash it in the tub with Orvus

with a sheet under it and see how much that would take out. Any other

suggestions?

I am hoping that she will bring the two in she was given, just so I

can get a peek!

Debbie at QPs in NJ

t

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 13:55:02 -0600

From: R D <holmr@execpc.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Ninepatch News

Message-ID: <32B84C16.254D@mail.execpc.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi all,

I used to be on AOL for several years before changing providers last

summer. I wanted to keep getting the Ninepatch News, but I was told at

that time that you had to be on AOL to actually get the newsletter

mailed to you. However there were archives for the Ninepatch News that

could be accessed and you didn't have to be on AOL to get those.

Unfortunately I do not have that address any longer. Someone on AOL

should be able to access the quilters area, and easily get the current

scoop on the Ninepatch News and post it to this group.

Donna in Wisconsin

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 15:46:28 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

cc: QuiltBee@quilter.com

Subject: QHL: Thread Heads

Message-ID: <961218154611_641640101@emout04.mail.aol.com>

Marilyn and others,

Personally I like the title "Thread Heads"! My DH calls me "Quilt Momma"

because our house has suddenly started filling up with old quilts, and tons

of mail about quilts! He collect train memorabilia and I call his fellow

collectors "Trainers". He subscribes to a listserv about trains, and we

compare notes about who is getting more e-mail. I have to tell you, quilters

win hands down.

Nancy in Virginia

AJSNGS@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: 18 Dec 96 17:32:12 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Checking out a Signature Quilt

Message-ID: <961218223211_75444.1037_FHQ56-3@CompuServe.COM>

the census records are actually easy to use in a library and I never hesitate to

go straight to the research librarian and say Help but gazetteers and local

history collections are usually very helpful. Geneological information is of

course available from the Mormons on line and through their great network. At

least if a President's wife name is on it you can date and place it remarkable

well yes.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 19:52:30 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: old stain

Message-ID: <961218185332_68342306@emout12.mail.aol.com>

you are probably going to shudder..so sit down, prepare yourself..years ago a

gal in Bronxville, NY told me this..she used Axion in her bathtub and cold

water..she did not use the sheet to support it..good idea tho..anyway, she

would soak an antique quilt in cold water and Axion for a week to two..RAVED

about the results..naturally she would not wring the quilt/top but press the

water, rinse, begin again for that week or so..I hae no idea the results of

what they look like today..but that was HER method!! Jane

(baglady111@aol.com> those 111's are ones..

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Dec 1996 20:26:13 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Checking out a Signature Quilt

Message-ID: <961218170157_975724615@emout11.mail.aol.com>

WOW!!! HOW EXCITING..last year. RITA BARBER of QUILTERS' HERITAGE

CELEBRATION shindig in Lancaster, Pa had signature quilts as their main

theme..bet she could help..ditto, Brenda Groelz is very knowledgeable.. plus

Jinny Beyer at jbstudio@inter-look.com..Brenda is at

bgroelz@hamilton.net..can't lay my hands on Rita's right now..I can also go

thru my American Quilt Study Group roster and see who specializes in

signature quilts..can't wait to see how this all goes..Jane

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 09:25:04 -0500

From: Linda Stormo <lstormo@mail.nasboces.org>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Bibliograpies

Message-Id: <9612191425.AA04910@mail.nasboces.org>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

A note for those of you who are interested in bibliographies: there's a web

site for fiction books about quilts, quilters, and patchwork at:

http://www.nmt.edu/~breynold/quiltfiction.html#F

There are two categories, adult and children's literature. Some books might

interest those of you on the list as they are probably based on some

historical facts.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 11:16:07 -0500

From: QuiltFixer@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: old stain

Message-ID: <961219111606_875165435@emout08.mail.aol.com>

I have just sucessfully washed a 1930's quilt by soaking it in warm water and

BIZ for 10 minutes two times. Washed in a gentle soap on delicate. Rinsed 3

times. All this in the washing machine. Some of the brown water stains are

still there but greatly faded out. The colors are much brighter and fresher.

Whole quilt looks much better.

Toni Baumgard

QuiltFixer@aol.com

>From beautiful Spring Lakes on the Central California Coast, where the frost

is like snow this a.m.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 14:27:51 -0200

From: "Barry A. Cruikshank" <barryc@injersey.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Subscribing to NinePatchNews by non-AOL members

Message-Id: <3.0.32.19961219142746.006ce438@injersey.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Send e-mail to "NINEPATCH-request@LISTSERV.AOL.COM"

Barry Cruikshank

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 14:07:10 -0800

From: ADELAIDE LEWIS <all@styx.ios.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Paper/Foundation Piecing

Message-ID: <32B9BC8E.48B9@styx.ios.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Foundation piecing is using a pattern drawn or printed on paper or cloth

(muslin) as a base to which the quilt fabric is sewn. It is sometimes

referred to as "sew and flip". The first piece of fabric is placed right

side up on the foundation; the second piece is placed along one edge of

Piece 1, right sides together, a 1/4-inch seam is sewn along the raw

edges; Piece 2 is then flipped over so the right side side up; Piece 3 is

then aligned with the edge of Piece 2, right sides together, the seam is

sewn, and Pice 3 is flipped so its right side shows (etc., etc.). This

method is sometimes also called "string" piecing.

In paper piecing, on the other hand, pieces of paper the size and shape

of your finished block pieces are cut. The fabric is cut 1/4" larger

than the paper pattern and the fabric is placed right side up over the

paper. The fabric edges are turned under and based in place. After the

block pieces are all based to their paper bases, they are joined to each

other by whip stitching the edges of the block pieces together. When the

block is completely sewn together, the basting stitches are removed and

the paper patterns separated from the fabric. The paper patterns can be

used more than once. The Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern and some

star patterns are often done using this method.

(After re-reading this explanation, I'm not at all sure I can understand

what I just explained -- hope it makes some sense to others out there.)

Adelaide (In New York City, where the Rockefeller Center tree looks just

beautiful in the rain)

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 17:12:45 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Cc: PamNana@aol.com, Micki411@aol.com

Subject: QHL: Nine Patch news

Message-Id: <v01540b02aedf6d2f4cb6@[168.121.76.43]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hey you guys! wait a minute...<giggle>

I mean, I only linked this page to mine as a favor to the AOL quilt forum

that has always treated me like yesterday's leftovers they never wanted in

the first place anyway!

I have absolutely no connection to the AOL Quilt Forum. Their Choice. They

asked me to link their Nine Patch News website and I did. My Choice. If

their page isn't operational. their problem. not mine.

I have copied this email to the two people at AOL Quilt Forum who should be

able to fix their web site so you can subscribe to the Nine Patch News.

I frankly never liked the Nine Patch News, but then I quit subscribing to

it at least a year ago, and long before PamNana took over as the editor.

I am sure it has changed, and I have always liked PamNana, which is why,

when she asked if they could be linked to my page, i linked it.

However...if it ain't fixed so you can subscribe in a week....when I do my

up-dates, off it goes. I get enough email without working on something to

do with the AOL quilt forum that has let me know over and over again that I

am persona non gratis.....

so...email PamNana@aol.com or Micki411@aol.com please!

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 17:20:16 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: hand carding

Message-Id: <v01540b04aedf6fd2eb31@[168.121.76.43]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Rabbit says:

>can you show some documentation for "hand" carded batts? other than some ladies

>said so? Thaty would be really important. Also, what happened in the

>depression

>is not what happened in the 1840's or pre Civil War or 1890's. We know a great

>deal about textile production in many places at many times it is extremely

>regional and needs to be looked at regionally and in terms of different

>socio-economic classes. What happened in one family living next another family

>may have been quite different.

Documentation is word of mouth from grandmother to daughter to

granddaugter. It is good enough for me as oral history is every important

and revered in the South. If that is not good enough for you, then fine.

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 20:53:24 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: more about old blocks

Message-Id: <v01540b0aaedfa16b9256@[168.121.76.43]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Jean -- can you explain what you mean by sewing old blocks over

muslin?

I bought 13 very small fan blocks that were pieced over muslin fabric much

like we piece fabric over paper today. Only we remove the paper after the

blocks are sewed. The muslin stays there to stabilize the fabrics. The

fabrics in my blocks are silks, etc. fancy fabrics.

Also, points meeting on old blocks? almost never. I just add sashings

between the blocks and dont worry about the points. if they get chopped

off, it is okay. I often sew with 1/8" seams instead of 1/4". I have seen

many old quilts with 1/8" seams. this doesnt chop the points off too much.

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: 19 Dec 96 21:06:09 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Re: hand carding

Message-ID: <961220020609_75444.1037_FHQ57-2@CompuServe.COM>

Jean Ann Eitel's comment about whether oral history is good enough or not good

enough brings up avery important point about what documentation of historic

process is and how we can use documentation of historic process to understand

the wider culture. Oral history is extremely important and things past down

are the way we learn about the past by documentation what I mean is referrence

that we can then look at the larger group so for instance when someone says

past down from mother to daughter etc I want to know more about the mother and

daughter. I want to know who they were where they were what surrounded them etc

how does it all fit together. The fact that hand technology ( hand carding) in

this case continues long after we expect it to in some areas tells us alot

about individuals preferrences, about the influence of culture about all the

things that transcend the quilt and make quilting more important. That is why we

ask for and want referrence and documentation so that we can better understand.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 18:28:19 -0800 (PST)

From: Michele Weise <michele@peppertreestudios.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: freezing fabrics

Message-Id: <199612200228.SAA09411@acme.sb.west.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi everyone,

I just finally had a minute to read over some old mail and Julie Gardner

had a question about freezing dust mites. Here is a message that was sent

to me last spring. I think it's really interesting and good info.

te: Fri, 3 May 96 10:31 PDT

X-Sender: jgibson@crash.cts.com

To: Michele Weise <michele@peppertreestudios.com>

From: jgibson@cts.com (Judy Gibson)

Subject: Re: moths eradication

Michele:

Textile conservation is a bit out of my line--my professional responsibility

is the care of dried plant specimens, and my museum does not "do"

ethnological collections. So, since you have a serious textile conservation

need (unlike most of the knitlist, who are merely interested in keeping

their sweaters from being munched), I think you should consult with the

best experts in the field.

The first place I would try would be the Textile Museum in Washington,

D. C. I have just looked around and I don't seem to have their gift shop

catalog any more, so can't give you an address. But someone there should

be able to point you in the right direction, and they probably sell some

books that will give you the answers you need. Or call any major museum

with textile collections; someone should be able to tell you who to

talk to.

As to the wooden boxes, I don't know what the insect is--probably some

kind of beetle--but freezing should be able to solve that one. I froze

some Mexican weavings that had been hung on sticks, when the sticks

developed the symptoms you describe. Both sticks and weavings came through

just fine. Of course, I'd spent about ten dollars on them, so it wasn't

much of a risk. To be extra careful, try it first with a wooden box you're

not too attached to. Seal them in a plastic bag before putting them in

the freezer (to keep scraped-off frost from getting on them), and leave

them in the bag until they return to room temperature so they don't pick

up moisture from the air. The freezer should reach -20 degrees Celsius

(zero, Fahrenheit) if possible, and should not be a frost-free type, since

these have a warming cycle to remove frost. The objects should stay at

the low temperature for three or more days. I usually freeze things for

a week, but this is mostly for the convenience of knowing that I unload

and load the freezer on Mondays.

We have a chest-type household freezer in our department that we use

for bundles of dried plants, and from time to time our education and

exhibits departments use it to freeze taxidermied mounts--wood, plaster,

mounted animal, acrylic case, and all--when they have any sort of insect

problem. In six years in this job I've never seen damage to any item due

to the freezing process.

I have a book I bought about twenty years ago on textile conservation.

It's published by Watson-Guptill, the art publishers, so maybe it's still

available. It might not be the most up-to-date source of information,

but it is very thorough:

Caring for Textiles

Karen Finch O.B.E. and Greta Putnam

Watson-Guptill, New York. 1977.

ISBN 0-8230-0564-X

It talks about storage, display, repair, restoration, and washing of

museum-quality textile objects, chiefly garments and tapestries.

Well, I just sat down to write you a short note referring you to other

people, and look what happened! I hope this points you in the right

direction. Good Luck!

--Judy

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 22:54:54 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: oral history

Message-Id: <v01540b0faedfbd7f2b39@[168.121.76.43]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

so you are saying that oral history, stories handed down from one

generation to the next...is acceptable documentation.

When i say *oral history* i am talking of something more formal than family

gossip. I am talking about stories that have been memorized and repeated

very much word for word. They are stories that have become part of a family

identity.

They are the kind of stories that the younger members of the family roll

their eyes at cause they know they are going it hear whatever it is again,

word for word....but then it gets memorized, whether they like it or not.

and some day, when they are older, they will tell the story word for word

too....and their children will roll their eyes.

I have some pictures of old quilts with hand carded cotton in them. I have

the stories that go with them. After xmas I will share with the list. Right

now, i need to think about starting my shopping.

On the lighter side.....Oral history very important in the South..we

couldn't buy paper and pencil after Sherman marched through...too poor! LOL

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 23:12:12 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Oral history

Message-ID: <961219231211_2086158941@emout09.mail.aol.com>

I would just like to add my 2 cents (if it's worth that much!).

I don't know diddly about handcarding but I've listened with interest to

Rabbit and Jean Ann's conversation about proper documentation.

Wasn't a great deal of our history handed down orally for many many years?

Most people did this didn't they? I would imagine that a great many of our

ancestors didn't have access to books, paper, pencils, etc. like we do. And

even if they did have access to this stuff, could they write, or read?

Just something to think about.

Nancy in Virginia where it snowed tonight.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 01:09:30 -0500

From: SadieRose@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Oral history

Message-ID: <961220010929_1355924980@emout01.mail.aol.com>

>From my perspective, oral histories are very interesting...but not always

factual. Some of those stories "get a little better" or get embellished as

they are told and retold.

When we do "quilt identification days" (based on the state research

project, and using similar forms and techniques), we invariably get someone

claiming their quilt is 150 years old, when it obviously is a depression era

quilt. Often, if you gently lead the conversation along, you can get them to

concede that this quilt was made by "grandma" who didn't live in the 1840's.

Usually, they become quite interested in how you can estimate the age of the

quilt based on the fabric prints and/or colors.

We always have Barbara Brackman's "Clues in the Calico" on hand, which is

an excellent reference and supports our estimate of the quilt's age. We

encourage them to go to older family members, to see if anyone can add more

information on the quilt or it's possible maker. We try to be very

positive and do our best to educate these quilt owners...but once in while

you get someone who is very obstinate and vocal.

I had to deal with one woman who brought in a depression era quilt, which

was very obviously newly quilted, with a polyester batt!! She insisted she

had watched her mother and grandmother quilt this in the 1930's....(too bad

when the facts get in the way of a good story). You could still see some of

the blue washable marker that hadn't washed out....plus the polyester

batting....didn't add up to a 1930's quilt. She may very well have watched

someone piece the top...we finally quietly filled out the form, stating "old

top, newly quilted". Maybe someone else in the family had a top similar to

the quilt she remembered (this was an unusual design)- and had it quilted,

then passed along to her. Who knows....not worth a public row....but another

reason to encourage everyone to SIGN and DATE your quilts!!

Karan from frigid Iowa.....-8 degrees and dropping!!

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 06:44:24 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Oral history

Message-ID: <961220064422_370551452@emout07.mail.aol.com>

In adding to Nancy in VA and Jean Ann in GA, I have a residence in Floyd, VA,

a very mt, rural area..word of mouth history is the GOSPEL. Many of my

stories I tell on how quilt patterns were named is oral history that came

'from my mama, who was told by HER mama, and so on. Nancy mentions not being

able to read or write. I recall Barbara Brackman's paper presented at the

American Quilt Study GRoup's seminar in Linclon NE about 4 yrs or so ago

about our pioneer women heading west..Did they quilt?? NO diaries were

found, no letters, no signs of correspondence..BUT, as Pat Cox of MN

commented..WHAT ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO COULD'NT WRITE? Did she quilt but

couldn't write, but would pass along what we call oral history to HER

children/relatives? Floyd is in excellent example of this because there are

still folks there that can't write their name but use an 'x'. Sad but true.

As Sadie Rose posts abut embellishing on stories..absolutely..we do it

today..but the base of the story is there. Folklore, isn't that close to our

discussion? Storytellers, who went from village to village were also a form

of oral history. Jane in Pgh where some of that VA snow blew in..

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 06:56:39 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Amish summer quilts

Message-ID: <961220065639_1619960064@emout19.mail.aol.com>

Hi,

Karan from Iowa (in a post a week or so ago) mentioned the Amish had blue and

white summer quilts. I'd love to hear more about these quilts. Are they

easy to find? Or are these something that we "English" would have a

difficult time coming across? And why did they make them in blue and white?

Just interested.

Nancy in Virginia where it is 19 degrees. (Excuse me, but you dear people up

North can take this weather BACK!)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 06:59:59 -0500

From: "Perry C. Trimble" <trimblep@indy.net>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Pattern

Message-ID: <32BA7FBF.7ADE@indy.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Good morning, Everyone!

I have a question, please. A dear friend of mine was sent a box of

items from her mother's house. Inside the box was a packet of appliqued

blocks. These blocks are in 2 sizes, about 9" and 12" squares. They're

very simple - appliqued tulips outlined in blanket stitches on

unbleached muslin. The flower part is a solid color, the stems and

leaves match on each block and are of the 1930s-looking era (turquoise,

pink, salt-water taffy colors with flowers and hearts on them). I'd

like to make a quilt for my friend out of these blocks (I bought some

reproduction fabric that looks right), but would like some suggestions

on patterns to use as sashing and borders (I think scrappy) that would

fit the time period. This friend, BTW, has absolutely no idea of how to

love a new quilt (as opposed to an old one) - she lets her dog lie on

them! If she can't promise to keep the doxie off of it after it's done,

I'm going to offer to buy it from her!!!

TIA,

Marilyn Trimble

trimblep@indy.net

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 08:13:57 -0800

From: Rayna Gillman <RG2@worldnet.att.net>

To: trimblep@indy.net

CC: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Pattern

Message-ID: <32BABB45.5D9B@worldnet.att.net>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Thirties quilts tend to have either solid sashing (i.e.*that* green or

depression orange) with corner blocks, or feedsack-type sashing.

Borders tend to be the same.

Question: why on earth would you want to put all that work into a quilt

for someone who obviously doesn't appreciate quilts?? Why don't you

just offer to buy the blocks from her and make the quilt for yourself?

If she doesn't value new quilts, much less old ones, chances are that

you'll do all that work and she'll stick it in a chest somewhere (which

is better than having the dog lie on it). Breaks my heart to think

about it.

Rayna in NJ

RG2@worldnet.att.net

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 09:58:09 -0500

From: quiltmag@mindspring.com (Jean Ann)

To: QHL@cuenet.com, trimblep@indy.net

Subject: QHL: a good book i just got...

Message-Id: <v01540b01aee0590ab68b@[168.121.76.43]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

hi....trimble asked for a good book on quilt history/sociology. here is one

i just got to review.

Hearts and Hands, Women, Quilts and American Society

by Elaine Hedges, Pat Ferrero, Julie Silber

it is the companion book to Pat Ferrero's award winning film, Hearts and Hands

by Rutledge Hill Press, 211 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Jean Ann Eitel

America's Favorite Quilter

http://www.quiltmag.com

Let's Talk Quilting: dal.net IRC - /join #quilttalk

http://www.quiltmag.com/QuiltTalk/

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 10:45:45 -0500

From: JQuilt@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Like a feather in the wind

Message-ID: <961220104542_1820786370@emout18.mail.aol.com>

I have reached a stage of enlightment which allows me to truly enjoy the

journey and not the goal. Mostly because I find "reached goals" are so

momentary and sometimes so far removed from the vision of them; that I

realize the journey was a lot more satisfiying.

For instance, when I am creating a quilt.....I love trying to define in

fabric what I had in my fantasy....Piecing the squares and triangles to form

a colorful little block...Then stacking them, each one an accomplishment, all

of them waiting in joyful anticipation of becoming the "soon to be quilt

"...Laying out the blocks for the first time and seeing my vision start to

form... Sewing the blocks in rows and listening to the heavy sound of the

full fledged fabric, of swirling colors and lines....The borders, the

batting, the quilting or tying, and then.... the binding put on, with

trembling and excitement.....The little label that tells me, I did this and

when...Sleeping under it, before anyone else, and feeling the warmth of my

hands, that cut and sewed each piece, comfort me.....The joy of creation and

fulfillment that fills my body and soul...

Whatever happens to the quilt from that warm delicious moment doesn't really

concern me...

I send it out like a "feather on the wind" hoping that it will delight

someone's eyes and heart...that they will feel my fingers in the

stitches...But that's beyond the sphere of my creating....And so I just let

it go....

I never cease to be thankful that I have eyes that are able to see and

fingers that are able to sew...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Jean

jquilt@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 11:25:43 -0500

From: SadieRose@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: a good book i just got...

Message-ID: <961220112525_1720969612@emout01.mail.aol.com>

I just received the Winter 1996 issue of "Blanket Statements", the

quarterly newsletter of the American Quilt Study Group. In the "News of

Members" column, there is a paragraph:

"Julie Silber, Pat Ferrero, and Elaine Hedges have released a second

edition of their book HEARTS AND HANDS, published by Rutledge Hill Press in

October with a new preface by Elaine."

As mentioned by Jean, this book is a companion to the movie HEARTS AND

HANDS.

Stay warm!! Karan

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 96 11:56:52 PST

From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman@micron.net>

Dear QHL companions, Just saw Jean Ann's comment on Hearts and Hands: Women,

Quilts and American Society, and I whole heartedly agree. It is the one

book, among perhaps a dozen or more, that convinced my professors that Quilt

History was a legitimate subject for a Masters. But, let me back up and do

my intro.

I am a 56 year old woman, wife (married 34 years come January 20th, to the

same man, Charlie) mother, grandmother living in Boise, Idaho. We've been

here for 19 years and now feel "rooted" here. We have two grown sons, one

married, one not and so very lucky that they both live in Boise. We include

a wonderful daughter-in-law, a thirteen year old granddaughter (going on 39,

you know) and a six year old grandson who has just started kindergarten.

At the age of 41, when our sons were in high school, I went back to school,

got my Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, fooled around for a couple of years

searching for a direction, found the MIS program and embarked on my masters

in Quilt History. The Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies Program is a

wonderful way of tailoring graduate study to a person's search for a niche

particularly their own. Anyone desiring more information on such a program

with hopes of installing one in a local university, snail me @ Sharon

Harleman Tandy, Quilts & Answers, 11602 Reutzel Drive, Boise, Idaho,

83709-4405, and I will send copies of info. I especially encourage women to

create their own programs tailored to their chosen fields. In my fledgling

business, Quilts & Answers, I examine, date, record, and research quilts and

textiles for a modest fee. I travel the Northwest lecturing on how we find

American Women's history in the quilts, on the documentation process (we

still have no state regis!

!

tration project in place, which I hope to have a part in), and on various

techniques of special help to quilters. Of course, I collect quilt history

books, state project books, and textile history books. I just finished

reading *Indigo Textiles: Technique and History* by Gosta Sandberg, pub. by

Lark Books, Asheville, NC, 1989. Indigo is a special interest of mine and

this book lavishly fulfilled some of my fantasies about working with indigo,

and answered lots of questions. It frightens me to contemplate just what I

might do to own ten yards of the fabric the man is wearing who is pictured

on page 60. By the way, my special era of interest is the 1800's, largely

because there are so few 1700's quilts and textiles available for

examination/research here in the Northwest and because my own collection is

primarily from that time period. I have done two small research projects at

museums, one in Boise and one in Spokane, WA, for graduate work credit.

Would love to do much m!

!

ore of that type of work with an eye toward publishing, eventually. I'm sure

this is long enough already, but wanted to say, Kris, this is wonderful. I

feel connected to a world I was only vaguely aware of, the world of quilt

and textile historians, and I am in touch with them every day, sharing and

accepting not only knowledge but differing views and making friends. Thank

you, Kris, from a *newbie*, Sharon Harleman Tandy in, as of this am, snowy,

snowy Boise.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 96 12:29:37 PST

From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman@micron.net>

To: SadieRose@aol.com, QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: Re: QHL: a good book i just got.+and its companion film...

Message-ID: <Chameleon.961220123308.harleman@harleman.micron.net>

Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Sadie Rose and all others, Just where can I rent, borrow, buy (I *could* get

desperate!) the companion film to Hearts and Hands? TIA, Sharon in Boise.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 12:39:59 -0700

From: kmccoy@glenerin.com (Kay McCoy)

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: Introduction

Message-Id: <v01530501aee0775967b3@[166.93.3.70]>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Coming out of "lurkland" to wish you Happy Holidays and introduce myself.

I'm very new at learning about old quilts but need to because:

I have 9 "old" quilts which I have inherited. One is a postage stamp size

pieced that was done by my husband's great-grandmother when she was in her

90's and almost blind. The top isn't very square but it's remarkable when

you realize the work that went into it. Another utility top by her which is

mostly sentimental in value. My MIL was going to trash them when I rescued

them! She now claims she had no intention of dumping them and hints every

once in a while for me to give them to her daughters--but I won't. She had

her chance and my husband deserves them as much as they do. Neither of them

quilt or sew anyway. I also have 3 cathedral windows, one done by my aunt

(she's 91), one started by my mother and finished by this aunt, and one by

her daughter, my cousin who died at 50 yrs. old. A candlewicked one by the

same cousin, 2 appliqued ones, which are showing signs of deterioration and

I don't really know what to do with them, done by ladies at the turn of the

century (both long dead) that my sister and I were named after, and finally

the double wedding ring my grandmother made for the first marriage among

her grandchildren--turned out to be me even though I wasn't the oldest. The

quilt lasted, the marriage didn't!!!! Fortunately I now have a DH who

indulges my quilting habit with pleasure.

Katie in Colorado

"A Quilting Sew & Sew"

kmccoy@glenerin.com

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 17:01:54 -0500

From: Ricki Maietta <rmaietta@csrlink.net>

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: various subjects

Message-Id: <199612202159.NAA30637@orbital.cue.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Caught up reading this list & wanted to comment on several subjects:

Back of Amish quilts - had an early 1900's wool Amish in the antique show I

guest curated last year (local museum), & the back was brown, also wool but

lighter weight, & light & dark threads woven - not gingham, much smaller

design. This quilt was also intense "grass" green & purple - quilting

absolutely fantastic!

My questions - where does one find this type of wool nowadays? It was so

soft & drapey. I've often thought of replicating the 18th C. whole cloths

that are waxed or pressed, or somehow made shiny (anyone know how?). Where

to find that type of fabric, again????

I did meet an Amish woman while perusing the quilt show in Boyertown, PA

about 10 years ago. Got to talking. She told me that when they make quilts

to sell to the "English", they have bees & lots of people quilt on them.

When they make quilts for themselves, one person makes one quilt, alone,

start to finish. She said they considered them heirlooms & do their best

quilting, not necessarily their best on the quilts to sell. Did not think

to ask if the fabrics or designs were different! Must remember - one person

you talk to does not speak for the group.

Laughed when someone said their house was piling up with quilts. I have 3

antique quilts/tops in my basement laundry room that my DH doesn't even know

about yet! And - I saw 2 fantastic Penny Square spreads (red embroidery on

white) at a local antique shop last week, & I want one really bad!!! One

was dated 1884 & was $275, the other was less elaborate (didn't see a date)

& was $120. I'd better not tary, they will be snatched up I am sure.

Jane & others interested in feed sacks, I am almost finished quilting a feed

sack Boston Common the lady said her grandmother made in the 1940's. There

is one fabric that caught my eye - a military motif - war years? This quilt

has been a real problem in the borders - it's so stretched out that I have

had to applique "tucks" to make the border lie flat enough to quilt. I

hated doing it - otherwise it is in perfect condition. But all those feed

sack squares on point just stretched over the years, & I didn't know how

else to handle it. Anyone else had this happen?

Ricki in PA

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 17:02:02 -0500

From: Ricki Maietta <rmaietta@csrlink.net>

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: looking for . . .

Message-Id: <199612202159.NAA30639@orbital.cue.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Does anyone know if Sandi Fox, author of Small Endearments, has an e-mail

address. I would like to contact her with a question. Please privately answer.

TIA

Ricki in PA

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 18:17:30 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: various subjects

Message-ID: <961220181331_1322578630@emout02.mail.aol.com>

Ricki, first off, the 'war' fabric..there is a wonderful piece that has alot

of World War II on it,mine is done in red/blue/on white depicting Guam,

Bataan, Flying Tigers, MacArthur, ChurchHill, Stalin, battleships, The Malta

sign..when it is exhibited men stand by the hour and look at it, studying it,

and I'm guessing reliving it..a lady did a quilt with red/white/blue

borders..marvelopus piece of nostalgia for those of us who remember that

era..

As to the flimsy feedsacks..just as we have the closer thread count and

lesser today, so did the sacks. Depending on what was being stored in

them..if flour, sugar, salt, etc..the thread count was much like your percale

pillowcases on your bed today..If nuts, apples, beans, peas, etc, a much

looser weave..sacks like this need stablizing..or 'tucking' as you are doing.

Would enjoy seeing a photo of it when completed with any history you can

share ie: owner, location, etc..The Feedsack Club has alot of albums that are

historical records of what is still with us..Jane in COLD pittsburgh..brrrr

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 19:59:20 -0500

From: QRestore@aol.com

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: Fabric Search

Message-ID: <961220195914_1921520179@emout11.mail.aol.com>

I'm {{(desperately)}} looking for approximately 7 yards of fabric from the

"Rising Sun" Smithsonian Collection. It's the light blue print on a beige

background, a toile design, floral and birds. There are no other colors

other than blue on a beige background.

I've contacted several of my sources with no luck. Unsure if RJR has any or

will reprint any. Anyone know how to contact RJR? Anyone have any in their

stash?

Victoria Montgomery (Boise, ID with 8" of snow and still snowing)

QRestore@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 21:33:28 -0500

From: Laurajbr@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: Fabric Search

Message-ID: <961220213328_1121291036@emout20.mail.aol.com>

I know they won't reprint it as it was a one-time deal. I made a whig rose

out of the reds and greens in the Rising Sun collection. A friend of mine

managed to locate several yards of one of the prints about a month ago so

they are still out. Try that Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC. (e-mail me if you

need the number.) My freind just called every quilt shop she oculd and

finally loated her fabric. Good luck! Laura in Tampa

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 22:46:02 -0600

From: R D <holmr@execpc.com>

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: New book by Barbara Brackman

Message-ID: <32BB6B8A.55CB@mail.execpc.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi All,

The following letter was posted to another quilting group that I belong

to. I thought the information would be interesting to our group, so I

asked Julie for permission to reprint it. Julie said yes. It turns out

she's a new member of our group! Lucky us!! Welcome Julie!

She is also going to pass on information about our group's existance to

Barbara Brackman. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could get her online

with us?!! I am definately interested in this new book. I'm sure that

others will be too so, Julie, please keep us posted.

Donna in Wisconsin

Here's Julie's letter:

From: Julie Swords <julies@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU>

Subject: Civil War Quilt Book (long)

Hello from the frozen Plains!

Just wanted to share with IQ'ers some tidbits from our local guild's

meeting Tuesday. IQ member Karla Menaugh was also in attendance. We had

a

good time even if it was about 10 degrees outside, not counting the

effects

of a brisk wind.

Instead of the usual monthly guest expert we all shared recent projects

and

Christmas presents in one long show and tell. This was made especially

interesting because two of our guild members, Barbara Brackman and Terry

Thompson, showed all the quilts they have just had photographed for

their

upcoming book on Civil War Quilts. The quilts made especially for this

book

are based on Civil War quilts made both in the north and south. Some of

the

new quilts were made by area guild members; others were made by other

talented women all around the country. The new quilts were all on hand

at

once here in Lawrence, Kansas, because the photography for the book was

done here the week before. So, lucky us, we got to see them all up

close.

The book will show and tell all about the various kinds of quilts made

around the time of the Civil War. Included will be at least 20 projects

with full instructions. All the project quilts are directly based on

quilts

typical of the time. Some are pieced only; some feature wonderful

applique

designs.

Barbara has been researching and lecturing about this subject for some

time

so she has a tremendous base of knowledge. There will also be a great

amount of historical background about what kind of quilts were made, how

they were used, the colors and fabrics, how political sentiments were

often

prominently featured in the design through words and art, etc.

The guild has heard Barbara's talks on the subject and the stories are

fascinating so the book should be great as well. If you have ever heard

Barbara lecture, you know she is as interested in telling about the

people

who made the quilts and their stories as she is about describing the

quilts

themselves.

She said her copy deadline comes up right after Christmas and the book

is

tentatively scheduled to be published in October. I don't know who the

publisher is. If any of you have a particular interest in this era of

quilting let me know and I'll post more details as I learn them.

We were also privileged to see three very, very old quilts Terry is in

the

process of appraising. They are so old, in such incredibly great shape,

and

feature such remarkable quilting techniques that the process of

appraisal

will take some time. One of the quilts dates from around 1820. From a

distance it looks like it has a rose-colored floral fabric border about

10

inches wide. However, Terry says the border was stamped on with the red

ink

and huge wooden stamps, one stamp block at a time around the outside of

the

quilt. The other two were probably from right after the Civil War. The

intricate quilting designs (many of them trapunto-stuffed) were

breath-taking. The quilts have been passed down through a family so the

makers are known...isn't that nice for a change?!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Best wishes from Julie Swords in very, very cold northeast Kansas

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 10:29:00 -0500

From: AJSNGS@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Happy Holidays

Message-ID: <961221102900_676393008@emout02.mail.aol.com>

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to wish everyone here a very happy holiday. If you are traveling,

drive carefully so that you can join us after the holidays! And for the rest

of you staying home during the holidays, I hope you are spending it with the

people you love.

And if you ARE staying home during the holidays, please keep writing so the

rest of us who are not traveling, will have something to read!

Blessings of the season to all of you,

Nancy Sentipal in cold Virginia

AJSNGS@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 09:40:40 PST

From: jadavis@juno.com (Julie A Davis)

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: QHL: Re: QHL --comments

Message-ID: <19961221.103939.11166.2.jadavis@juno.com>

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I just want you all to know just how much I am enjoying this list.

I really don't have much expertise in this area and I am learning

so very much! When I have time, I have a beautiful story to tell

about how I got my Grandmother's machine and quilt frame......

Merry Christmas!

Julie Davis

jadavis@juno.com

------------------------------

Date: 21 Dec 96 14:40:24 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: Oral history

Message-ID: <961221194024_75444.1037_FHQ46-1@CompuServe.COM>

As far as I know, written language is about 10,000 years old. I have been

involved in oral history and folklore as legitamate studies and I love both

studies for what they tell us about people and culture. But, we have written

histories and many many ways of understanding the past that involve written

language and not just oral history. For example, if you are interested in a

small town in the southern appalachains and you want to find out about quilting

traditions the newspaper archives listing the prizes at the local fairs,

grange, church suppers, etc.. are great ways to figure out what type of

quilting was being done. to corroborate the oral traditions. Probate records,

store accounts, all those things are available, letters diaries, journals exist.

Gazeteers exist. Agricultural magazines with womens pages listing what type of

quilting is popular and how to do it. How to do it pages have been around

since the 18th century in America. Thats how we substantiate or question oral

histories. Oral histories tell us how people think and remeber their past. No

two people perceive the past the same way. "Roshimon" the movie is a wonderful

exploration of the concept that an event has truth only for each participant and

observer and that truth is different.

The place we can actually date and identify textiles in quilts is the

microscope, the records of mills, and having signed and dated pieces as

referrence. and then checking out the written information against the oral

traiditons. No one aspect is really better than another they allmust work

together.

As I said I would be thrilled to find referrences for hand process continuing

in the south we know they continued in Canada we know there were pockets

elsewhere. But that certainly was not what was happening in New York State,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, What is vital is the contribution of all of this.

THis is not a competition it is a learning process and an unbderstanding that

quilts are a way to understand the past. Those of us who study textile history

usually also study food history and other parts of vernacular life. Oral

traditions are wonderful and Janette Lasansky and Sandra Rambo Walker in the PA

oral histories project has done so much to contribute to the merging of written

history with oral history and no, not all basket makers were gypsies and not all

blacksmiths were muscle bound

Many of you will be glad if I never respond again to these discussions but I

feel that if we want womans history to be taken seriously and oral traiditons to

be part of the referrence material we need to do it right or we will be

repeating the secondary sources of the early 20th century that are romantic and

not helpful to understanding the past.

------------------------------

Date: 21 Dec 96 14:56:06 EST

From: Rabbit Goody <75444.1037@CompuServe.COM>

To: "INTERNET:QHL@cue.com" <QHL@cue.com>

Subject: Re: QHL: various subjects

Message-ID: <961221195605_75444.1037_FHQ32-1@CompuServe.COM>

most early 19th century and late 18th century whole cloth quilts were made using

a glazed worsted top and a woolen back. These have been mistakenly called

"linsey-woolsey because of the shine or galze. We know taht several different

glazing techniques were in use. One is simply calendaring which is a very heavy

pressing ( not accomplished with irons at home) which self glazes worsted

wool. Another was gum arabic glaze and another was a pressed wax but these are

all only semi permanent glazes so many pieces lack the finish they once had.

Thistle Hill weavers and Eaton Hill Textile both reproduce worsteds for glazing

and do a limited amount of glazing on fabric. for more infor

75444.1037CompuServ.com Rabbit Goody Thistle Hill.

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 16:07:12 -0500

From: Baglady111@aol.com

To: QHL@cue.com

Subject: Re: QHL: various subjects

Message-ID: <961221160711_1921616133@emout05.mail.aol.com>

fOR rABBITT..I have a piece of linsey-woolsey but it doesn't have a glaze or

shine to it..it is a portin of woll and a portion of linen. It is my

understanding that most thought 'linsey-woolsey' was so called because it was

half wool and half linen..but later, someone discovered a town in England

named Linsey-Woosley, hence the name. Jane <baglady111@aol.com

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 17:46:50 -0500

From: QRestore@aol.com

To: QHL@cuenet.com

Subject: QHL: Rabbit Goody's Comments

Message-ID: <961221174650_1590356257@emout03.mail.aol.com>

Dear Rabitt Goody;

Please permit me to add my thoughts about your informative discussions. This

was a primary reason for me to become a part of the ListServe, to not only

share information with others but to learn from those who have spent a good

deal of their life researching and documenting quilt and textile information.

I strongly encourage your input as I do others that have participated in

these discussions.

People who know me know I'm a great debater and throughly enjoy searching out

both sides of any issue. It's truly the only way we learn about ourselves,

our past and our history. I'm truly fascinated by the historical

perspective you and others on this ListServe have to offer. Please continue

. . . Thank you, Rabbit

Let me say "Welcome" to a very good friend and a remarkable, talented woman,

Sharon Hareleman Tandy (also from Boise, Idaho). She has such a wealth of

knowledge and information to share with all of us, can't wait.

Warmest Wishes to All,

Victoria Montgomery

QRestore@aol.com

[ 96022 ]