99065

Date Sat, 06 Mar 1999 213312 -0600

From KAREN BUSH <Birdsong@worldnet.att.net>

Okay...Question

> I've been invited to some more 'lectures'/talks and have NO program

> plan. I LOVE talking about the histories of quilts, etc. the heritage

> part of it. But,..I have NO more vintage quilts. When we were in a bind

> a few years ago, I sold all my antique quilts. So, a lecture would seem

> a little 'dry' without them. I could have a trunk show on recent quilts,

> but, that's just my quilting, and most of them are primitve/folk art and

> someone else's designs...Now...WHAT do I talk about?? As you know,...I

> have NO problem with talking, I'd just like to talk about something

> that's INTERESTING to them, since they're paying for these talks!

> haha...kb

> --

Date Sat, 06 Mar 1999 234052 -0600

From KAREN BUSH <Birdsong@worldnet.att.net>

To QHL@cuenet.com

Subject QHL machine quilting-just a thought

Message-ID <36E21164.2176@worldnet.att.net>

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Laura, I liked your input and Sally's on the machine quilted quilts. I

had an idea on why the quilter would USE the machine to quilt. Besides

the time involved, that she may not have had, or the experience...just

HAVING a sewing machine was a novelty and maybe she wanted to 'show off'

the fact she had one!?

Nowadays, we like to have them hand quilted because they're 'special'

with the special touch of hand work...THEN, it was the machine that was

the 'special touch'....just think how excited some of you are with the

new computerized sewing machines with all the doo-dahs AND the 'hand

quilted' look, on a Machine! I remember My Grandma, coming to the States

from England, pitching ALL of her copper, pewter,(that her FATHER

made)...etc. Their luggage was to be limited to 'necessities'...that was

okay with her, she couldn't WAIT to get to America a buy.....MELMAC!

hhhhaaaaaa...Just a difference of eras...??? kb (the hand quilter who

just spouted a whole 'novel' on MACHINE quilting! LOL)

-- ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*

- Karen Bush/kb-http//www.idahoquilt.com

-"QUILT AS DESIRED" THE "TELL ALL BOOK" of hand quilting!!!!

- Also, Visit me for HAND QUILTING SERVICES

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

Date Sun, 07 Mar 1999 003305 -0600

From John Winbigler <twinbig@maplecity.com>

To QHL@cuenet.com

Subject QHL Re Intro, and to quilt or not to quilt

Message-ID <36E21D9E.32B1F11A@maplecity.com>

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Hi, all,

I'm Tracey Winbigler, an amateur quilter living in Monmouth, IL, with a B.A. in

English Lit., Honors in Writing, who's been reading this list for a little while

and has felt too intimidated to introduce myself. I respect your collective

reputation, expertise and experience, and will continue to read ( I joke that my

degree is actually "Reading.") and to learn, but wanted to continue this

discussion

> There are certain quilt tops that cannot be quilted by

> hand because they would fall apart during quilting. Even machine quilting

> would be a strain, so those are sometimes simply backed and either tied,

> or have no batting, just a backing and binding. Again, it depends on the

> owners ultimate intent for the quilt

I have on layaway at a local antique store a quilt top I suspect is pre-1900 for

two reasons. The condition of the cotton fabric is rough and dry, and there are

spots of a dark stain randomly, with a very few places that seem to be

disintegrating; and the prints resemble the repros I admire in any catalog I can

find. The owner told me that it called for big stitch quilting, rather than fine,

and I wonder, should it be quilted at all? Would tying it to a flannel sheet help

it or hurt it?

Looking forward to being part of this list,

Tracey

up very late because we've just bought an iMac to replace our old Performa, and I

had to wait until everyone else went to bed to get on it!

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

Date Sun, 7 Mar 1999 001736 -0800

Date Sun, 7 Mar 1999 132522 -0800

From "pepper cory" <pepcory@bmd.clis.com>

Hello all-good thread going here. I have quilted many antique tops, but not

always with good results. From that experience, I would advise someone to

consider if she was determined to use/finish the old top. If she'd be as

happy displaying it decoratively over a quilt rack, why not leave it alone?

If determined to finish the top, try gently washing it (by hand, use soap

like Orvus) and air drying it (plenty of clothes pins, over an already dry

white sheet, right side down). Inspect for dye running, deterioration,

seams unraveling. The stains are not the concern here unless they are

causing the fabrics to deteriorate. Do all mending in the same manner as

the top was made (hand if pieced by hand etc.). Think about a border of new

but coordinating fabric (reproduction fabric). That new border gives the

old top strength just at the edges where it will be handled and get wear.

Quilt in the style of similar old quilts using thin cotton batting. Then

use the quilt 'for good' (as the Amish say-) and not as an everyday

bedspread.

If Barbara Brackman was on this list, she's advise that the old top be left

alone.

Just my 2 cents worth too.

Pepper Cory

PS--the 'rough and dry' may be the sizing on the original fabric (top might

have been made from new fresh-from-the-bolt goods-) and will soften up with

washing.

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

Date Sun, 7 Mar 1999 173603 -0000

From "Jenni Dobson" <jenni@dobson4qu.freeserve.co.uk>

To "Quilt History List" <QHL@cuenet.com>

I'm interested in Laura's reply to Jocelyn's question about the =

posssible ill effects of later quilting old quilts.

I'm not an appraiser - we have no such scheme over here.

However, a few years ago, I bought & hand-quilted as finely as I could a =

couple of printed panels with a design & colour that suited our room. =

They sat on the sofa, were washed and used. I was really sad one day to =

notice that the fabric had torn away from the stitching just the way =

postage stamps tear along the perforations. The fabric wasn't antique & =

OK, they had quite an amount of wear but I think this illustrates why =

really fine quilting might not be practical for antique tops.

Maybe it also explains why some quilts were worked with bigger stitches? =

Not necessarily a lack of skill but the knowledge that slightly larger =

stitching might make a quilt more durable. Very best tiny stitches could =

be invested in the quilts mainly for 'show' that wouldn't be expected to =

get lots of wear & tear. Just my 2 penn'orth, as we say over here!

Jenni D in UK.

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