99075

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 21:30:56 -0600

From: "Peggy McBride" <jlmpam@netins.net

I learned the trick of joining batting.   on the two edges  to be joined,

carefully divide the batting then lap them together by weaving the edges,

that is put down the first half of the first length of batting, then layer

in the first half of the second length of batting, then layer in the second

half of the first length of batting, then pat down the second half of the

second length of batting.  the batting will cling to each other and be much

less likely to pull apart.

Peggy in Iowa

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

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 20:10:38 -0800

From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplex@earthlink.net

Was someone asking about the Hosannah block? I have a GREAT Hosannah

finished QUILT, circa 1920, and would be happy to e-mail an image of it

to anyone who asks. It's a corker!

Julie Silber

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 11:17:48 -0000

From: "Kirk Collection" <kirkcoll3@home.com>

To: <QHL@cuenet.com>

Subject: QHL: Re: Hosanna Palm

We have developed a pattern for the Hosanna Palm for the Dead Quilt

Society -- the program that came out of the Quilt Restoration Conference two

years ago to clone antique quilts that were too far gone for restoration.

We are currently working to have twelve patterns ready in the Year 2000.  I

will give a free pattern to anyone willing to make a sample that we can

borrow later for photography and possible inclusion in an exhibit. Anyone

one else can have a copy for a modest donation to the Quilt Heritage

Foundation.  The final patterns will probably retail for $7.95 or so.  Right

now they are just patterns -- no directions, so you are on your own.

Nancy Kirk

for The Quilt Heritage Foundation

send an e-mail to QuiltHF@aol.com

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 14:13:22 -0600

From: Russell-Hill <russhill@ctesc.net

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:20:53 -0500

From: "J. G. Row" <Judygrow@blast.net>

To: <Pennstudd@aol.com>, "Quilt History List" <QHL@cuenet.com>

Subject: QHL: putting narrow batting together

The best way to put them together is to butt them, not to overlap them, and

hand sew them together with long-legged cross stitches -- there is a name

for the stitch but my halfheimers has set in and I can't remember it.

If you draw an imaginary vertical line that goes through all the foprward

and backward slants, and connect those  slants with the corresponding slant

in the x's you  will see you are taking a short stitch in one side, followed

by a long stitch to the other side, etc.  Clear as mud?  I can do it, I just

can't describe it too well.

X

  \

   X

  /

X

  \

   X

  /

Judy in Ringoes, NJ

judygrow@blast.net

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 20:40:18 -0500

From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett@fast.net

Hello, all,

I need some advice from people who have traveled by airplane with their

quilts.  I'm interested in how to deal with quilts as luggage -- pros,

cons, mishaps, things to do to prevent mishaps, ways to pack the quilts,

etc.  I'm assuming they can't be taken as carry on luggage.   All advice

and experiences gratefully accepted.   Thanks for your help

Barb in very snowy southeastern PA, where I finally am reconnected to

the world after 20 hours with no electricity -- and according to the TV,

I'm one of the lucky ones because 23,000 people in Chester County still

have no electricity.  Being snowbound is fine -- I had planned for that

-- but hadn't planned on not being able to use my sewing machine or

computer, or see in the darkened room where my fabric is kept.  Very

frustrating <grin>.

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:10:02 -0500

From: Marya Lowe <mlowe@ibm.net

I'd like the advice of anyone who has been faced with this sort of

situation....  I was asked to look at a 20's Lone Star top that is quite

misshappen.  It is pieced very nicely, points match, fabric is still in

very good shape, etc.  However, when laid flat on the floor, there is a

large "ridge" of extra fabric where each of the 8 large points is seamed

to its neighbor. I.e., it has stretched so out of shape so that it no

longer lies flat.  The owner would like it fixed so that it lies flat.

She is willing to have a different fabric substituted for the

corners/triangles (indeed would prefer this), but I don't think

replacing them, or possibly removing them in favor of appliquing the

whole star onto a large piece of background fabric, is the trick that's

going to help this quilt.  Taking the "joining" seams in a tiny bit

deeper would distort the quilt visually and would not be sufficient to

take care of the problem anyway.

Before I take this baby apart and see what can be done, if anything, has

anyone had a similar dilemma and could advise me that "There's no way

this can be fixed.  Give it up as a lost cause!"  Would appreciate any

thoughts!         Marya

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:20:35 -0600

From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@mail.airmail.net>

Marya,

There *is* a reason why so many of those tops were never quilted.....

and no amount of tucks, or no amount of standing on that scalding hot iron

are gonna get that sucker flat......

there are more important things  in life.

Fold that puppy up, stick it in a glass front *locking* cabinet and move

on!!!<G> And tell your client that they should bless granny's poor soul for

having such fortitude to try and get the darling put together in the first

place!

Laura

who has finally learned after 21 years of quilting, teaching and

restoration that there is such a thing  as "don't even go there" in this

dealing with family pieces!

At 09:10 PM 3/15/99 -0500, Marya Lowe wrote:

>I'd like the advice of anyone who has been faced with this sort of

>situation....  I was asked to look at a 20's Lone Star top that is quite

>misshappen.  It is pieced very nicely, points match, fabric is still in

>very good shape, etc.  However, when laid flat on the floor, there is a

>large "ridge" of extra fabric where each of the 8 large points is seamed

>to its neighbor. I.e., it has stretched so out of shape so that it no

>longer lies flat.  The owner would like it fixed so that it lies flat.

>

>She is willing to have a different fabric substituted for the

>corners/triangles (indeed would prefer this), but I don't think

>replacing them, or possibly removing them in favor of appliquing the

>whole star onto a large piece of background fabric, is the trick that's

>going to help this quilt.  Taking the "joining" seams in a tiny bit

>deeper would distort the quilt visually and would not be sufficient to

>take care of the problem anyway.

>

>Before I take this baby apart and see what can be done, if anything, has

>anyone had a similar dilemma and could advise me that "There's no way

>this can be fixed.  Give it up as a lost cause!"  Would appreciate any

>thoughts!         Marya

>

>

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:35:32 EST

From: SudaNim@aol.com

What about separating the four major sections (ie, into wedges that go into

two points), and appliqueing them, still in the general star shape, but with a

gap between them?  Or taking the 8 arms apart and doing likewise?  If each arm

is capable of lying flat on its own, would that work?

In a message dated 3/15/99 8:10:45 PM, mlowe@ibm.net writes:

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 20:21:17 PST

From: "Kim Heger" <kheger@hotmail.com

"I'm assuming they can't be taken as carry on luggage"

Well, I was able to take a quilt as a carry-on!  We had traveled to

Vermont this summer, and I had to have this gorgeous Dove in the Window

1880's indigo and white quilt!  Hadn't planned on it, and so had no

extra storage in which to get it home.  I simply left it in the plastic

bag from the antique store, thinking that this would at least protect it

from any spills while on the airplane.  They counted it as a carry-on

item, and I felt much better being able to keep my eye on it the whole

trip, rather than having it in the cargo section or stored in the

overhead compartments!  So I know you can do it safely with one quilt,

you'd have to get other advice for numerous quilts!

Kim in Kansas

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 01:11:30 -0500

From: "J. G. Row" <Judygrow@blast.net>

Barb -- I have had no trouble taking a very precious antique quilt onto an

airplane, packed in a suitcase that stowed in the overhead compartment right

above my head.  I plan to do the same thing again in a couple of weeks, but

that is only one quilt.  I have no experience traveling with lots of them.

You beat me  by 5 hours -- we were without electricity  from 11:00 Pm sunday

night until 3:20 this afternoon.  We are fortunate that we have two

fireplaces and a woodstove and lots of dry firewood, so we had them going

most of today, but woke up mighty cold Monday morning.  I was almost unhappy

to have it go on  when it did -- I was hoping DH would take me out for

dinner and a movie, but no such luck.

I spent most of the day doing hand applique, a pleasant change.  It is

usually my evening activity since I don't have a qult in a frame at the

moment.

Judy in Ringoes, NJ

judygrow@blast.net

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

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:04:35 -0800

From: "Catherine Kypta" <vger@cwnet.com

Well I have worked on two of these lonestars that have stretched.  One of

them had the inset triangles cut with the bias edge facing out and this

stretched the top into a ripply mess -  the other one had triangles and

squares attached that were too small for the star.  Both were fixable.  On

the first one, I took all the inset pieces off and used the squares to make

triangles for the inset pieces and then pieced the triangle piece I had left

with a different color vintage fabric and then inset the squares, this

looked terrific, made the star sit in an octagon and then the additional

colors in the corners picked up a different color in the star. Does this

make sense?

 On the other one I had to replace all the set in pieces, they were all too

small to use and some had mousey chews in them anyway. They both came out

fine, as long as the star  itself is pretty well pieced - lay your longest

olfa down the side and see if it is 45 degrees - If it is a little off it

will quilt out.

Hope this helps!

Catherine in Sacramento,  quilting feather wreaths - what fun!

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 07:46:37 -0500

From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@mail.jax.bellsouth.net

Barb, whenever possible, my quilts come with me on the plane.  But I do

have a specific suitcase the fits under the seat in front of me. Any

quilt that travels cannot be fragile (usually the quilts I'm bringing

are being looked at by many people and couldn't withstand the folding

and refolding anyway.) I also get the thinnest quilts possible (or at

least avoid the fat honkers that require -20 weather to sleep under!),

and then fold them to fit the case perfectly (no cramming). Then I guard

it with my life. I have also (with extreme trepidation) used a hard

sided large suitcase and then taped it shut to keep nosy baggage

handlers out. It was hard enough for me to get back into later.

Maybe you could FedEx them to where you're going? I know I hate to

travel with my quilts - I worry to much. Heck, I don't like to fly, for

that matter.

I know ! You could drive.  But then you have to worry about wrecks, and

what if the car breaks down, and ..............

Alan

feelin' goofy this morning

Thanks for all the great suggestions for joining batting. Now, for my next

question I love to make the tops but hate to "finish" them have done 6 by

means of tieing them. I see in the various magazines ads that people will

machine quilt them for a few any suggestions? Thanks Ever So Much Bill

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 09:43:56 EST

From: QuiltFixer@aol.com

I have used the same method of adding batt as Judy has describes. However, in

my quilt restoration business I have seen some very bad results with using

patched batting.  If it is a bed quilt where the quilt gets lots of tugging

and pulling, it often separates and then when the quilt is washed it starts to

break down.  Especially, if it has a seam down the middle.  The only way I

have used it is to add a border to make the quilt larger and even then I think

is very iffy.  I can understand why it might be a cost saving thing, but when

I think of all the hours of work that go into hand quilting, I just don't

think it is worth it unless it is absolutely necessary. I don't think the

problem would be as serious with machine quilting, but I haven't had any

experience with seeing that after some years of use.  Toni B.

QuiltFixer@aol.com  

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:27:19 -0700

From: "jenniferl hill" <hilljl@shaw.wave.ca>

Marya,

I have seen lots of LS's with these problems.  I suspect  that all those

bias edged diamonds were stretched out of shape before they were joined,

and the top remained unquilted because no one wanted to, or knew how to

deal with it.

I think the only possible way to flatten it out would be to separate the

eight pieced points and press them gently.  Lay each on a cutting mat and,

using a 45 degree ruler, trim them.  Join them in pairs and press again.

Trim using a 90 degree ruler.  Sew pairs of these together and press, trim

again.  This usually does the trick, and is often a step ommitted by the

original piecer.

If the first trimming cuts away too much of the end diamond, you might want

to replace that one, or possibly the next row of diamonds also.  I don't

think its necessary to true up the entire length of the point, since the

worst of the problem is usually concentrated in the centre where all eight

meet.  Careful quilting can flatten out a bit of extra fullness and

ripples, as long as the volcanic crater in the centre has been dealt with.

When making Lone Stars from scratch, or any other design with lots of

exposed bias edges, I like to have my fabric starched fairly heavily before

I cut it, and handle it gently after it's cut.  This really helps to

stabilize those pieces.

Jennifer Hill

Calgary, AB

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 10:46:43 -0800

From: pastcrafts@erols.com

When I first started conserving and restoring vintage and antique

textiles, I quickly realized that it was not ordinary mending.  So

taking advantage of a french au-pair, 17 years ago, I buried myself in

the stacks of the Textile Museum Library and taught myself a lot about

conservation for the layman.  I still have all the workshop papers

published by the TM.

  In "Principles Of Practical Cleaning for OLd and Fragile Textiles" the

museum differentiates between "wet cleaning" and "laundering".

Laundering requires a very high water temperature which can really hurt

old fibers.  "Most natural soaps dissolve better in hot water than they

do in cold,(read:tepid) so for the most part it is desirable to use

synthetic detergents, which are more versitile."  There are lots of

different detergent formulas to choose from, as we have already seen.

  "Soft water has much better cleaning action than hard water.

Therefore hard water should be softened.  There are 3 methods of

softening water: distilling; passing the water through zeolite granules

in a permutation process; or using sequestrants."  Sequestrants (when

added to water) will make lime curds reform into usable soaps while

tying up the minerals which make the water hard."  The paper goes on to

discuss different types but then asserts that "Calgon is quite safe, as

it is barely alkaline."

  This was written in 1956, and as far as I have been able to find out

still stands.  However, you may want to be safe and call the

manufacturer of Calgon to be sure that they have not added any

"boosters" and that the formula is still pure.

Hope this helps - and remember, it is the weight of the water on the

fibers that causes so much damage!

Newbie

Past Crafts Studios, Alexandria, VA.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 11:41:15 EST

From: QuiltFixer@aol.com

After reading some suggestions about flying with your quilts, here is a true

story I thought you might get a chuckle out of.  A few years ago I was

visiting in Maryland and my friend took me to a big auction out in the

country.  Among other things, there were quilts, and I saw a beautiful yo-yo

quilt made of 1930s fabric and obviously never used,  Well, needless to say, I

had to have it, and it took every cent of cash and every cent of my friends

cash to win the bidding.  I was so thrilled and happy and I had not given a

thought how I was going to get this quilt home to Calif.  I was afraid to let

this quilt out of my sight so I would not ship it or mail it.  I decided to

roll it in tissue paper and pack it in a shopping bag.  The quilt is big

enough to fit a queen size bed, so it was bulky.  We drove off to Pa. in a

rental car and when we were ready to leave for Calif., we had to take a

connecting flight to Pittsburgh in a small commuter plane.  No problem I

thought, I will put it in the overhead.  Wrong!  At the top of the stairs the

flight attendant said she would have to put that "big thing"in the baggage

compartment.  I said "no way, this is very precious to me!' I turned and said

to my husband "I am going to get off the plane, I am not going.  She won't let

me take my quilt."  Since I was holding up the line into the plane at the

door, she just rolled her eyes up, grabed the quilt and put it in a seat and

put a seat belt around it.  My quilt got it's own seat!  Of course, once we

were in the air, due to the fuss, we had a one quilt "show and tell" as all

the passengers wanted to see it. :)  The flight attendant and several

passengers even offered to buy it from me. Even the pilot came back which made

me a little nervous.:) Once we got on the 'big plane" it fit in the overhead

quite nicely.  A good thing, or I might still be in Pittsburgh, not Calif.

Toni B.

QuiltFixer@aol.com

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 11:45:04 EST

From: JQuilt@aol.com

Do  the members of this list... quilt as well as collect/study antique quilts?

jean

jquilt@aol.com

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:07:42 EST

From: Harr32@aol.com

Dear Jean,

I, for one, DO quilt as well as collect quilts.  My collection is small, but

my apprecitation is large!  I machine piece and hand quilt.  The machine I use

most often is a 1924 electric Singer red eye.   My next goal is at become

proficient in restoration (enough to meet my  own needs), and to become a

quilt appraiser in the not too distant future.

Dana,

on the border of TN/VA where it's sunny and cool

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 13:08:12 EST

From: QuiltFixer@aol.com

I loved reading Toni B's quilt flying experience..

*****************************8

You know....there's something special about the beauty of a quilt(old or

new)...It's pretty to the eye and the soul...it conjures up memories and

longings...

this experience doesn't  seem to happen with other art forms like a

paintings,sculptures or pottery...

Maybe it's because of the warmth they give besides the beauty...

Quilts are a "simple pleasure" like a drop of water on a pond...it goes on and

on and on.. circle after, circle after, circle

jean

jquilt@aol.com

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 11:05:41 -0800

From: "R & L Carroll" <Robert.J.Carroll@GTE.net

Hello.

Jean, I have been quilting for 16 years and collecting antique quilts and

tops for about 7-8 years.  I have been very busy in both areas, but quilt

making is still my first love.

Laurette in So. California

-----------

For what it's worth, I quilt quite a lot.  I also teach, lecture and

restore antique quilts.  I'm sure I'm not the only one on the list that

does all those things.

Judy White

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 16:38:29 -0500

From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <lcupp@erols.com

Yes, I do it all.  Quilt, collect, repair...enjoy.  :>

Debbie

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 16:18:03 -0600 (CST)

From: Nancy Evans <nevans@nebnet.net

I have quilted longer than I've been into the history of quilting, but I

enjoy both. In 1998, I took on an additional "hat", in that I began a

machine quilting service, and have had a wonderful time in this year

conversing and quilting for "toppers" nationwide! But I still love the

handquilting, too, when my arthritis will permit it!

Nancy Evans

Forever's Treasures Quiltery

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 17:24:34 EST

From: Lekhbah@aol.com

HI,

My husband used to call me a professional quilt-supply collector, but he now

prefers the term virtual quilter. (someone who reads the books, watches the

programs, goes to the shows, and has pretty much all the labor saving devices

devised, and enough fabric to blanket a third world country)  Yes, I am going

to quilt these old tops, and join together these antique blocks, and use this

wonderful fabric that I am hoarding....someday.

Until then, I sure enjoy this list and salute those of you who have time to

actually complete things!!!

Kim

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:02:01 EST

From: SudaNim@aol.com

I've been quilting since I was 15, which makes it *mumble* years now. Any day

now, I hope to get it right.  I'm a dilletante on the history side of things

(I know just enough to impress someone who knows nothing). No ambitions to

become a certified appraiser or anything. Currently working on a jewel-tone

queen-sized bedspread for my sister. It's her Christmas 1997 present.  I have

to machine quilt because of my carpal tunnel syndrome, but really, really wish

I could hand-quilt.

I have a 10-foot Elfa rack with leftovers, UFOs, antique tops I'll do

something with one of these days, and three shelves of quilt history books. I

buy them for the articles.  :)

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

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 18:16:40 -0800 (PST)

From: Jackie Joy <jjoy@med.unr.edu

I like to try to make quilts that look old, and with the wonderful

reproductions fabrics available now, making them look old is easy.

Jackie Joy

Reno, Nevada

jjoy@med.unr.edu

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:19:50 -0500

From: Marya Lowe <mlowe@ibm.net

Thanks so much to the many folks who responded to my request for advice

on the misshapen Lone Star that I wrote about last night!  Such good

ideas and suggestions!  It's late, so I've printed them out, will look

them over tomorrow with the quilt in hand, and see what makes sense for

this particular quilt.  I'll let the forum know what the verdict

is...stay tuned!      Marya

[ 99076 ]