99337 - 99341

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 08:49:40 -0800

From: "Mindy Sharp" <minshagte.net>

Someone suggested putting a family tree as a label on the back of an old

quilt. My grandmother made this for me when I was born many years ago. It

does not have a label or signature. Where can I find a pattern for the

family tree?

Mindy Sharp

Go forward and never lose sight of your dreams.

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

Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 10:10:06 -0800

From: Fiona Galvin <fiona101earthlink.net>

Dear Folks,

Could any of our historians (Xenia?) of teh twenties and Thirties

possibly venture a quotable quote on the use of sewing machines in

quilting in that period? I am now writing my paper, and in describing

the characteristic qualities of quilting (for the quilter, ie what she

does), I am inclined to think most quilting was by hand, but can't

really say about piecing, and it makes a difference in my paper.

Any help to offer? Also, Xenia, your paper on kit quilts in

Uncoverings was really interesting. I have checked out all the

Uncoverings for the entire period of their publication, so I have been

combing them for the last month.

Finally, can anyone give me subscription information for the various

quilt history newsletters and journals?

Thanks,

Fiona

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

Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 14:00:10 -0600

From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.comail.airmail.net>

Fiona,

Here is the informaton on the Vintage Quilt & Textile Society. We have a

bimonthly newsletter and a quarterly "Quilt College". QC has been devoted

to such topics as fabric dating, feedsacks, buttons, lace, 1920-30's

fabrics.....just about anything in the sewing room is fair game for our

study group.

We have just secured Elizabeth Kruella for Feb. Quilt College. She has

written 3 books on antique lace indentification. Elizabeth was with us

last year. She had so much to share with us in 3 hours that we couldn't

begin to absorb, so we have invited her back for both the Friday evening

and all day Saturday sessions. We will (for those of you who have attended

Quilt College) have a short session on fabric dating. Yes, I've updated the

wonderful "testing boards"<G>

Laura

********************************************************

We invite you to become a member of the Vintage Quilt and Textile Society.

A study group organization devoted to the sharing of research and knowledge

of antique quilts, textiles and related subjects. You need not be "an

expert" to join VQTS!!! With QUARTERLY mini-conferences, " Quilt College"

held in the Dallas, Texas area we learn and share on the subject of things

relating to the sewing room. Our Bi-Monthly newsletter is mailed

worldwide & enables all members to participate by contributing articles

and book reviews pertaining to the selected topics of the month. Membership

dues are $24.00 anually US membership, International membership $30.00 US

funds only

**For more information, contact <vqts1airmail.net> (that's vqts*one*)

or write to:

VQTS

2401 Blue Cypress

Richardson, TX 75082

for a complimentary copy of the newsletter and membership application.

Ask about bringing VQTS Quilt College to your area!

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 04:53:17 +0400

From: Xenia Cord <xecordnetusa1.net>

Hi, QHL and Fiona - IMHO, this is how I see machine work on quilts

during the 1920s-'30s period:

1. The popular press stressed "doing as our colonial foremothers did"

in quiltmaking. This meant, in general, extensive handwork to prove

one's self-worth. To be modern one had to be old-fashioned; a neat

trick. The instructions for specific patterns usually did not get into

HOW one was to construct the design, especially if it was a pieced

design, leaving the choice up to the quiltmaker.

2. The popularity of applique kits favored handwork, because

traditionally applique was done by hand. Many women "fudged" on some of

their applique, especially on Sunbonnet Babies. They basted the pieces

in place (or topstitched by machine) and then covered that with

embroidery floss (often black) in blanket stitch, or sometimes with a

running stitch not unlike sashiko.

3. Some of the most popular pieced designs of the period were not as

easily done by machine as by hand - Grandmother's Flower Garden being

the most obvious, but in my continual handling of pieced quilts from the

first quarter of this century I find that "hand pieced, machine joined,

hand quilted" is the most common construction.

Obviously the sewing machine was a major convenience, but one had to be

proficient with it, too! Sometimes hand sewing was easier because it

was less exacting, especially on short, straight seams.

Xenia

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

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 19:48:23 EST

From: JBQUILTOKaol.com

To: QHLcuenet.com

There are a lot of tree designs - most have a lot of little triangles. If

you pieced using lt green, you could put the names on the 'leaves' & the

trunk could separate the sides of the family. There's also one that looks

more like a weeping willow that would give you longer, straighter areas to

add names.

Janet

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

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 21:00:07 -0500

From: "calico" <calicomagnus1.com>

Hi there great people, I'm just startting to get an chance to read this,

now that I have the time, and there sure is alot of info out there.I

also do have an few questions that maybe someone can help me with. I am

in the process of redoing my living room, and in doing this I'm going to

finally have the places to display my feedsacks, coverlets,and quilts.

Now the problem is I know that these pcs shouldnot be in contact with

wood etc. But how do I put them into old cuboards with the old paint on

them??? 2. question--I need to finish another one--its' walnut was

stripped years ago and nothing done to it. What do I use to protect the

quilts etc against the wood??? 3. question---I bought two large dowels

about 2 inches around to hang some of the coverlets on, on the

wall--they are raw wood what do I use to seal the wood? Any help will

be great, I just cann't remember what I'm supposed to do with all of

this. I've included my e-mail is someone wants to let me know that way.

thanks alot debi (stonehause)

calicomagnus1.com

http://www.QuiltHistory.com.

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 20:19:55 +1100

From:

Greetings from Amazon.com!

We have contacted the publisher to place an order for

your copy of "A

Voice of Her Own : Wisconsin Women and Their Quilts"

(ISBN

1558537899).

Unfortunately, the publisher has now informed us that

the publication

of this item has been cancelled.

I hope it is not a case of yet another quilt history book

being canned?

Hiranya from Sydney, Australia where we have had a reprieve

from the hot weather.:>

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 07:35:37 -0800

From: "Robins-Morris, Laura A" <lrobinsfhcrc.org>

Holice (and all QHLers) -- you mentioned a friend who has a quilt made in

China in the 30's or 40's. I've been eager to hear if that buisness existed

long ago and even posted a related question on QHL a while ago. I wondered

if you have any more info on early Chinese-made quilts.

I have a quilt top that is applique and looks very 30's, including Bubble

Gum pink and Nile green. My grandparents lived in China in the late 20s and

when my grandmother gave me the top (about 20 years ago) she said it came

from China. Years later when I learned more about quilts, I thought maybe

she had *mis-remembered* where it came from. But, due to the beautiful

needlework and cheap labor available in China then, it would make sense that

someone would have American-style handwork done over there, either for

personal use or for import to the US. But I've never heard or read anything

about American quilting coming from China prior to the 80s.

So if you or any QHLers know more about this, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks

Laura in Seattle

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 07:44:51 -0800

From: "Laurette Carroll" <Robert.J.CarrollGTE.net>

Hello!

I have just received my new American Patchwork and quilting Magazine

(FEB) and there is an article, by Susan Miller, on a very beautiful but

unusual chintz quilt. pg. 18-22.

It is a broderie perse applique type of quilt,

but made in an unusual way. In some places the chintz is used in the

typical broderie perse fashion but in the main part of the design the

chintz is used simply as fabric, cut in a totally different shape, a

rose

type pattern, but still embroidered around the edges with a buttonhole

stitch. The

quilt was probably made in Mississippi, but the family was originally

from North Carolina. Has anyone else seen this type of broderie perse

applique before? Was this type of quilt made in this area?

On another note, there has been a thread on another list on prewashing

quilting fabrics, pro and con.

This brought up the subject of the trend in the past few years, of

making a quilt using unwashed fabrics, and an unshrunk cotton batt,

machine quilting it, then washing it in the washer and dryer to shrink

to get the "antique" look.

But IMHO it is the thread used in quilting and piecing that

shrinks and gives it the softly puckered look.

I have studied my 19th century quilts and they pucker at the seam lines

and the quilting lines. Which is what softens the quilting lines so

beautifully.

Batts used in the 19th C would not shrink the same as our new cotton

batts.

They were made quite differently. And any quilt that has been dried in a

dryer has a different look than one laid out flat to dry.

I like to use prewashed fabrics and a preshrunk batt and after it's

quilted and washed I lay it out to dry and I get a nice*antique look*.

This is not a negative comment on the new quilts being made.

But rather a question on what makes a new reproduction quilt look

*antique*. We spend tons of money on reproduction fabrics that look

antique. We want it too look right when we are finished.

I think it's the thread shrinking in the seams and quilting lines, and

not shrinking fabrics or batts, that gives antique quilts their nice

puckered look.

Anyone agree??

Cheers to you all, May Your Holidays Be Happy.

Laurette Carroll

Southern California

Look to the Future with Hope

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:07:36 +0400

From: Xenia Cord <xecordnetusa1.net>

Hi Laura and QHLers - I believe I have seen the quilts to which Holice

referred. There are 2, and they will be in a special exhibit at Quilt

America in July 2000 on Chinese quilts. These are nearly identical, and

were made by students of American nuns at a convent school in China.

They are an interesting mix of designs from 2 cultures. The quilts were

given as gifts to an American diplomat or other American official who

lived for some time in the area where the nuns had their school. The

work is exquisitely done, and the quilts bear no resemblance to the

Pacific rim quilts of today.

I think we can all agree that those imports we see today are copies of

an American idiom done by women who have been given no understanding of

our tradition, but have simply been set to work.

Xenia

(Sally, you started this <G>!)

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 18:55:53 -0600

From: Mary Waller <mswalleriw.net>

To: QHLcuenet.com

I have a "dead" 1930's quilt with machine quilting. The quilting is in

horizontal rows, about 2-1/2" wide. The motifs are scrolls and

three-leafed clovers. I've seen those designs on another quilt of about

the same time, which makes me wonder if those were commercially

available quilting designs. Anybody else seen these? The quilt I have

is a sampler of embroidered Rainbow Art Co. blocks, with some

hand-appliqued birds and flowers.

Saturday I bought a 1930's quilt nightmare of appliqued tulip blocks.

All the applique is machine-stitched; straight stitch very close to the

edge of the appliques. My guess is the maker used the inside edge of

the pressor foot toe as her/his guide. The flowers, stems, leaves and

triangular base are all appliqued in colored thread.

A neighbor has a machine-quilted quilt of 60-degree diamonds arranged as

stars that's 1920's - 1940's. I haven't seen it in a while and don't

remember how it was pieced. The quilting was done in the ditch.

I sometimes wonder if the more utilitarian quilts from that era were

more likely to be machine quilted, "used up" and no longer with us,

while those sewing-construction-monsters of Double Wedding Ring and

Grandmother's Flower Garden, especially with the quarter-sized pieces

were preserved. In this area of the Great Plains, the Depression hit

very, very hard; we're still one of the lowest economic areas of the

U.S. I think I see more salesmen's sample type quilts, tied, with a

heavy blanket(s) as batting than pieced quilts, and very few applique

quilts.

I've seen lots of quilts from this time with machine-applied binding

that looked like it was applied with the binding attachment.

Mary Waller, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA

http://www.QuiltHistory.com.

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 22:29:22 -0500

From: "Judy Kelius (judysue)" <judychesco.com>

To: qhlcuenet.com

Subject: Cheater Applique Quilt

Message-Id: <4.2.0.58.19991206061054.00998b50carriage.chesco.com>

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

I purchased a "quilt" last weekend that looks from a short distance like a

gorgeous 19th Century Whig Rose applique with a nice vine border . . . but

when you get close, you see the pattern is actually printed on the fabric,

and the quilting (cross-hatch) is done by machine. The patterns in the

"fabrics" are similar to those I have seen in old red/green applique

quilts. The fabric is cotton and the batting is a thin polyester, and the

edge has never been finished, something I intend to do. Too bad it is

quilted. I'm even thinking about taking the quilting out (I think it is a

chain stitch that will pull out easily) and machine quilting it by

following the motifs. It was dirty and stained but I was able to clean it

without fading the colors. I posted a couple of photos at

http://www.chesco.com/~judy/cheater.htm.

My question - have any of you seen anything like this before? Any idea of

how old it is? (I'm sure it's after 1960 because of the poly batting.)

Maybe someone out there remembers seeing these in stores. I think if I

would have seen it, I would remember it.

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 20:18:56 -0800

From: "Christine Thresh" <christinewinnowing.com>

To: <QHLcuenet.com>

Both Hiranya from Sydney and Sue wrote about the non-publication of the

Wisconsin Documentation Book "A Voice of Her Own : Wisconsin Women and Their

Quilts" (ISBN

1558537899).

Does anyone know more about the book? Was it to be lavishly illustrated with

color photos or was it mainly text? My husband and I are starting up our

book publishing business again and are always on the alert for possible

titles, especially in the area of fiber arts. We could not handle a huge,

fully illustrated (color photo) book at this time, but a narrative would be

possible with a few illustrations. Who was publishing it? I could try to

trace them by their ISBN number.

Christine, on an island in the California Delta

http://www.threshpublications.com

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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:21:27 -0500 (EST)

From: JOCELYNMdelphi.com

On 8-DEC-1999 22:25:55.3 quiltfix said to JOCELYNM

> Jocelyn, I think that story is in "A People and Their Quilts", by John

> Rice Irwin. I remember reading that story. too.

Alan,

No, it was a different book- because the book I'm thinking of I had to

check out of the library, and I own the Irwin book. <G> It was from a

Western state, because the man was a cowboy, and Irwin wrote about

Appalachia. But I agree with you, it's a gorgeous book.

Jocelyn

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:13:40 -0400

From: edwaintrepid.net

My grandmother machine quilted in the 30's. I have some of her quilts.

She quilted in a diamond or straight line pattern. When quilting diamonds,

she usually would quilt one diagonal on the machine and the other by hand.

This is the way I have been able to identify some of her quilts. These

were purely utiliterian. Before my last aunt died, I called her one day

and asked why my grandmother (and her mother) did this. She said that

quilts were made to be used, lots of beds and no nitetime heat, so a lot of

quilts had to be made. She also thought that by machine quilting one

direction - provided the speed and in some sense served as basteing, and

hand quilting the other direction gave the satisfaction of handwork.

I probably have two or three which were quilted like this. Another

interesting quilt that my grandmother made is one we all called the "voil

quilt" It is made from the thinner voil fabric used in garments during the

30's. I have had lots of argument about the type of fabric but that is

what it was called.

Some time we get lucky. Sometime ago I purchased a box of paper and

cardboard quilting designs, stencils etc and in the box was a McCall

Kaumagraph Transfer pattern, No 1586. The scalloped border with peacock in

the center. And then last Nov at Festival I found a quilt made from this

pattern. What is the time period of these patterns. I assume late 20's

or early 30's.

Holice Turnbow

Designer, Teacher, Quilt Judge

http://www.quiltingstencils.com

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 08:47:50 -0600

From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.comail.airmail.net>

To: edwaintrepid.net, QHLcuenet.com

Subject: Re: QHL: 30's macnbine quilting

Hi Hollis,

I too have owned a "voile" quilt. Acutally it was my baby quilt and I

think my mother has what was left of it stashed somewhere. I remember the

ruffle on it being so light and delicate. And mine was done in

'55.......and Mother, being a devote of the Vogue sewing patterns and home

stitched haute coutrier, did teach me that it was called "voile".

and, I have also seen quilts machine stitched one way and hand stitched at

an angle. Makes sense to me!

Laura

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 07:42:35 -0800

From: "Julia D. Zgliniec" <rzglini1san.rr.com>

Dear QHL,

In 1997, the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, Los Angeles, CA did a wonderful

exhibit curated by Barbara Brackman and published a catalog titled, Patterns of

Progress: Quilts in the Machine Age. It is an excellent discussion with plenty

of visuals of what an important development this labor saving device was. Many

styles of quilts with machine quilting are shown, including work by

contemporary quilters.

ISBN 1-882880-04-8

May you all have a Holiday Season filled with all that is good in life and

prosperity in the new millennium.

Regards,

Julia Zgliniec - Poway, CA

edwaintrepid.net wrote:

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 10:50:05 -0600

From: Jan Wass <jwassmuseum.state.il.us>

Has anyone seen woolen quilts from approximately 1865-1900 that have a

distinctive, handwoven-looking wool that uses red threads in one direction

and blue threads in the other--i.e. red warp, blue weft? Other colors might

be substituted for the red and blue, such as brown and olive green. The

wool is medium weight, similar to threads in handwoven blankets--but not as

heavy as coverlet wool weft.

I am researching Illinois Amish quilts and we have about 8 quilts with this

distinctive wool. Eve Grannick has also seen it used in Indiana Amish

quilts. Has it been used in non-Amish quilts? When? Where? Is there a name

for this fabric? I am tying to get an idea of how widely (or narrowly) used

it was. It may be found in non-Amish utility quilts or coverlets--but those

are difficult to find. I'm hoping all of the collectors and historians on

this list can give me some help with this.

Thanks,

Jan Wass,

Curator of Decorative Arts,

Illinois State Museum

jwassmuseum.state.il.us

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 11:11:37

From: Alice & Alfonso Cruz <akcruzix.netcom.com>

From: Mary Waller <mswalleriw.net>

...I have a "dead" 1930's quilt with machine quilting.

...A neighbor has a machine-quilted quilt of 60-degree diamonds arranged as

stars that's 1920's - 1940's.

...I sometimes wonder if the more utilitarian quilts from that era were

more likely to be machine quilted, "used up" and no longer with us,

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

I'm interested in this subject as well. I'm doing some restoration on 2

applique quilts, made by same quilter. Her son dates the quilts as 50yo,

since the quiltmaker (his mother) died 40 yrs ago. They are the same

pattern & layout - 25 16" blocks, each with a large daisy-type flower

appliqued on a solid background fabric. The petals in one quilt are all

solids, while the other is a scrappy collection of fabrics & colors on a

yellow background. The quilting on both is a sort of wavy line going from

one edge to the other. The quilting lines are about 1" apart, but this

distance varies & was obviously eyeballed by the quilter. The wave is

consistent in both width & length. Both quilts originally had an "ice cream

cone" border, which is quilted in a loop de loop pattern. The varying

length of the quilting stitches throughout the quilt indicate to me that it

is free motion quilting.

The quilt owner showed me a 3rd quilt she made - GFG - which was machine

quilted in an all-over loop de loop pattern & damaged (from use) too much

to justify restoration. He told me that his mother sent her tops out to be

quilted, but doesn't remember any more. Were there professional quilters

using their everyday machines to machine quilt? When did long arm machines

come into use?

Alice Cruz

The Quilted Chile

akcruzix.netcom.com

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 13:44:12 EST

From: KareQuiltaol.com

Hazel Carter brought a new book to my attention this week, "Silk Quilts:

From the Silk Road to the Quilter's Studio" by Hanne Vibeke De Koning-Stapel

, ISBN 0-8442-2081-7, Quilt Digest Press, copyright 2000! I just ran out

this morning and purchased a copy at my local quilt shop in Fairfax, Va. I

shall quote from page 8: "An important collection of antiquities from the 8th

and 9th centuries A.D. was discovered in the Caves of the thousand Buddha's

at Dunhuang in China, containing Buddhist silk paintings, manuscripts,

textiles, and relics...Almost all textiles found there are silk...Also found

in one of the caves was a piece of 'votive patchwork,' as Sir Stein called

it. Probably was a kesa, the robe of a high-ranking Buddhist monk."

pg. 45 "In inventories from the Middle Ages, references to silk quilts are

made regularly, but none of these quilts are thought to have survived."

This is a wonderful book with history (good bibliography), the story of the

cultivation of the silk worm, color photos of quilts and the silk making

process, an excellent glossary, and even some patterns. I think you'll want

this book in your library!

Karen A.

Vienna, VA

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 18:15:32 -0600

From: Jon Miskowski <jmiskowsfacstaff.wisc.edu>

At 08:18 PM 12/10/99 -0800, Christine Thresh wrote:

>Both Hiranya from Sydney and Sue wrote about the non-publication of the

>Wisconsin Documentation Book "A Voice of Her Own : Wisconsin Women and Their

>Quilts" (ISBN

>1558537899).

I don't answer with great confidence but since I've recently talked to

people working

on this book -- my understanding is the original publisher pulled out of

the deal and that

they have found a new publisher but it is not released yet.

http://www.QuiltHistory.com.

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 23:55:24 -0500 (EST)

From: JOCELYNMdelphi.com

Whenever you see a reference to 'quilts' prior to the 17th century, it's

important to remember that quilted garments existed, and were sometimes

called 'quilts'.

For example, in Queen Katherine Howard's household inventory, there's a

listing of her 'quilts'...but the notation occurs in the list along with her

personal wardrobe, NOT in the section with her bed hangings. It's much more

likely that it referred to quilted petticoats or underskirts, than to a bed

quilt.

Jocelyn

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

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 22:52:31 -0800

From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplexearthlink.net>

To: QHLcuenet.com

Hi All,

On principle, I do not buy books from Amazon.com (no-doubt-futile

attempt to

support "actual" independent bookstores and booksellers) but I went to

that site to get some

publisher's information and realized that they show READER'S REVIEWS on

books

they sell. Curious, I went to see the reviews of "Hidden in Plain View."

There

were none... Seems like a wonderful place to give an opinion and get it

out to

LOTS of people. What do you think?

Julie Silber

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 14:51:19 -0000

From: "Audrey Cameron" <audrey.cameronvirgin.net>

Hi Everyone,

Concerning the book "A Voice of Her Own : Wisconsin Women and Their Quilts"

by Ellen Kort.: when I first mentioned it to you a couple of months ago I

received an e-mail from on Jon Miskowski (jmiskowsfasctaff.wisc.edu)

stating "Just heard that this group is working with another publisher called

"Howell Press" but they are still in negotiations so you might keep an eye

out for it in a couple months."

I know no more than this

Audrey Cameron in Lincolnshire,England

audrey.cameronvirgin.net

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 10:59:35 EST

From: aol.com

And there is also evidence that quilts used on beds were referred to as

quilts. It depends on the context - if the reference occurs in an inventory

of bed linens or the description of a bed chamber, it's probably what we

would think of as a quilt. If it's in a wardrobe inventory, it's more likely

a petticoat.

Karen Evans

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 14:00:39 -0500

From: "Peggy O'Connor" <mnocbrinet.com>

Does anyone know whether the West Virginia quilt book was ever

published, and, if so, what the final title was? I thought it was due

out this year.

I saw that the Rhode Island book is due in February 2000, and Amazon

lists the price as $75.00! Wow!

Peggy in NC

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 14:25:42 -0500

From: "Sue C. Uncapher" <erroofwcoil.com> (by way of List Mom <qrsalbany.net>)

Dear Holice & QHL'ers

I have in my collection two Kaumagraph Transfer Patterns one is a

"Quilted Block Bedspread" pattern, No.1629, an alternate block Dresden

plate style pattern w/scalloped border. On the inside of the flap of the

pattern envelope is stamped the date 12 8 27. The second pattern is an

embroidery pattern, No. 1183, for a tea cloth and napkins this one also

has a date stamped on the inside of the flap, it reads 4 21 20.

Sue, in NW Ohio, where it is cold and rainy, with the promise of snow

later in the week.

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 16:49:10 -0500

From: Jean Binns Smith <shejeanvicon.net>

I think the story about the husband quilting might be from the Quilters

by Patricia Cooper and Norma Buferd.

Jean in Central Pa. where we have had no snow yet.

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 15:43:23 -0800

From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplexearthlink.net>

Hi,

Oooops, I was mistaken when I said there were no reader reviews of

"Hidden In Plain View."

Our Australian friend, Lorraine sent me the following message: Hi Julie,

If you pan to the bottom of the page, there are indeed "too many"

reviews of the book.

Please write a good one. I am not "wordy" enough to do it well.

Cheers

Lorraine in Oz

Julie Silber

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 15:56:20 -0800

From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplexearthlink.net>

Hi All,

I was dismayed to read Hiranya's message the other day :

From Amazon.com:

"We have contacted the publisher to place an order for your copy of "A

Voice of Her Own : Wisconsin Women and Their Quilts" (ISBN1558537899).

Unfortunately, the publisher has now informed us that the publication of

this item has been cancelled. I hope it is not a case of yet another

quilt history book being canned?

Hiranya from Sydney, Australia"

Last month I attempted to order several copies of "Hearts and Hands"

which I wrote with Elaine Hedges and Pat Ferrero. We were informed that

they were out of stock, and that the publisher had no plans to reprint.

The publisher, Rutledge Hill Press, had "given away all the remaining

copies" to PBS to be used as a premium. We have no quarrel with the

gift, but Rutledge had repeatedly promised us that when the stocks

started to get low, we would be told so that the book would not go out

of print with out our having a chance to procure a "stash." Now we, as

authors, can not get the several copies we need to have on hand and the

world has lost yet another quilt history book. Sad story.

Julie Silber

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 18:58:56 -0500

From: "Diane McGuire" <dianemcgici.net>

To: QHLcuenet.com

Subject: Hickory What?

Message-Id: <199912122359.SAA22118bajor.ici.net>

Content-type: text/plain; charset"US-ASCII"

Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

QHLers:

In a small town 40 miles south of Boston my local mail carrier left the

message that he could not leave the package from Hickory Hill (Kris) because

my dog was loose and there was no safe place to put it. I had to call the

PO and explain that it contained quilting books and fat quarters, not

sausage and cheese! ;-)

Diane in Southeastern Massachusetts awaiting my Christmas present to myself

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 18:18:43 -0500

From: "Kris Driessen, Hickory Hill Quilts" <oldquiltalbany.net>

     Click on the thumbnail ->

I wonder if I could ask everyone to take a field trip to take a look at a quilt I just purchased. Actually, I bought two identical ones, a green one and this blue one. (The pictures are pathetic, but I would date them around 1930). The green one was much used and loved - this was the "put away" one. Has anyone ever seen this pattern before? Could it be a kit? The closest I can come in Barbara Brackmans Encyclopedia of Applique is "double hearts". There are lots of hearts in the quilting.

Kris

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:36:23 EST

From: EllynLKaol.com

I saw this on an AOL message board... thought maybe someone here could help.

Lauri Klobas

Subject: Quilt Documentation

Date: Sun, 12 December 1999 12:46 PM EST

Our extension service study group is attempting to document quilts in Bandera

Co, Texas and we need help/hints on how to go about this. We have come up

with a tentative format but would like to hear from anyone who has experience

in this. I know there was a program called 'Boxes under the Bed" that dealt

with documentation but have no real knowledge. Thanks, rita

riverroosaol.com

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:37:59 -0500 (EST)

From: JOCELYNMdelphi.com

On 12-DEC-1999 11:01:00.9 said to JOCELYNM

> And there is also evidence that quilts used on beds were referred to as

> quilts. It depends on the context - if the reference occurs in an

Karen,

Right-- although I've read modern quilting books that used the Queen

Katherine reference to 'prove' that she had bedquilts. It's a word usage

thing- then, anything quilted could be called a 'quilt', whereas now we

reserve 'quilt' for a bedcovering, and call other things 'quilted ______s'

(jackets, Christmas tree skirts, table runners, whatevers).

Jocelyn

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

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 20:45:19 EST

From: EllynLKaol.com

To: QHLcuenet.com

I visited Crazy Ladies fabric store in Santa Monica yesterday... needed some

new sewing machine needles as I had been making a utility bag for a piece of

equipment I use at work and broken two in a day!

The ladies at the counter were talking... "I love my Bernina," said one. The

other mentioned she had a Pffaf (sp??). They were going on and on.

I was looking at the needles and the clerk came to see if I needed any help.

Told her I just needed needles. "What sort of machine do you have?" she asked.

Well, having heard the high-tech conversation of moments ago, I hesitated.

"I have a 1947 Domestic Rotary."

I got a blank look but that's what I expect....

When I was in high school (class of '72), the lady across the street from my

grandmother died. Gramma was the executrix of the estate. I got lots of

cool paper items from old Mrs. Leiber's estate-- and my mom bought me her

1947 Domestic Rotary sewing machine, complete with buttonholer, attachments

(including a quilting thing, a long, skinny rod that attaches back by the

presser foot and has a flat loop on the bottom for the puffy quilt being

stitched... as well as all sorts of cool attachments, a ruffler, a pleater,

narrow hemmer-- I mean, anything a lady in 1947 could want of her machine.

I had the warranty card and the book for all the attachments.

ANYWAY, I personally have never heard of a Domestic-- other than my relic

which I love and which was last used this morning! Since there are so many

sewing machine mavens on this list-- was Domestic a major brand? Or was is

a lower-priced generic of a White or something like that? 52 years and this

thing runs like a champ, is solid, reliable and I will never, ever part with

it. But if possible, I'd like to know a bit more about it-- if anyone knows!

You can e-me off-list....

Thanks!

Lauri Klobas

Pacific PaKarendes, California where it it chilly and the relative humidity is

so low that my hair has enough electricity in it to run the city! No rain

for 32 days and counting....

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 07:32:30 -0500

From: "jawhitecourant.infi.net" <jawhitecourant.infi.net>

I'm sorry to hear that the book is now completely out of print. I have

an autographed copy that I got at a reception at the New England Quilt

Museum when Julie Silber and Pat Ferrero were there together with Gail

Binney Stiles - my that seems like a long time ago. Anyway, the more I

learn about 18th and 19th century women and about quilt history, the

more I appreciate that book and am sorry that newer quilters will not

have the pleasure of owning a copy.

Judy White - Ct

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 13:19:42 EST

From: QuiltFixeraol.com

I need to locate some silk netting (having a senior moment on remembering the

name). Am running out and can't remember where I got the original. Can

anyone help? Toni B.

QuiltFixeraol.com

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 10:19:07 -0600 (CST)

From: Marcia Kaylakie <marciakeden.com>

Hi!

I have recently acquired a quilt top made of cigar flannels and would like

to know much more about them. Can anyone recommend some good articles/books

on the subject? I had heard that there was an article in a recent quilting

magazine, but can't locate it. Thanks, Marcia Kaylakie

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 16:11:29 -0000

From: "Jeanne Fetzer" <jeanne.fetzerintegrityonline3.com>

Yes, yes! Someone has got to get the word to the general public.

Please,Eileen. We need to hear from you - or Laura, or anyone else with

the great language skills you have.

Happy holidays to all of you - may you have energy to get everything

done, or else the wisdom to cross some things off your list!

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 17:18:20 -0600

From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.comail.airmail.net>

Silk crepeline is what you want. My 'ole buddy Nancy Kirk of the Kirk

Collection sells it in smallish quanties, rather than buying a bolt from

Light Impresions or the museum conservation warehouse which is what I did

many years ago. Even then it set me back a bundle.Laura

At 01:19 PM 12/13/1999 EST, QuiltFixeraol.com wrote:

>I need to locate some silk netting (having a senior moment on remembering

the

>name). Am running out and can't remember where I got the original. Can

>anyone help? Toni B.

>QuiltFixeraol.com

>

>

>

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 17:32:04 -0600

From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.comail.airmail.net>

Jeanne, Judy and all,

Karen wrote a pretty good article for the VQTS newsletter last Feb (no

coincidence for Black History Month) about the dubious validity of the

subject. She's temporarily off of QHL so i've forwarded this thread to her.

I'm sure she'd be glad to give "our" two cents worth to this "publication"

Laura

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:53:38 -0500

From: Fran Fitz <fjfitzerols.com>

In response to Peggy Conner..The last information I received from the WV

documentation committee is that they had to find another publisher and

hope to have the book published in fall of 2000. I was priviliged to see

some of the quilts they documented and the book should be a real

winner..Fran in rainy, foggy Western Md.

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 21:06:23 -0500

From: "John Cawley" <cawleygoeaston.net>

I've been back in PA and visiting my grandchildren in upstate NY. On the

way home I stopped in an antique shop in a very out-of-the-way town on the

upper Eastern Shore. I came home with 23 pages from a salesman's sample

book (company was located in Binghamton, NY) of cotton fabrics for 1932. If

only I could find something like this for every decade I could be a fabric

guru. I consider this to be an early present direct from Santa.

Cinda on the Eastern Shore

http://www.QuiltHistory.com.

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

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:00:12 -0500

From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfixmail.jax.bellsouth.net>

Sally, someone - can you help me locate someone in England (I don't have

a specific area to give, but I don't think it would matter) who is

conversant in appraising American quilts. A local woman wrote me about

a quilt sent to England to be sold as a fund raiser for Princess Diana's

land mine fund. I guess they want to appraise it before they sell

chances.

Heck, when I called her, her husband asked if I would leave a message

since she was eating. So I told him I was Alan and calling about a

quilt. He repeated this aloud, vaguely puzzled. But she came running to

the phone anyway, so they must want this appraised badly.

Thanks. She was frankly amazed I even knew of someone to ask !

Alan

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

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:08:29 -0500

From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfixmail.jax.bellsouth.net>

I have a storage question.

I know all about storing quilts to keep them neat and clean. Over the

weekend my collection exploded out of it's current, not-the-best

storage. Nothing exploded literally, but a new acquisition has made

storage a major problem. So I'm looking for ideas.

What I want to know is this - after you have folded the quilt, padding

it with paper/muslin, how do you take care of the "where to put it"

problem? In particular, I'm looking for ways to cope in a small home

(1400 sq ft) where a major remodel or new addition is simply out of the

question. There are no available closets to take over.

I want to know about your ways of dealing with your collections -

especially large ones - the number of pieces I have is starting to worry

me....... NOT!

Alan

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 19:22:32 PST

From: "Anne Copeland" <anneappraiserhotmail.com>

Xenia,

I previously also thought that certain textile methods in the 30s were a

quick method to make something that looked like something that took a longer

time to create. Now, however, I believe that many things developed as

separate creative expressions. For example, the pre-tinted pieces,

originally seemed like something to give the appearance of appliqued pieces.

Time, however, has proved my thinking erroneous. The pre-tinted pieces

may have come about as an independent creative expression. Today we are

seeing the re-introduction of pre-tinting pieces (crayon work anyway) and

the people I know who are making these pieces are not making them as

something to look like applique.

Blanket stitching is not that quick if you want to do a good job. Perhaps

quicker than applique, but depends on your skill level. And it has a

decorative effect that might have been something that caught on because it

gave more of an emphasis to an appliqued piece. We have seen the use of

ric-rac similarly used to emphasize a shape on quilts and other textile

items at various times in history.

In reality, we cannot know what women of the past were thinking, because we

cannot see out of their eyes. These are just our own ideas of what might

have been. But we must always keep in mind that we see from our own

cultural perspective and time-frame. Anne Copeland

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 22:31:09 -0400

From: edwaintrepid.net

To: QHLcuenet.com

There definitely needs to be a reprint of reviews that were questionable.

It appears that this book is now gaining some attention from the general

quilter. I watch another quilting bulletin board and twice recently there

have been requests about the book. The first was from a quilter who has

been asked to make a sampler of all the blocks mentioned in the book for

the local Senior Center. I wrote her back and suggested she do a bit of

research in light of the questionable nature of the book. Another just

this week asked for the names of the blocks mentioned that she wants to

make a quilt commemorating the Underground RR.

If the review could be reprinted, then i would have something to send to

these folks.

Holice Turnbow

Designer, Teacher, Quilt Judge

http://www.quiltingstencils.com

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 22:53:02 -0500

From: Barb Garrett <bgarrettfast.net>

On another quilting list, a person stated that she wishes to make a

sampler quilt of the Underground Railroad patterns as listed in Hidden in

Plain View. I thought perhaps some who like me didn't buy the book

(although I did hear a lecture based on the book, and was able to scan the

book for about 2 hours one day) might like to know what the block patterns

are that are included in the book. The following was an answer to the

first woman's inquiry --

> I recently got the book (not read it yet)and here are the main Quilt

> Code Patterns :

> Monkey Wrench

> Wagon Wheel / Carpenter's Wheel

> Bear's Paw

> Crossroads

> Log Cabin

> Shoofly

> Bow Tie / Hour Glass

> Flying Geese

> Drunkard's Path

> Star / Evening star / North Star

>

> Secondary Code Patterns

>

> Wagon Wheel variation

> Sailboat

> Britches

> Basket

> Nine Patch

> Rose Wreath

> Dresden Plate

> Tumbling Blocks or Boxes

> Broken Dishes

Barb in southeastern PA

<bgarrettfast.net>

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

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:59:15 -0800

From: "mfm" <treetopportland.quik.com>

Dear Marcia K,

You posted a question about where to find more information on cigar

flannels. The woman listed below was passing out her card at the East

Lansing AQSG conference in October. She was involved with an exhibition

entitled "Better Choose Me: Collecting and Creating with Tobacco Fabric

Novelties 1880 - 1920." ** Ethel Ewert Abrahams in North Newton, KS **

neabrasouthwind.net ** good luck, and I hope you have nice 'chat.'

molly in almost snowing oregon

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

Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 00:21:06 -0500

From: "J. G. Row" <Judygrowblast.net>

Eileen Trestain seems to be having a problem posting to the list. Until we

can get it corrected, she has asked me to forward the following:----

Judy in Ringoes, NJ

judygrowblast.net

>Would you please post >about the book, SILK QUILTS by Hanne Vibeke de Koning-Staple. It is new, >published by Quilt Digest Press, and will cover the latest discussion on

QHL >about early quilts. It shows a quilt made in 1544, some from the 1700's

and >wonderful early embroidered silk quilts. It has new ones, too, but the

>older ones are grand! Quilt historians would probably just love this book.

Eileen Trestain

ejtrestainhome.com

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

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 21:28:05 +0400

From: Xenia Cord <xecordnetusa1.net>

On Nov. 4 Laurel Horton published the following review of Hidden in

Plain View on QHL. Because it was in response to a direct query, there

are some references to individuals on the list included, which do not

detract from the assessment of the book. I asked to re-post it. On 14

December Laurel said:

<Xenia,

Permission granted. I don't seem to have saved my "review."

Laurel>

There are many problems with the Dobard/Tobin book. Personally, I found

it one of the most bizarre books I've ever read. I found the authors'

concept of "scholarship" to be shallow, incomplete, inconsistent, and

poorly directed.

As a folklorist, I recognize both the values and limitations of

information gathered from oral interviews. From my perspective, I find the key

element in Tobin's experience to be the _narrative_ told to her by Mrs.

Williams, rather than the "factual" details. There is a long tradition

of creative narrative among African-American families. As a folklore

scholar, my first research direction would have been to examine the

storytelling tradition in Mrs. Williams' family and community. What

seems most likely to me is that sometime in the twentieth century, a

creative person put together a wonderful narrative to entertain, to

provide a sense of pride in the struggle of southern black people in

overcoming hardship, and, perhaps, to engender an interest in exisiting

or imaginary family quilts. Instead of researching a lot of unrelated

African textiles and creating rationalizations for patterns that are

obviously 20th century creations, the authros would have done better to

look at published collections of African-American trickster tales and

other narratives, or at least to consult with folklorists who have

actively collected and analyzed these narrative traditions.

Another very disturbing element in the book is that although Tobin says

she sat at Mrs. Williams' feet and took notes for hours, we are given

only a

few fragments of what she was told. I'd like to know what else was in

those notes. Tobin obviously decided most of it was not relevant, or

perhaps it did not support the interpretation Tobin and Dobard selected.

The way Tobin describes her interactions with Mrs. Williams follows a

formulaic structure, in which a stranger appears, offers access to

arcane

knowledge if the approached person performs certain tasks or agrees not

to reveal the source of the information, then the stranger conveniently

disappears (or dies) so that others cannot check out the information for

themselves. This is not to say that the events did not happen as Tobin

recounts them, but only to point out that the elements of the story fit

a traditional pattern.

After reading the book, I ask myself these questions: Would a slave

family really have had the resources to make and set aside that many quilts,

just to have them available as signals? Archeological and archival research

suggests that bedding in slave cabins was more likely to be wool

blankets imported inexpensively from England and that enslaved people had few

personal possessions. More pointedly, if this coding system devised by

Mrs. Williams's ancestors was so wonderful and successful, how come the

family stayed in South Carolina? Maybe they were so busy making quilts

that they didn't have time to escape. It just doesn't add up.

As Marcha McDowell pointed out in her after-dinner presentation at AQSG,

the book has already done a lot of damage. It doesn't matter that the

authors tucked in a few obscure disclaimers along with their arguments.

Schoolchildren are now studying this stuff as the truth, they are making

Dresden Plate quilts "just like the escaping slaves on the Underground

Railroad," and they have this book to back them up. It's an attractive

story, so people respond to it without questioning. Those of us who

talk about quilts to public audiences will be spending the rest of our

careers arguing in vain that the information in this book not be swallowed

whole. Since _we_ didn't write a book on the subject, we will not be believed.

But, Dana, don't take this as a personal put-down. I had intentions of

writing my response to the book months ago and never got around to it.

Then it seemed to me that interest dropped off, so I didn't want to

rehash the subject. Your brave foray was the incentive I needed to make the

effort to post my thoughts. No matter where we are in our understanding

of quilts, we all have much to learn. My master's thesis from 20 years

ago says that the earliest quilts were crazy quilts. I know better now,

but occasionally even now I will hear or read someone's delight in pointing

out my error as if I still thought it to be true. The problem is that even

if Dobard and Tobin revised their book to more accurately examine the

original narrative, the new version would never overcome the hype and

appeal of the first.

Laurel Horton

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

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 19:40:50 EST

From: JBQUILTOKaol.com

Ethel spoke at our Guild earlier this year. Her collection was going to be

in a Kansas museum exhibit - unfortunately, I don't remember the dates. She

brought much of it to our meeting & let us get up close to it. Fantastic

program!

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