quiltersmuse.com Blog

While browsing in Borders bookstore, I came across a magazine that is new to me. Opening the covers of Quilt mania, a magazine produced in France, I was intrigued that the first two articles were about quilts from New Hampshire and Vermont.

On the plus side, the magazine features nice photos. On the minus side, there is simply not much substance in the descriptions of the antique quilts and their fabrics, so casually-mentioned in two articles. The experience of reading those photo essays is that I wanted more information.

When the author mentions that the quilts feature fabrics made by local mills, I want to know which mills and which fabrics. When the author refers to the “many” mills along the Merrimack River, I want to know the mills she means other than the Amoskeag Mills in Manchester, and the Boott Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts. Offhand, I can think of no others.

An “Aside”

I am always mystified as to how and why people from other parts of the country and/or from overseas, think they can fly in here and be sudden experts on early New England quilts, fabrics, and terminology. I don’t mean to sound unfriendly. I have encountered this situation more than once.

In New England, we have early quilts that are uniquely New England quilts. Their configuration is such that they are not an exact rectangle but rather, have an adaptation at the bottom so that the quilt will “hug” the posts of a bed. These are quilts for a four-poster bed. That is what we call them: a “four poster bed quilt.”

People from the mid-West, where such quilts do not exist traditionally, constantly tend to refer to them as “cut-out quilts.” I know someone who would shoot you dead, if you said that term around her. Luckily, she is not a gun owner!

The same situation holds for the word “coverlet.” Of course, everyone knows that there are woven coverlets. That is another story. I am talking about cotton coverlets of one or possibly two layers, that have no batting. Some could argue that a quilt top, whose edges have been turned over and stitched down, came to be used as a coverlet, as an afterthought. It’s difficult to know what was in the mind of the quilter, if she is no longer among us.

However, I have seen plenty of one layer, Redwork coverlets that appear to have been made specifically for use as a light bed covering and nothing more. In New England, I have never heard these called “summer spreads,” except by new “transplants” to New Hampshire: those already indoctrinated with the terminology of Pennsylvania, or the mid-West.

Getting Back to the Magazine

Seeing some lovely old quilts in the magazine was a real treat, especially since they were made in my backyard, so to speak. However, being able to read just the name of the type of quilt, and the date of its supposed provenance, only left me wondering if more of the quilt’s story is actually known.

Sometimes, we err when we don’t provide enough information, and such habit of doing so, can in itself be misleading. As a coffee table magazine, Quilt mania is grand! An added bonus is that instructions are offered for some wonderful traditional quilt designs, with a twist. I also loved the avant-garde fibers art works shown.

Patricia Cummings

Members of the quilt world are very generous in allowing their quilts to be viewed online. The Appliqué Society, a group of eager enthusiasts, now has a “Show and Share” page on which members’ work is featured. Check it out, and you will agree that there are talented people in that circle!

http://www.theappliquesociety.org/

Another place to see some award-winning quilts is the site that is associated with the Houston Quilt festival (etc.) – www.quilts.com You’ll have to root around to get to the exact page where this year’s winning quilts are located, but I’m sure that you’ll enjoy browsing.

If old quilts are your thing, don’t forget to visit the International Quilt Study Center located at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Visit http://www.quiltstudy.org/ and view more than 1800 images of quilts in the online database/search function, or sign up for the “Quilt of the Month” program which sends you photos and details of a specific quilt in the collection, each month.

In addition, one can read about the collections of Michigan State University, here: http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections.html

So, you see, there are many places online to see and read about quilts, as well as our own website: http://www.quiltersmuse.com

We are happy to be here with you.

Patricia and James Cummings

Today, I just finished researching a new topic for publication, at the request of an editor. As always, I learned a lot! The experience has encouraged me to think about the field of textiles, its lengthy history, and how much there is to know about them. In my lifetime, I will never run out of related subjects to explore, and that is a “good thing.”

I was also thinking about Wikipedia and eBay and how helpful they are. They bring the world to our doorsteps, literally. While Wikipedia is prepared by humans and is not infallible, it is a point of departure. I pity the poor student who takes everything there as the Gospel Truth, as I have discovered glitches many times. However, I do believe that it is an attempt to share (what people think they know). Just be careful of remarks that are left hanging without substantiation such as a citation to a scholarly journal or to a well-researched reference book.

I am utterly in awe of eBay and other online auction houses. They bring history alive with examples and prices and photos. In addition, I can trade with people overseas. It’s rather neat to have packages arriving from Uzbekistan or England or Germany!

The more I know, the more I realize that there is more to know. Furthermore, there always will be. This is a great life for those who have a life of the mind and an inquiring spirit. I am a happy learner, and you get to benefit from articles that reflect what I have so joyously found out, and which I so happily share.

Have a good week!

Patricia Cummings

http://www.quiltersmuse.com

We receive a lot of e-mail requests for information. Sometimes, we have a ready answer and sometimes, we are stumped. In this blog entry, I’ll share a few of those letters. If anyone has additional information or ideas about any of the topics, please contact me by responding in the “comments” section below or by writing directly to: pat@quiltersmuse.com

Original Message from Eugenia-

Hello,

I would like to learn to work with Redwork patterns and get information that I can on it. I would like to make a Redwork quilt, sheets and pillow slips or pillowcases and I was wondering if you can point me in the right direction. ~Eugenia~

Dear Eugenia,

Redwork is just one form or rather color used in outline stitch embroidery. I would suggest that you read all of my files about Redwork on our website, including my free Redwork books that contain hundreds of designs. We also have a “free patterns” page with additional motifs. I run a yahoo list for outline stitch embroidery where we share photos and ideas. You can visit eBay to look at their many auctions, even if it is just to get an idea of new and old pattern designs.

Check booksellers for books in print about Redwork. Visit your local quilt shop or other store that sells individual patterns. Look through sewing catalogs, and needlework catalogs such as that of Herrschener’s. Old magazines are another source. The American Quilter’s Society has published a few books about Redwork, such as one by Willa Baranowski about Penny Squares, and another by M. Cunningham about Presidential Redwork blocks. The Kirk Collection currently has a CD of 90 Redwork designs for sale.

Take a class in Redwork embroidery. Check with your local museum. For example, the Wenham Museum in Massachusetts has some reproduction Redwork patterns for doll quilts for sale in their museum shop. There are countless places to access antique Redwork. Those resources just listed are only a few, but they are at least a start. Good luck! ~Pat~

Original Message from Charlotte:

I am looking for an old Leeward’s catalog crib quilt. It was a 1930ish, 40ish quilt with a pussywillow on it and the pussywillow buds were kittens – have you seen one? ~Charlotte~

Dear Charlotte,

Sorry, I have not seen this design. ~Pat~

Another note came from Abdul. His brother sells old textiles in Pakistan and he told me to let him know when I was planning my next trip there so he could provide contact information.

My answer was this:

Dear Abdul,

Thanks so much for contacting me. While I enjoy seeing and learning about textiles from all over the world, I do not travel. The textiles of Central Asia, Pakistan, India, and Russia are beautiful! ~Pat~

As you can see from this sampling of letters, diverse queries arrive in my mailbox. The one I am still smiling about, quite awhile later, was a letter from a young Italian man who was looking for an older woman who would support him, and who lived in Florida or some other seaside community where he could go surfing. It was such a cute letter, I wondered if it was “for real.”

Have a wonderful day!

Patricia Cummings
http://www.quiltersmuse.com

A word about online translation devices: they don’t work, folks. If you really want to translate anything to another language, consult someone who is a proficient speaker of the language. Otherwise, some of the results could be downright embarrassing to an upright individual. I cannot share the details of a situation that has just come to my attention. Just a word of caution: If you are thinking of using such a system, “don’t.” Most especially “don’t,” if you are a student. It could result in an “F,” or make you look like the rear end of a horse.

No language system is superior to that of man. The reason for that is that language is super sensitive to inflections, tone of voice, and mood of the speaker. This is where the Internet can sometimes fall short. When we try to interpret even our own language, sometimes we “read too much into” the printed word.

Words themselves cannot be translated word for word into a foreign language. That simply does not work. When you want something done right, consult someone who has the knowledge to help you. That’s all I’ll say on the matter. Just thought that I should let you know … for whatever that is worth.

Patricia Cummings