11.07.08
Posted in Fabrics at 9:34 am by Administrator
A recently discovered blog features some of my words from an article I wrote about toile and its origins. Included are some wonderful examples of toile fabric being used in all manner of home decoration in the blogger’s home. Although, at first, this blog ended up in my spam mail box, I am so glad that I retrieved it. Some wonderful pieces of this classic kind of cloth are shown.
http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/2008/11/in-love-with-toile.html
To see my website article on the subject, click on:
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/toile.htm
Enjoy!
Patricia Cummings
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05.23.08
Posted in Articles, Fabrics at 5:04 pm by Administrator
This photo of Mola cheater cloth was taken by Linda Lane Thornton in Colon (with an accent on the second “o”), Panama. She reports having enjoyed my article in The Quilter, about the topic of cheater cloth, in the March edition. We always love to receive updates from readers, and thought this one to be particularly interesting. As Linda says … this kind of cloth could save time!
Patricia L. Cummings
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03.14.08
Posted in Antiques, Fabrics at 12:55 am by Administrator
Gleefully, I purchased a very small piece of 1870s cheater cloth, recently. It was stuffed into a too small plastic baggie, and it was full of wrinkles. Being that old, the cloth also felt very dessicated. I wanted to press out the wrinkles, but thought it might be helpful to add some plain water to the cloth first, by spritzing it on with a house plant sprayer.
All was well, or so I thought, until I moved the fabric to reposition it on the ironing board. It was then that I noticed red color all over my new ironing board cover. I’d splurged last summer and bought a wide ironing board that is more square and a lot better for pressing backings for quilts.
I realized what had happened. The red in the print was not the “Turkey Red” colorfast color that we love in nineteenth century quilts. Instead, it was some other cheap dye. I should have known better. In fact, I do know better. I just wasn’t thinking. I wish that I’d at least put paper towels under the cloth, to help protect the ironing board cover.
I still love this piece of cloth because it represents a certain time period. The dyes were cheap in the 1870s, partly because the country was experiencing an economic downturn. I think the color combination is cheerful and the design is interesting. What you see above represents only a portion of the piece I have. Ever since my article about Cheater Cloth came out in The Quilter magazine, I am beginning to see it mentioned in lots of places. Before now, it has been like a step child, often overlooked. I’m happy that I could help to raise awareness because I think that this kind of imitation patchwork has its place.
Have a good Friday!
Patricia Cummings
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