A. T. Cotton

 

How are you doing today?

My son brought his new girlfriend over this week for us to meet.  She is super nice and we enjoyed getting to know her.  Afterwards, my husband asked, "How did they meet?"  I actually have no idea but it seems like most people find people to date via in the internet.  I'm pretty cynical about technology and if I was single, don't think I would do that. 

Decades ago, the newspaper used to run ISO ads for folks to meet each other.  I had a friend who did that and we all read the responses she received.  I felt that it was a safer way to learn about something because one can learn so much about a person through a written letter.

In 1917, there was apparently a magazine article about a man named A. T. Cotton who made quilts.  His name was wonderful and somewhat apt for his hobby.  

Cotton lived alone in Alaska and pieced quilts to pass the time--and also to keep warm.  The syndicated article mentioned that he used a specific number of the thousand of fabric pieces he used in his quilts.  Not sure if he was ready for what was about to happen...

"Soon after the appearance of the article Mr. Cotton began to be deluged with letters all over the United States who sympathized with him because of his lonely life in the wilds and admired his needlework.  They all want him to write to them giving a detailed account of his manner of living, and many of them longed to visit Alaska."

Well that's one way to meet ladies.

Of course the point of the article was the thousands of pieces he used in the article.  Journalists were always reporting on that from about 1880 to 1940.  

Above is one of my postage stamp textiles.  At one point I had figured out how many thousand of pieces were in the quilt but have now forgotten.  This one was a tied comfort which I carefully took apart because the batting had migrated and was causing too much pressure on different parts of the comfort.

It isn't a charm pack but the close-up reveals that the maker made a number of four patches to piece together.

I wonder what kind of techniques A. T. Cotton used?

***

Tomorrow is Flower or Friendship Friday.  I'll be writing a bit about Lucky's progress at home and sharing anything you choose to share with me if you email me via allentownquilter@gmail.com.

Have a safe and happy day!

Kent's Cloth of the United Nations

 

Good morning!

All of us know the popularity and diversity of feedsacks in the 20th century.  Sue P.  has collected and used a number of them in her projects and many other collectors are in the fabric-loving world.

But today's feedsack is a bit different.  The fabric was printed in 1942 by Percy Kent Mills and was called Kent's Cloth of the United Nations.  It  is an amazing depiction of what folks were actually reading in the newspaper at the time.  It's a mini-history lesson woven in threads.

The fabric features images that occurred during World War 2 including battles, Allies, and even a caricature of the enemy.  

Anzac at the left of the image below referred to a naval command station in Australia.  It is surrounded by representations of Allies.

Battle of Britain and a special notation for Alaska which was only a territory at the time is pictured:

Roosevelt's Lend- Lease policy extended not only to Britain but also Iceland:

The amazing rescue at Dunkerque:

Pearl Harbor to the Left and our Soviet Allies (right top) are featured:

Heroes are featured as well.  Captain Colin Kelly is considered the first hero of the war.  He was credited for sinking the Japanese ship Haruna only 3 days after Pearl Harbor.  His B-17 was attacked by the Japanese as he returned to base.  He ordered his crew to bail out and all were saved except for Kelly himself who died when the plane crash.  It was only after World War II that it was discovered he had actually sunk a different Japanese ship called the Ashigara.

I first learned of this amazing feedsack when I purchased a baby tied comfort many years ago.  It was worn and so faded, I could barely make out the images or text on the piece.  It fascinated me so I bought it (it was also really inexpensive).  

I wondered why the maker chose to use this particular feedsack for the baby and clearly it had been used.  I still wonder, did she have a husband in the military?  Was it just available?  Or was she just expressing her patriotism?

The image that really caught my attention was this one:

Yup that is Mussolini, Hitler, and Tojo getting fried.

I haven't personally seen any quilts that feature this feedsack but found one online here.

Years later, I purchased an actual feedsack from a friend so that my audiences could see the text and images clearer.  

So what do you think of this cloth?  Does it fascinate you as well?

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's This and That: November 7, 2023

 

Good morning!

As we all know, anything in our lives can be translated to a quilt pattern.  But who knew that the very action that would get my brothers in trouble in school would become popular as a quilt pattern?

Yesterday I wrote about airplane quilts.  Of course I forgot one style that is more popular now:  paper airplanes.

I first became interested in this pattern when Beth suggested we use some of our newspaper print fabrics to make one.  We never got around to it but since then, the idea has really taken off.  This pattern style seems to be most popular with paper piecing quilters but there are also a variety of manufactured quilts and bedding that feature paper aeroplanes.  

In case you are interested, here is a free pattern.  There are also a lot of examples on pinterest.

***

Better than the Bahamas:

I've been watching an old HGTV show called "Bahamas Life" that was filmed before the pandemic.  I told friends I wanted to go there--all were surprised.  I'm more a cool weather girl than tropical.  It just seemed pretty and happy and well the days are getting shorter and colder here.  But as Linda says, sometimes says you have to listen for....

After a year of many losses, it's nice to report something happy!

We have a new member of our family!

"Lucky"

He's a ball full of joy and wiggles!

Lucky was found abandoned in our city. His ears aren't supposed to look like that...he was rescued off the streets of the city and his hair is very matted. Since he was just neutered the day before we brought him home, we have to wait a few weeks to have him groomed or do a lot of training, etc.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Just this one little ball of fur has changed the tenor in our family.  

Since Janet's stroke, my brother is usually always worried and haggard looking (caregiving does that to us).  But now when he sees Lucky, he laughs and sings puppy songs to him.   Soon, Lucky will probably be giving some dog therapy to help Janet as she recovers from her stroke.

I don't think I'm allowed back at my mother's house without the dog.  She talks to him and loves the attention he gives her.  Some part of her must be relieved she doesn't have to care for him.  Just last week she was lobbying for me to get her a puppy dog.  Now  I think she is reminded how much work that is and she gets the grandma benefits.

So we are all enjoying his antics (he's young, only 18 months old).  And even during these tough times, he makes all of us smile and laugh.

***

Have a safe and happy day!

The Flying Nun

 

Good morning!  Today I'm writing about "the flying nun"--no, not this one:

The original flying nun was Sister Mary Aquinas was born Mary Kinskey in 1894 and she was not only a nun in the Third Order of St. Francis but also an aviation/aerodynamics expert.

Well educated, she had a Master's degree in physics from Notre Dame.  Her interest in aviation she attributed to her students' interest in airplanes.  During World War II, she taught military personnel about aviation and aerodynamics; she also taught members of the military at Catholic University.  

1943

Dubbed "the flying nun", she also had an aviation license and referred to herself as "a natural bird."

Her efforts were honored by the United States Air Force who gave her a special citation in 1957.  When a member of the Air Force asked if there was anything the military could do for her--she answered she would like to learn more about jets.  The Air Force sent her to McGuire Air Force base for training!

In honor of Sister Mary Aquinas, I thought I would feature some airplane patterns today.  Sister Mary passed in 1985 at age 91.

First off is a piece you won't see anywhere else.  I know this was an original design made by CMG in 1930. 

She was 73 years old and therefore born in 1857.  What CMG must have seen in her life!  It was no wonder that she included the airplane on her coverlet!  The airplanes are flanked by scherenschnitte types of designs popular with the Pennsylvania Dutch:

It's a truly unique piece and it really startled me when I found it at a local flea market mall.

Here are two patterns that were offered by Aunt Martha in 1933.  The marketing suggested these be made for a boy.  Wonder what Sister Mary would think of that?

Some of the airplane quilts were used as signature quilts--and not just for military personnel.  In 1929, Mrs. Maggie Berry was the recipient of an airplane quilt.  Members of her club embroidered their names on the wings of the planes.  Included with the quilt was this poem:

"We send to you by airplane, our names in cream and blue

We think of you, though you are gone, 

It's one who sure was true

The things you knew were right and fair, 

and if we never meet again, in this our earthly life, 

we hope and pray we meet you where, 

There is no sin or strife."

Aeroplane, Nancy Page pattern also 1933:

During World War 2, many airplane quilts were made to raise funds.

Kansas City Star pattern, 1940

I hope you have a high flying day!

Flower Friday: November 3, 2023

 

Happy Friday!

Yesterday we awoke to temps in the high 20s here in A-town.  

And just like that, our flower season ends!😔

But I did take photos of some things that were doing well before that and maybe were you are still has some lingering blooms for the bees and birds!

Autumn roses.  The climbing roses tend to remain the most healthy and are the only roses I have left at this point!

Coneflowers had a second set of blooms on them.  At this point, I leave the seed heads up for the birds to munch on this winter.

Gardens change and this year I noticed more shade from neighbors' trees and such.  The toad lily did bloom but I think I have to move that next year.

Yeah for another set of cleome blooms!

I'm still very much in love with the fuchsia I bought in the early part of the season.  It was a great bloomer and really did attract hummingbirds to our garden!

I sure hope you have more blooms happening in your part of the country!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Grandmother Clark's Log Cabin

 

Good morning and happy Thursday!

It seems strange that we are already in the second day of November, more so because it was so warm last weekend her in eastern Pennsylvania.

Memory is so important as we grow older.  I see the struggles my mother has and even more so, my sister-in-law who recently had a stroke and has multiple health issues.  I'm intent on trying to continue learning as I grow old to battle memory loss but let's be honest...there were things I forgot even when I was in my 20s, 30s, and 40s.  Mainly, my memory always failed me (or blocked) names of men I dated during the 17 years between marriages.  What's even worse, I didn't even date that much but usually after one date, I'd learned what I needed to and didn't want to go on a second.  

So it's interesting to me that I can recall quilts so well.  Especially the ones that got away.  And one of those quilts I thought a lot about when I reviewed a 1931 catalog of Grandmother Clark's quilt patterns.

I saw a soft wool quilt in an unusual style years ago.  Now this was the early 2000s, or maybe even before.  Translation:  before the advent of this century's modern quilt patterns and even before quilting became popular on the new fangled thing called the internet.

As I said the quilt was wool and solid colors.  It had a soft look about it and I liked it despite it had a lot of orange and grey in it (two colors I don't care for).  I would now date the quilt circa 1910.  The pattern was different and not one I had seen before although it was simple in it's construction.  The block was concentric squares.  I suspect the blocks were 6 inches in diameter.  I admired and visited the quilt at a local flea market for months.  It was a little too pricey for me and I was very regretful when it got sold.

The quilt pattern was actually featured in Grandmother Clark's catalog.  The company called "Log Cabin" although it's not like the log cabin quilts we imagine.

Commonly known layout

 Most historians suggest that the commonly known pattern of log cabin (an ancient pattern going back to ancient Egypt) was frequently made after Lincoln's assassination and his humble childhood and log cabin home.  One of the more interesting tales I read was in a 1945 Anne Cabot marketing piece:

"Abraham Lincoln slept under such a log cabin quilt made of scraps of woolen and worsteds."   

I believe this to be very unlikely and part of the romantic marketing schemes prevalent in the 20th century.  In fact, Barbara Brackman cited that the earliest log cabin quilt she had seen was dated 1874 (see here to read the article).

Circa 1880s Log Cabin in commonly known layout

Today's modern quilter might use Grandmother Clark's block but place it on the diagonal.

Someday I may try to recreated the lovely grey and orange quilt I saw years ago.  Who knows?

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Plaid Quilts

 

Happy Wednesday!

I've been studying plaid quilts.  I've been reading a lot as my hand recovers and reviewed some of my quilt catalogs and books from the 20th century.

A while ago, I wrote about plaid quilts a while ago (here) before I embarked on my own gingham style quilt.  

To be honest, it's taken a good half century to overcome my prejudice against plaids;  my bias was rooted in having to wear ugly plaid Catholic school uniforms in my youth.  

But anyway....

Sometimes it is so important to review the old books and catalogs because you find even more things that you hadn't taken notice of previously.  Plaid quilts are very popular now and apparently they were during the 20th century.

"Scotch Plaid" quilt from a 1941 Mountain Mist catalog.  Twenty some years later, in the booklet, 15 quilt for Today's Living, the "Scotch Quilt" was introduced:

Years ago, Beth and I were dreaming of quilts we would make when she retired and I have to remind her of the "Plaid-ish Scrap Quilt" tutorial and pattern we admired a few years ago.  The free pattern is here.   Since then, it appears a second quilt tutorial has been added over at Kitchen Table Quilting.  The pattern is called "Plaid-ish 2 Quilt" and is available (also free) over here.

Have you made or considered making a plaid quilt?  

Have a safe and happy day!