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Old Time Quilting advice

I got a copy of a quilt book that was published in 1959. I was amused by some of the things written and thought you all might get a kick out of some of it.

"Quilt making is a simple art and lends itself to many pleasant interludes - while listening to the radio, chatting with friends, or as a bit of "pick up" work between household chores, for a quilt will be made during a period of time and not at one sitting."

"The quilting craft...offers a binder for (families). Father and the boys will find pleasure in making the quiting frame and its supporting stands, and in keeping them in top notch condition."

"A quilt must not be too dramatic. Your quilt must blend into its surroundings."

"Colors should harmonize with...the wood colors of the furniture...wallpaper and other decorations."

"Almost all materials suitable for making quilts come in a width of 36 inches."

(remember 36" fabric! It's been a long time since I've seen any)

The author has pretty firm ideas about quilts only being made by hand.

There is also a lengthy pattern section where she is pretty clear regarding which colors are best to use and when using a print is permissible.

Think this is how the quilt police got their start?

marcella

oh..."The Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting" by Marguerite Ickis

Reply to
Marcella Tracy Peek
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Does anyone remember when fabric stopped being loomed in 36" widths?.... ( just love trivia !)....Mary

Snipped: > I got a copy of a quilt book that was published in 1959. I was amused

Reply to
MB

I think I know how she got her last name.

Reply to
LN (remove NOSPAM)

We still get some fabric in th UK in 36" widths, I'm sure!?!

Reply to
Janner

When did the industry standard change to 45" widths? And why? Obviously it wasn't too terribly long ago. Was it after WWII? Did it have something to do with fashion or machinery? I'm curious.

--Lia

Reply to
Julia Altshuler

I was told it happened in the UK because we sold all our looms to india after the invention of the 45". So my grandad used to say anyway.

Charlie.

Reply to
Charlie

Yes, it was definitely after the War. You can still get fabrics from a 36" loom nowadays, eg Broderie Anglais. I have a feeling it was in the sixties. . In article , Julia Altshuler writes

Reply to
Patti

Reply to
Butterfly

Reply to
juliasb(nospam)

Reply to
juliasb(nospam)

I remember working at a fabric shop in the late 60s, and I'm sure we still had 36-inch fabric then, but 45-inch was becoming much more prevalent. I have no idea why 45-inch became the standard, but it could have been smart marketing on the part of the fabric manufacturers. If it took 2-1/2 yards of

36" fabric to make a dress but only 2 yards of 45" fabric, my guess is the consumer gravitated to the 45" fabric. Now, we're all smart enough to realize that the cost was probably about the same, because the cost for the 45" fabric was most likely higher than that of the 36" fabric. But if people felt they were getting by with less (we do let our minds play tricks on us sometimes) and then preferred the 45" fabric as a result, the manufacturers were probably quick to give them what they wanted.

Then again, it could have been due to changes in machinery!!!

Reply to
The Nielands

Reply to
taria

I don't know, but I still have a few pieces.

Nell in Austin

Reply to
Nell Reynolds

When I was a girl and young lady, EVERY department store had a fabric department, from Penneys and Sears up to the high end stores like Frost's (in San Antonio) that I could not afford. Joske's (later sold to Dillard's) was also high end, but had lower priced fabrics, too. That was in the days when you bought cotton, linen, wool, or silk. Very few blends, although I remember one gorgeous silk and wool Sunday dress I had -- I also had the figure to show it off. Oh, those were the days.

Nell in nostalgia

widths?....

Reply to
Nell Reynolds

Not all got sold to India - our Da Gama indigos are still in 36" width because the original machinery came from the UK and the plates for the designs. Now we have some Da Game solids also in 36" coz that stuff comes off the same production lines.

History is alive and well and living in South Africa

Last time I looked, Da Gama indigos were available, inter alia, from

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- but that was a while back.

Cheers for now

Reply to
Tutu Haynes-Smart

Yes, Nell I always wondered why those little machines 'died the death'. Perhaps nobody could be bothered to invent an electronic one!! . In article , Nell Reynolds writes

Reply to
Patti

The Hancock in my town still uses that. So nice to see a little of the past (a simpler and gentler time)

-- Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E

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Reply to
nana2b

I think a lot of them were abandoned during the era of double knits; knit fabric stretched when it was pulled through the machine and you didn't get an accurate measurement. Knits also have to be cut, not torn.

Julia > Yes, Nell

Reply to
Julia in MN

Reply to
juliasb(nospam)

Patterns carried the info for 36" fabric into the '70s. I remember thinking about that. I also bought fabric at JC Penny's, well into the '70s when I was working there. Just found a piece of 36" in a batch of stuff I bought from an estate sale a while back.

And remember, in Japan some fabric is woven at 13-14" wide. (for kimonos and yakutas.)

Pati, > B:

Reply to
Pati Cook

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