Monday, September 16, 2013

Crib Quilt 1928 Satin - Updated

Sometimes I add a quilt to my collection, not realizing it has connections to other pieces I own, until I get home.

Besides quilts, I have numerous old publications related to needlework.

One favorite is Needlecraft Magazine.  Not only do I enjoy the illustrations, I like the vintage needlework patterns.
This example is from June, 1928.
Subscriptions were fifty cents a year in the US, Canada was Sixty-five cents and other foreign countries cost seventy- five cents.  To give you some perspective, a loaf of bread at the time in the US was ten cents.

This issue features a crib quilt on the cover.
The cover quilt is a quilt in my collection.



This is my quilt.
When I got home with this one I was looking through reference materials both on my shelves and online.

What a pleasant surprise to find this issue of the magazine!

My example was made from a kit.  The instructions and kit were available in this June 1928 issue, as well as the lovely cover illustration.

My quilt was never used, or it shows no sign of it!
Advice was given in the instructions, "for a clever and unusual touch use textile paint on the details"

While I like some tinted linens I'm glad this maker only used hand quilting.


This is the Helen Grant illustration inside the magazine.
Note the pillow - my quilt did not have a matching pillow with it.  Another thing to be on the watch for...

"And where pray could a baby's natural adorableness be seen to better advantage than among the soft puffs of a quilted crib ensemble?"

Very sweet.
I wonder how many kits were sold?
How many quilts were completed?
Do you have one?  Seen one?




This is the full set of instructions.  Click to enlarge.
Note the first column where the design includes, "balanced with a charming adaptation of the familiar "feather" design so much used by old time quilters"

This is the ad for the kit.
The quilt and pillow were sold separately.
The first item is the quilt, the second is the pillow.
The transfer could be purchased with or without the sateen.  The sateen was available in pink or blue.



This is a back corner of my quilt.

The hand quilting was completed through the front, batting and the white fabric with the iron on transfer design.  The backing and the quilted unit were then sewn sandwiching the ruffle.  A few small tacks hold the back to the rest of the quilt.

I don't think this piece has ever been laundered.  I cant be sure if the dark transfer lines would have been less noticeable or gone.  





I have a few other satin type crib quilts.

This magazine pattern states, "Sateen is a wise material choice for a baby's quilted crib set: it looks nice...it quilts well, is soft - having body without bulk - and will launder easily"

The cover quilt example is a very soft and thin quilt.  The fabric looking more like a crepe.  Not a heavy satin like material of these other two examples.

The blue quilt does not have the same soft hand, rather it's thick and firm.  It is reversible.  The opposite side being pink. 
It has pink applied binding, hand stitched down.  
It is hand quilted in blue pearl cotton.








The third satin quilt I have is quilted in a flower pattern.  This piece is all in pink.

Hand quilted with a pearl cotton type thread, with an applied binding.  The binding is hand stitched down.
It too is a heavier quilt, fiber content unknown.

No sign of any transfer marks for the pattern.
No sign of a tag or maker.

Are they satin??
1894 - patent viscose rayon - it became known as artificial silk
1910 - Mfg. of artificial silk
1924 - the term rayon was first used




Last, and certainly not least, is a very special gift from a friend - a doll cradle.

Pink ribbon is woven through the wicker and tied in bows.

The doll quilt has velvet binding.





If you have one of these satin quilts I'd love to see it, send me a picture.
If you have information on these satin crib quilts I'd love to hear from you too!  I'm always looking for updates on research and references.

UPDATE:
Thank you for all the information. Watch for continued updates, as more readers are sending photos.
Here are updates as of 9/29/2013:
Lynn  (Quilts Vintage and Antique) found an ad for a McCalls baby quilt in their 1939 magazine, pattern 378.


Guess what I'm going to make with my own kaumagraph of the 1938 pattern?
I'm going to use real silk, not rayon.  Probably silk batting too.


Amity Quilter generously shared a picture of her quilt.  It has a blue reverse side.
hand quilted, freshly washed, it lost a bit of color in one spot.  Possible signs of a previous tag.
Perhaps a cottage industry?  Sold in department stores?

This quilt is from Doniene of Now It's Just Quilts blog.
   The quilt id her DH's, and was gifted to him and his mother in 1952.


References:
Peacock Boudior quilt is pictured in "Quilt the Fabric of Friendship - The York Quilt Documentation Project - Schiffer 2000.
pg 105 c.1920  84" x 67"
Mc Calls Pattern Kaumagraph No. 1586
Read about Kaumafraphs (wash out iron ons) HERE.  The company is still in business, specializing in tagless labels.  The opposite of a wash out iron on.
  Numerous McCalls kaumagraphs are listed on eBay and Etsy, including those for quilts.

14 comments:

  1. That is a wonderful find and nice that you have books to reference them with.

    Debbie

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  2. I love the serendipity of finding the same quilt for a pattern you already had.
    That is a fascinating article about gender specific clothing colors. I knew little ones used to all be dressed alike regardless of gender, but I hadn't ever heard anything about how that all changed. Loved learning about it--thanks!
    We have a quilt that was made for DH when he was born, so that would have been in 1953. Not as old as you are talking here. It is blue satin (I think) on one side and pink on the other. Quilted with pink pearl cotton, I believe (haven't had it out in a long time), and the edges are crotched with the same pink pearl cotton.

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  3. That is so fun to find that quilt!! I don't have any quilts or information about satin quilts, but I do have a doll cradle almost identical to that one. Perhaps a little bigger - hard to tell from your photo - but mine is pink. It was given to me when I was about three years old.

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  4. How interesting for you to find the pattern in your own home and be able to read about your little quilt! Their marketing was really very different than it is today.:)

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  5. I just bought a satin crib quilt at an estate sale a week or so ago. How nice to see this post with the reference to kits being available, dates, etc. etc. Your quilts are lovely! The one I purchased is about 37x47 inches, the front is a light peach or apricot color and the back is a silver satin. Entirely hand quilted with a knife edge hand whip stitch finish. When the quilt is held to the light, some dark spots can be seen which I think are seeds or other chaff left in the cotton filler. I've learned that many quilts of this type were made in Kentucky as part of the cottage quilt industry there. I'll try to send you a photo of mine when I locate your email address.

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  6. Wow, satin. I wonder how available it was then??

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  7. What a sweet little find! I do love the look of these satin crib quilts -and great to have all the background information thanks.
    Hilda

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  8. Love your satin quilts -- the quilting especially is wonderful! Cool cradle too!

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  9. I love finding some ephemera associated with a quilt in my collections. The connection makes it so special. I have a couple of satin crib quilts. Will have to dig them out, don't think I have ever photographed them. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  10. I do have a sateen crib quilt!! It was Mike's when he was a baby!! I will send a photo later today!!! I loved this post. Though I don't collect them, I love old quilting magazine, patterns pamphlets, etc!! What a treasure for you!! Always love all your info!!

    Blessings

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  11. Pretty quilts that bring back memories. I had a similar quilt as a little one in the early 60's. I don't think it was hand made but I can't know as the thing fell apart. I loved it to shreds! I think it was lavender. Thanks for sharing your collection and knowledge.

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  12. interesting. I hadn't really known much about these satin baby quilts.
    I love the ruffle and the ribbon through the wicker.

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  13. what a fun surprise to discover that you have additional info on the very quilt that you acquired. you have several lovely examples of this type of quilt too.

    reading your posts is always so interesting. i really appreciate your care with the details~!

    when my daughter was born my brother purchased and gave her a quilt that was similar to these. if i remember right the backing was flannel though. i will see if i can find it and if i can i'll take some photos for you. i believe that it was made by the mother of one of his friends. she was elderly and did these quilts as a way to boost her limited income.

    :-)
    libbyQ

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  14. Isn't it wonderful to have documents featuring your particular quilt. So much history . ThAnks for sharing.

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Thanks for your comments!