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.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Cradles

A quilter recently asked me what a good size is for a cradle.
My initial thought was, only one cradle?

The context of the conversation had to do with collecting and making doll quilts and displaying them in cradles.

I understand that space can be a concern.  No matter what kind of space you have I think the details of the cradle should 'speak' to you.  You may not be able to stop at one.

The bedding can be tucked around the edges or draped across the end of the cradle.

I 'need' several bedding accessories yet to fully outfit my collection of beds and cradles.  I'll save the doll bed collection for another post.





The largest piece I have is an antique infant cradle.

I loved the detail and patina of the piece.  It is very heavy and reinforced - which has enabled it to survive many decades.

It is large enough I sometimes use it to place full size folded quilts and coverlets in it for display.
Cradles aren't just for baby and doll quilts.




Each time I say I am done adding doll beds and cradles to the collection...some detail speaks to me and another one comes home.

Never say never, right?

This little cutout and painting detail was too wonderful to resist.

This cradle is assembled with square nails.






The tiniest cradle I have is a bonnet top souvenir piece from Poosie Nansies in Mauchline Village UK.

I have a little china baby for it, but so far no tiny bedding.  This cradle is only 4 1/2" long.

I've never bought a cradle for a quilt, I'm more likely to make or buy little quilts for the beds.






Shaker Hancock Village 24" x 24" x 66.5"  
The largest cradle I'm aware of is for adults.

"Adult cradles were used at several Shaker villages.  They provided comfortable space for the most debilitated of patients to rest and be soothed by rocking.  It is now thought that these cradles were used to comfort the terminally ill in their final days."  from the book..."Inspired Innovations A Celebrity of Shaker Ingenuity" M.Stephen Miller



Do you have a cradle for your doll quilts?
Would you recommend a size?
Are you currently looking for a cradle for your doll quilts?
Have a great week!  I'm going to get busy making some cradle sized sheets...



Monday, September 2, 2013

A Gift Quilt From 2002

It is always interesting for me to look back on past projects. I thought I would share this quilt from 2002.  I saw Lori of Humble Quilts post about this quilt and knew she was one of the pattern designers.  A good time to share my version.

I was looking for a quilt to make for a special friend who was moving.  This pattern fit my criteria;  it had history, piecing, applique, colorful and fun.  I put the information about each block (provided with the detailed patterns) and made a booklet that was gifted with the quilt.

You can usually find the magazine with all the patterns on eBay.  I think it was later published separately as a pattern pack.

America Quilts Civil War Sampler 2002
Mc Call's Quilting



87" x 87"
This is the quilt on my friend's deck.
Some place in my archives I have closeups of every block showing my fabric choices.  It is all machine stitched.

Designers listed on the pattern:
Lori DeJarnatt, Patty Harants, Ruthie Houghton, Paula Libby, Carol Malgren, Gabrielle Owens, Janet Peterson, Jill Reid and Stephanie Winn, Barbara Childs and Denise Davis.

I saw my friend recently and was pleased to hear she is using the quilt.
It is the only sampler quilt I've made - how about you?


Loris posts about her quilt are HERE and HERE