Quilt Papers

"150 Crazy Patch Work Stitches"

2011-04-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

I just found another Singer Crazy Quilt Stitches Trade Card. The front is a bit plainer than the ones with 100 stitches(or blank back), but the same basic layout with an image of the latest machine in the center spot.

This marks the first time I have seen the 150 Crazy Patch Work Stitches on a Singer tradecard. You can see that the stitches are borrowed heavily from Brainerd and Armstrong, (see 100 Crazy Stitches post) but are now lined up in rows.

There is the word 'copyrighted' on the front (lower right hand corner), but it is not dated.

Margaret Techy's Old English in Redwork

2011-03-13T19:33:00.001-07:00

This is one of the most recent quilts I added to my collection. I am posting it in honor of the red and white quilt exhibit being held in New York City this month.

Margaret Techy designed the series quilt Old English for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1933. The series contained 24 different floral / bird motifs and a 'Made By' motif. This quilt uses only 10 of the motifs, and repeats most of them several times. The bird motifs are block numbers 12 and 14.

Here is the lay-out for the 28 blocks based on the motif number accompanying the newspaper clipping:
(10) (14) (22) (10)
(2) (2) (12)
(14) (12) ( 7) (12)
(11) (3) (8)
( 7) (15) (3) (15)
(8) (12) (11)
(12) ( 7) ( 8) (11)
(10) (11) (7)

You can see this quilt done in blues at http://ctqg.blogspot.com/2009/03/bluework-garden.html

Infinite Variety:Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts
Date: March 25–30, 2011
Sponsored by: American Folk Art Museum
Location: Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave, (between 66 and 67 Streets), New York City
Hours: Fri, Sat, Mon & Tues: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm; Sun & Wed: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm;
Cost: Free to the Public
American Folk Art Museum Website: http://www.folkartmuseum.org/

If you can't make it to the show in NYC - there is a 'virtual' red and whte quilt exhibit posted at:
http://reproquiltlover.blogspot.com/2011/03/red-and-white-quilt-exhibit-bloggers.html

Grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and enjoy the show!

NOW YOU CAN SEE THE INSTALLATION PHOTOS of the R&W SHow in NYC:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanfolkartmuseum/sets/72157626340382146/with/5556189660/

"100 Crazy Patchwork Stitches"

2011-03-01T19:28:00.001-08:00

“100 Crazy Patchwork Stitches”
During the height of the crazy quilt rage, trade cards and stitch guides merged into one. On July 1st, 1884 the most iconic one – used to advertise the Singer Sewing Machine – was patented. That is not to say that it was made for Singer – in fact the original card had a darling little girl in the center, with the patent date in the front and ‘100 Crazy Patchwork Stitches’ on the back.

The card had areas for printing a message in the lower right front of the card and in the center of the stitch guide on the back. Singer’s trade card eliminated the Pat’d July 1st, 1884 on the front of the card and changed the smiling little girl in the center to an image of their latest sewing machine model. The stitch guide on the back was altered to incorporate a larger area for ad messaging. In most cases, the patent date of 1884 is printed on the back.

Row 1 Images:
1-2) Girl in Center: Compliments if George Copeland, Franklin, N.Y. (same message front and back) [I have another one from R. & J. Gilchrist, Boston. Ribbons by the pound, and embroidery silks for Crazy Patchwork];
3) Sewing Machine: Front: Latest and Best (by machine) and Have you seen the new Improved Family Singer Sewing Machine? (bottom area);
4) Back: The “Improved Family” Singer Sewing Machine, Is very light running, has a high arm, and makes the finest stitch of any machine ever built. Call at our office. No trouble to show them. The Singer Man’f’g Co., 180 Summit St. Toledo. (Patented 1884 in tiny print at bottom.)

Row 2 Images - Other Crazy Patchwork Images on Trade Cards:
1) Girl No. 38 – Holding a Fan: he Popular Sterling Piano, 179 & 181 Wabash Avenue.
2) Girl No. 38 – Blue Hair Ribbon: Blank [I added my info.] These two images are very similar – there are at least four different girls in this set. Are there any more?
3) The 20 piece Crazy Quilt, USM Paper Mill Budget, Paper & Envelopes of Superior Quality, Assorted Colors & Tints, U.S. Mail, Series No. 617

Row 3 Images:
1-2) Crazy Stitches No. 4 (pg 84), Crazy Stitches No. 2 (pg 82) from Art Needlework, Knitting, Crocheting and Embroidery by The Brainerd & Armstrong Co. (1885)[There are 4 pages of Crazy Stitches in this book – the other two are mostly motifs. It is not known at this time if these were the ones included with the silk packages.]
3) 100 Crazy Stitches from the front inside cover of Diagrams of Quilt Sofa and Pin Cushion Patterns, 10th Revised Edition, Ladies Art Co., St Louis, Mo. [VERY CLEAR that LAC borrowed from B&A]

Two other well known companies used ‘100 Crazy Stitches’ in their ads from 1884 until 1902. Silk thread manufacturer Brainerd & Armstrong Co. was advertising by September 1884 and was still using the term in 1895. The Ladies Art Company had ads in 1900-1902 offering the stitches in their catalogs. By 1913, they still included ‘crazy stitches’ in their ads, but dropped the 100. Check out the text in their ad – quite interesting.

It is interesting to note, that from 1884 to 1887 Brainerd & Armstrong sold 1 ounce of embroidery silk for 40 cents, but by 1889, the same amount of silk was ‘half price’ but still 40 cents! Designs for 100 styles of Crazy Stitches were enclosed in each package sold.

Brainerd & Armstrong Co.
Ad Text from Folio, October 1885, Page 143:
Crazy Quilts and Patchwork. About 10 different colors of embroidery silk, making an ounce package, will be sent by mail on receipt of 40 cents in postal note or stamps. Also one dozen beautiful applique figures, assorted styles, for 50 cents. One hundred different designs for crazy stitches will be sent with every box of embroidery silk.

Ad Text from Good Housekeeping, Vol. 2, May 1 1886, page iv:
To embroider crazy quilts – get Brainerd & Armstrong’s factory ends, call Waste Embroidery. 40 cents will buy one ounce, which would cost One Dollar in Skeins. All good silk and beautiful colors. Designs for 100 styles of Crazy Stitches enclosed in each package.

Ad Text from Science, Vol. 19m, 1892, page 56:
Waste Embroidery Silks. Factory Ends at half price; one ounce in a box. All good silk and good colors. Sent by mail on receipt of 40 cents; 100 crazy stitches in each package.

Brainerd & Armstrong Co. List of Ads:
Report of annual convention By Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Vermont, Sept 1884, page 101;
The Current, Vol. 4, August 1885, page 430;
Folio, Oct 1885, page 143;
Good Housekeeping, Vol. 2, May 1 1886, page iv;
The Churchman, Vol. 53, Jun 26, 1886, page 733;
The Commencement Annual By University of Michigan, June 1886, page 88;
The Chautauquan, Vol. 7, 1887;
The Century: A Popular Quarterly, Vol. 31, April 1886, page 993

Says 1/2 price – but still 40 cents.....
The Old & New Testament student, Volume 9, Dec 1889, page 398;
The Atlantic Monthly, 1890, page 288;
The Chautauquan, Vol. 10, March 1890, page 787;
The Illustrated American, August 29, 1892, page 97;
Science, Vol 19, 1892, pages 56, 98, 112;
The Outlook, Vol 50, 1894, page 731;
St. Andrew’s Cross, Vol. 10, 1895, Feb. 1896, Page 147

Brainerd & Armstrong Co. or The Brainerd & Armstrong Spool Silk Co.Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; New London, Conn.; Boston, Mass.

Ladies Art Co. List of Ads:
Quilt Patterns Sofa and Pin Cushion Designs (400 designs)
Home and Flowers: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine to the Home Beautiful, Nov 1900, Vol. 9, page 27;
Home Needlework Magazine, 1901, Vol. 3, page 94

Quilt Patterns Sofa and Pin Cushion Designs (420 Designs)
Home and Flowers: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine to the Home Beautiful, Dec 1901, page 63;
The Delineator, 1902, pages 635, 819 and 1095

Ad Text from Home & Flowers, Vol. 9, 1900:
Quilt Patterns Sofa and Pin Cushion Designs
Every quilter should have our book of 400 Designs, containing the prettiest, queerest, most grotesque, scarcest patterns, from old log cabin to stars and puzzle designs, unique, beautiful, including 100 crazy stitches, set post paid for 10c. Ladies’ Art Co., Dept 19R, St. Louis, Mo.

Ad Text from Hints: The Entertainment Magazine, Vol. XVI, No. 2, Oct. 1913, Page 3:
Quilt Patterns. Every quilter should have our book of 450 designs, containing the prettiest, queerest, scarcest, most grotesque patterns, from old log cabin to stars and puzzle designs; also crazy stitches & Cat.All postp’d for six 2c stamps (or silver dime) 3 for 25c. Ladies’ Art Co., Block 129, St. Louis, Mo.

450 designs by 1913 – mentions Crazy Stitches but not the ‘100’ in front. On the back cover of the 1922 version of the LAC catalog, only Crazy Stitches is printed and there are fewer than 50 stitches and motifs.

More information regarding the Ladies Art Co. can be found at http://ladiesartcompany.com

The Rainbow Quilt Block Company

2009-08-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

The grandson of William Bray Pinch - Randy Niemann and his wife Amy - have made the Rainbow Quilt Block Company (Cleveland, Ohio) patterns available once more. Mr. Pinch's company, founded in the mid-1920s sold colorful pre-printed quilt blocks that could be embroidered by color. He developed a printing process whereby the floss color was printed on the fabric and all you had to do is follow the color and make beautiful quilt blocks.

I met Amy in October of 2008 at their home in Cleveland. Mr. Pinch's only daughter (and Randy's mom), Verna, had saved boxes and more boxes of patterns, tools and equipment that she and her dad used to make the quilt blocks over the years. Amy graciously showed me a some of the perforated parchment patterns and wooden print rollers they had used.

The photo is of a poster (it's about 3x5-feet in size) that Randy recalls were like the ones hanging in the 4915 Wichita Avenue factory in Cleveland, Ohio when he was a young boy.

Amy spent months reproducing the original designs so quilters everywhere can make their own Rainbow quilt. See their web page for more history about the company and order patterns.

http://www.rainbowquiltdesigns.com/

Memory Room by Don Blanding

2009-04-10T11:29:00.001-07:00

This poem, Memory Room by Don Blanding, was published in 1935, in the same-titled book of poetry. It is related to the poem Crazy Quilt, also by Blanding. Click on the image and it will pop up as a larger image.

Crazy Quilt by Don Blanding

2009-04-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

I found this poem earlier this year, called Crazy Quilt. It is by Don Blanding from his book Memory Room published in 1935. I will post the poem Memory Room seperately - not quilt related, by it is a wonderful read and goes well with the Crazy Quilt poem.

The Crazy Quilt Poem

2009-03-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here is the poem, The Crazy Quilt, published in the October 25, 1890 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, on page 310. It is written to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. It is quite a hoot. Enjoy.

The Crazy Quilt

Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
What you failed to perceive at the twilight's last gleaming;
A crazy concern that through the long night
O'er the bed where you slept was so saucily streaming;
The silk patches so fair,
Round, three-cornered and square
Gives proof that the lunatic bed-quilt is there.
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania triumphantly raves,
And maid, wife, and widow are bound as its slaves.

On that quilt dimly seen as you rouse from your sleep
Your long-missing necktie in silence reposes,
And the filoselle insects that over it creep,
A piece of your vest half-conceals, half discloses;
There is Kensington-stitch
In designs that are rich,
Snow-flake, arrasene, point russe and all sich.
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania, how long will it rave?
And how long will fair woman be held its slave?

And where is the wife who so vauntingly swore
That nothing on earth her affections could smother?
She crept from your side at the chiming of four
And is down in the parlor at work on another.
Your breakfasts are spoiled,
And your dinners half-boiled,
And your efforts to get a square supper are foiled
By the crazy-quilt mania that fiendishly raves,
And to which all the women are absolute slaves.

And thus it has been since the panic began,
In many loved homes it has wrought desolation,
And cursed is the power by many a man,
That has brought him so close to the verge of starvation,
But make it she must,
She will do it or bust,
Beg, swap, and buy pieces or get them on trust,
Oh, the crazy-quilt mania, may it soon cease to rave
In the land of the free and the home of the brave.

-Unidentified

Redwork Ornament

2008-12-23T04:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the snowy NE! I have had some time to doodle - several school snow days home with the kids. I hope you enjoy it. Have a safe and healthy holiday and a wonderful new year!

...as always, for personal use only...

Ephemera Dedicated to Ornamental Embroidery Stitches 1884-85

2008-08-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Ephemera Dedicated to Ornamental Embroidery Stitches 1884-85

By the early 1880’s Art Needlework and Fancy Work companies issued catalogs selling all sorts of designs for embroidery and fancy work – Mrs. Farnham, Patten Publishing Co., J.F. Ingalls, T.E. Parker and Chas. E. Bentley’s.

Many of these companies specializing in perforated stamping patterns began selling packages of waste fabrics of satin, silks and plushes, along with flosses to ladies enamored by the craze. Some of the kits had pre-stamped designs for working in out-line or Kensington-stitch embroidery. Sometimes they even included pre-embroidered floral sprays on satin. Flowers, birds, spider webs, Kate Greenaway figures, oriental fans and owls were some of the most popular motifs.

Right around our country’s centennial, ladies magazines published numerous articles on the latest needlework fad – Japanese or Crazy Patchwork.

By 1884, several of these companies published booklets dedicated to stitch designs and layout patterns for blocks: J.F. Ingalls, T.E. Parker and Chas. E, Bentley’s to name a few. Some merchandizing companies took advantage of the craze and published stitch booklets as advertisements for their stores: R.L. Spencer and Strawbridge & Clothier.

In the image are several of the booklets and a trade card, all date to 1884-85. These probably represent some of the first publications dedicated to ornamental embroidery stitches.

Image description

Clockwise starting from the upper right:
Crazy Patchwork, published by Strawbridge & Clothier (cover and transfer design); Patchwork Stitches, published by the R.L. Spencer Co.; Ornamentals Stitches by T.E. Parker (cover and two sample pages); Fancy Designs for Ornamenting Oriental Work by Mrs. M. Haehnlen; Instructions for Patchwork by J.F. Ingalls; and the front and back of a Singer Sewing Machine trade card. [Note the images are not to scale.]

It is interesting to note that the T.E. Parker, J.F. Ingalls and the R.F. Spencer booklets share several of the same engravings. The Ingalls and Parker catalogs for perforated stamping patterns are also very similar, just as the Farnham and Bentley’s catalogs are much the same.

Also, the images in the Strawbridge and Clothier are also used by Weldon’s in their Guides to Practical Needlework. I suspect that the Bentley’s booklet, Crazy Stitches for Patchwork Quilts is similar to the Strawbridge one as it is described as have six 10-inch blocks with instructions. The Strawbridge booklet has six blocks also. [This is just a guess, since I do not have the Bentley booklet or an image of it.]

Ephemera Descriptions

A book of Fancy Designs for Ornamenting Oriental Work (1884)
Designed and Published by Mrs. M. Haehnlen, Chicago, Ill.
Price 25 cents
24 pages (plus covers)

Crazy Patchwork (1884)
Published by Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia
Price 25 cents
10 pages (plus covers)

Ornamental Stitches for Embroidery (1885)
Presented by T.E. Parker, Lynn, Mass.
Price 10 cents
14 pages (plus covers – tan in color)
Dimensions: Approx. 4.25 x 4.5-inches

Instructions for Patchwork (1884)
J.F. Ingalls, Lynn, Mass.
Price 15 cents
32 pages (plus covers – grey in color)
Dimensions: 4 x 6-inches

Patchwork Stitches and Ladies’ Fancy Work Guide (undated)
Published by The R.L. Spencer Co., Hartford, Conn.
Price 15 cents
16 pages (plus covers)
Dimensions 1: 4.25 x 6.25-inches (orange-brown cover, light green pages)
Dimensions 2: 5.5 x 8-inches (tan cover, light green pages)

100 Crazy Patchwork Stitches (1884)
Singer Manufacturing Co. Trade Card
Dimensions: Approx 7 x 4.5-inches

Crazy Quilt Library Listing

2008-08-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, its been a while since I posted - busy with kids and family life. Then to top it all off, I got pneumonia. I'm just getting over that thank goodness. I've given a few lectures on Crazy Patchwork Quilting this summer - using my library of more recent publications and my 19th century ephemera (more on that in a later post). Here is a compilation of my library - plus one I would love to add to my collection - Crazy Quilt Work Book by David K. Small (1997).

Louise's Listing of Crazy Quilt and Embroidery Books:

Dorothy Bond : Crazy Quilt Stitches (Spiral-bound - 1981) [Stitches]

Cindy Brick :
Crazy Quilts: History-Techniques-Embroidery Motifs (HC - 2008) [History]
Hanky-Panky Crazy Quilts (PB - 2002)

Linda Causee :
An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs (4178) (PB - 1997)
Learn to Make a Crazy Quilt (4185) (PB - 1998)

Mary Conroy : The Complete Book of Crazy Patchwork (HC - 1985)

Jane Davis : Bead Embroidery, The Complete Guide (Spiral-bound - 2005)

Patricia Eaton : The Big Book of Crazy Quilt Stitches (Pamphlet - 1999)

Cindy Gorder : Beaded Crazy Quilting (PB - 2005)

Joan Gordon : Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible (Spiral-bound - 2005)

Penny McMorris : Crazy Quilts (HC - 1984) [History]

J. Marsha Michler :
Crazy Quilt Decor (PB)
Crazy Quilted Heirlooms and Gifts (PB - 2001)
Crazy Quilting - The Complete Guide (Spiral-bound - 2008)
Crazy Quilts by Machine (PB - 2000)
Motifs for Crazy Quilting (PB)
The Magic of Crazy Quilting (PB - 2003)

Judith Baker Montano :
Crazy Quilt Odyssey (PB - 1991)
Elegant Stitches: An Illustrated Stitch Guide (Spiral-bound - 1995)
The Art of Silk Ribbon Embroidery (PB - 1993)
The Crazy Quilt Handbook (PB - 1986)
The Crazy Quilt Handbook, Revised 2nd Edition (PB - 2001)

Di an Niekerk : Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork (2005)

Barbara Randle :
Barbara Randle's Crazy Quilting With Attitude (PB)
Barbara Randles More Crazy Quilting With Attitude (PB - 2005)
Crazy Quilting (PB - 2003)

Carole K. Samples : Treasury of Crazyquilt Stitches: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Hand Embroidery Inspired by Antique Crazyquilts (Paperback - 1999) [Stitches]

David K. Small : Crazy Quilt Work Book (1997) – OOP

Rita Weiss : Ribbon Embroidery for Crazy Quilts (PB - 2002)

Other Books :
Japanese Quilts by Jill Liddell & Yuko Watanabe [Japanese patchwork coat made in 1560]

Victorian Embroidery by Barbara Morris [historical perspective, all types of needlework]

Ladies Art Company Trade for Bentley’s

2008-04-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Just recently, fellow ephemera collector and I did a trade. Connie Chunn, most respected expert on all things Ladies Art Company (LAC) related, had coveted a LAC company coupon I had in my collection for many years. We met via the Quilt History List and Ebay – we both shared similar tastes in collecting all things pertaining to the LAC. A few years ago, I shared with her a CD of images of the many LAC catalogs I had in my collection, plus the colored card patterns sold by the company – and the coupon.

Connie wanted to trade the LAC coupon for an original 'Bentley's Catalogue, Part One. Five Thousand Stamping Patterns." Copyrighted, 1886, by C. E. Bentley, 12 W. 14th Street, New York, (208 pages).

This past winter, I finally agreed to the trade. I know my coupon went to a good home, and I got a much sought catalog of embroidery patterns! The pages were very similar to the Mrs. T.G. Farnham’s Home Beautiful catalog offered by the Michigan Museum.

I decided to do a little comparing of the Bentley and Farnham catalogs and noted that the page numbering were in the same style, but the layouts for the pages were different. For example, on page 96 of Farnham’s catalog, the same image of children doing a tug-of-war is on page 82 of the Bentley’s catalog. The item id numbers are different, but both are priced at 50 cents.

It is interesting to note, that Bentley’s and Farnham’s were business neighbors - 10 West 14th Street (Farnham) and 12 West 14th Street (Bentley’s) in New York City. Looks like they shared patterns with each other – and possibly publishers too.

Rainbow Quilts

2008-02-20T03:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings, It is with sadness that I let you know that Verna R. (Pinch) Niemann, the daughter of William Bray Pinch passed away on January 29, 2008, she was 81years old. Her daughter-in-law Amy is working to bring back the much loved designs from the Rainbow Quilt Block Company of Cleveland, Ohio.

On a happier note, Pam, a fellow member of QHL (Quilt History List), sent me images of a summer spread and pillow cases her mother-in-law made, that I thought you might enjoy them. The summer spread has Sunbonnet motifs and the pillow cases have some Teddy Bears and Kewpies on them.

Pam pointed her MIL Alwynne, of Lake Placid Florida, to the blog, to which she wrote: "Louise tells of the Broome County quilting club, I perked up. I was born in Binghamton, NY which I think is in Broome County. She also mentions Johnson City. My great aunt lived there & I'd visit her. I was encouraged to bring my trumpet for Aunt Belle played the piano & we'd ride the bus to evening church so I could play. "

Pam is in Illinois, Alwynne is in Florida, and I am in New York - and the internet brought us together. It truly is a small world.

Of the Coast of New Sealand

2008-02-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

A bit of departure of my normal postings, but I have had several requests to post some of the works I make. As you know I do quilt a bit of hand embroidery. I also like other hand work: crazy quilts and beading. Here is an example of a tote bag I made in 2006. It was a challenge from the Art Q mini-group I belong to. It is a small group of quilters that meet at each other’s homes every month. We like to try new and innovative techniques and create art quilt projects for our enjoyment.

Every year we try and have a challenge. In 2006, we decided to do a color scheme challenge. We finally chose Salmon, Olive and Teal as our color choice. We put types of ‘ingredients’ on slips of paper and passed around a hat and picked one out.

The following are the guidelines used we for the challenge:

1. Each participant will be assigned an ‘ingredient’ to provide. You will have ‘ingredients’ from everyone, including yourself, plus the original focus fabric. Ingredients: Cotton Fabrics, Glitzy Fabrics, Fibers/Yarns, Beads/Embellishments.

2. Our color scheme will be SALMON–TEAL–OLIVE. You may add other colors to your final creation; however, you piece should contain all three challenge colors.

3. You can create ANYTHING you want (wearable art, accessories, wall hanging, a doll, etc.)

4. You must use some of EVERY ingredient (but not all of every ingredient).

After recieving the 'ingredients' - they screamed sea creatures to me. Every evening for about four months I stitched the fishes while my sons did their homework. I applied the seaweed using fusible applique and machine stiched into place. After that, the fibers were hand-couched to the jeans background. [Yes, the bag is made from an old pair of jeans.] The 3-D creatures were finally sewn into place, along with the fish beads and shells.

It is always a conversation piece when I go to quilt shows or shop hops. I hope you enjoy it too.

Rainbow Quilt Block Company

2008-01-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

Rainbow Quilt Block Company
4915 Wichita Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio

The Rainbow Quilt Block Company was founded by William Pinch. He touted himself on his fliers as the “Quilt Block Specialist” and “Maker of Pretty Quilt Blocks.” His early designs were often sets of children’s quilt motifs, such as Teddy Bears, Kewpies, Sunbonnets and Dutch Kiddies, and came in sets of 12. The blocks were also sold at dry goods stores individually or in kits. These were mainly 9-inch blocks.

The name ‘Rainbow’ came from a process Mr. Pinch developed in printing the blocks in the color they were to be embroidered – red, yellow, brown, green, blue, etc. [Later blocks, that I have seen do not have the different colors stamped on them – only blue.] The company also had designs of state flowers, birds and with both, for the 48 states that were in the union at that time. These patterns were sold by the company and as subscriber premiums for Needlecraft Magazine (Needlecraft/Home Arts) from Augusta, Maine.

Mr. Pinch also designed many blocks that combined embroidery and appliqué. They had designs stamped on each background block – typically 12-18 inches, and each of the colored appliqué pieces. The pieces were button-hole stitched into place and embroidered with details. These types of blocks were sold individually and as kits of 12 at dry goods stores, such as F.W. Woolworth.

The company sold quilt kits and blocks separately, with and without the floss. Fine strong white muslin was used for the quilt blocks, and “Fruit of the Loom” cotton was used for the appliqué. For half the price, along with return postage, customers could send in their own cloth for printing, and Mr. Pinch supplied the appliqué pieces.

Mr. Pinch’s daughter, Verna continued selling the quilt block patterns well into the 1970’s from her home in Florida. Her children (Mr. Pinch’s grandchildren) have agreed that it’s time to re-release the patterns.

They have formed The Rainbow Quilt Block Company LLC and have reserved domain names for the company. There are over 1,100 designs that Amy (a granddaughter-in-law) is scanning and digitizing from the 10 plus boxes Verna had saved of the original Mr. Pinch patterns. As of January 2008, Amy has around 200 of them ready.

A web designer is currently working on a web page and they have plans to sell the patterns as iron-on transfers. I will post more on this as the company moves forward.

Several members of AQSG are doing research on this company, the founder and their patterns.

William Bray Pinch

William Bray Pinch was born on April 20, 1880 in Cleveland Ohio. He was married to Signe Ingeborg Dahlman. He died in January 1972. William was the son of Alpha Warren Pinch and Sarah Adelaid Ferin.

Walter P. Webber, Mail Order System

2007-12-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

Walter P. Webber's of Lynn, Mass. was established in 1890. They sold both iron-on and perforated patterns, along with pre-stamped goods and fancy work materials. According to the 1880 census, Walter P. Webber was born in 1859, and was working as a telegraph operator. He was single and 21 years old, making him 31 when he started his mail order service.

I did some research using the Lynn, Mass. directories (they can be found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~maclynn/ ). Several stamping pattern companies were located in Lynn - J. F. Ingalls, T.E. Parker and Walter P. Webber that I know of.

Webber's was still listed in the 1934 directory. The address in both the 1934 and 1917 city directories is: 73 Harwood Road.

In 1893, they published Webber's Illustrated Catalogue of New Stamping Outfits. (I unfortunatley do not have it.) According to 'A Guide to American Trade Catalogs, 1744-1900,' By Lawrence B. Romain, Page 115:

1893 Lynn NNMMWEBBER, WALTER P. Webber's ill. catalog of new patterns for fabrics, stamping outfits and supplies. 44pp. of designs and ills. In wrap.

What I do have is the 1913-14, Walter P. Webber's Catalog of Modern Embroidery. In this catalog, they are sold both iron-on and perforated patterns. They have a child's 'kindergarden apron' that is stamped with a Bernhardt Wall image from his 'summer sunbonnets' postcard.

The other one I have is The Art of Embroidery and Illustrated Description of Fancy Stitches, Tinted Art Novelties and Linen Stamped Goods. This booklet is undated, but there is a calendar page from April 29, 1896 inserted in it.

The Directories:

Webber is in both 1he 1917 and the 1934 directory. The directores list the person's name, occupation, address of employment and living address. Doing a search on the company address yielded names of the people who worked there (and lived in Lynn, Mass.).

1917 Lynn City Directory

Webber Walter P (Lizzie L) embroideries 73 Harwood h 75 do

Ashworth Anna M designer 73 Harwood bds 10 Jones ter

Knowlton Helen J clerk 73 Harwood b 33 Bloomfield

Robinson Dorotha clerk 73 Harwood bds 48 Whiting

Stevens Mildred J clerk 73 Harwood b 75 do

Story William P com tray 73 Harwood h at Salem

1934 Lynn City Directory

Webber Walter P (Mildred J) embroideries 73 Harwood h 75 do

Arnold Irene clk 73 Harwood r 33 Brimblecom

Keating Lester E (Alice E) stamper 73 Harwood h 48 Barrett

Legro Luella F forwmn 73 Harwood r 671Western av

Mess Lydia A Mrs stitcher 73 Harwood r 274 Boston

Packard Esther M Mrs bkpr 73 Harwood h 5 Chase

Smith Alice M Mrs stitcher 73 Harwood r 604 Essex

Smith Paul T ctr 73 Harwood r 5 Chase

TAX LIST - April 1, 1919 - April 1, 1920

NAME AND ADDRESS VALUATION TAX

Webber, Walter P., 75 Harwood 60 1.30

Webber, Walter P., Inc., 75 Harwood 1550 33.64

Abbreviations:

b or bds - boards; bkpr - bookkeeper; clk - clerk; ctr - cutter; do - ditto; h - house; rd - road; rms - rooms

An interesting thing to note, is that Walter Webber lived next door to his business, and in the 1934 directory, the 1917 clerk, Mildred J. Stevens - who also lived in his home then, was now listed as his wife.

In the 1910 census, Lizzie S. is listed as Walter's spouse, whereas in the 1920 and 1930 census, Mildred J. is listed as the spouse. Some where between 1917 and 1920, either Lizzie died, or something, but by 1920, Mildred was now the wife.

Mrs. Farnham's Catalogue of Stamping Patterns

2007-09-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here is another great resource for Victorian embroidery motifs. Deborah Harding (author of Red and White: American Redwork Quilts and Patterns) and the Michigan Museum has made this ca. 1886 catalog available on cd or b/w copy book. The official title of this catalogue is:

Catalogue of Stamping Patterns Embracing All of the Latest and Choicest Designs Used in Connection with the Illustrated Catalogue “Home Beautiful,” A Treatise of Decorative Art Needlework and Embroidery Materials

by Mrs. T.G. Farnham

Quite a mouthful. You can order the cd via their web site at: https://secure.museum.msu.edu/MTAPStore/sku.asp?time=733&sku=CD0001

This catalog has hundreds of motifs. I haven't done a full check on them, but they are very similar to the Briggs, Ingalls and Bentley catalogs. The catalog is for perforated stamping patterns (so are Ingalls and Bentley's). Only the Briggs are hot-iron transfer patterns.

I have an original copy of Mrs. Farnham's price list - which is a pre-cursor to the illustrated catalog. It is mostly just a listing of the motifs, along with the price. There are only a few illustrations in this booklet.

Home Beautiful. A Descriptive Catalogue of Art Needle Work; with Illustrated Designs and Prices, by Mrs. T.G. Farnham, New York, c. 1884

Briggs & Company

2007-09-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

I have had the good fortune in getting two wonderful resources. First, I got the Album of Transfer Patterns (c. 1903) published by the Wm. Briggs & Company.

Album Briggs Transfer Papers - 4 books bound as 1
Floral (224 pages); Artistic Conventional (borders, sprays, corners, etc., 72 pages); Scallops (edgings, flannel designs, 36 pages); and Initials & Monograms (18 pages)

This is the catalog that these 2 Dover books are from:
Designs and Patterns for Embroiderers and Craftspeople (ISBN: 0486230309) William Briggs & Co.; Editor-Marion Nichols and 400 Floral Motifs for Designers, Needleworkers and Craftspeople (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) (ISBN: 0486251624) Briggs & Co.

I went through some of the pages of the Dover books and found the patterns in the Album Briggs Transfer Papers. It was a fun afternoon for me.

The second book I found is a leather and cloth bound salesman sample book called "Briggs and Compy's Patent Book". It has 130 pages of the actual wax transfer patterns - transferred to the pages of the book. Hand written notations indicate the pattern number and other notes, such as 'Kate Greenaway Children' or 'splashers'.

The book dates prior to 1895, when the company became Wm. Briggs & Company. What is neat about this book, is that the motifs are 'actual size' whereas the catalogues have smaller images.

The patterns range in color from a blue-black, black and red. Note: The tissue transfer patterns I have (I Weighed Rose-Mary, etc.) were done in a red-brown wax transfer color.

I've Weighed Rose-Mary

2007-08-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hello, I just finished drafting the I've Weighed Rose-Mary motif from the 1879 Briggs wax transfers sheet No. CC, patented on October 14, 1879.

Just a note, this is posted for your personal use only, not for profit. Thanks, Louise

1879 Briggs Transfer - No. CC

2007-08-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Briggs Patent

Patented October 14, 1879

No. CC

1879 Briggs Transfer - No.BB

2007-08-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Briggs Patent

Patented October 14, 1879

No. BB

1879 Transfer Images - No. AA

2007-08-16T09:08:00.001-07:00

Briggs Patent

Patented October 14, 1879

No. AA

Briggs & Co. - 1879 Patented Transfers

2007-08-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

Briggs & Co. was founded in 1874. They invented the iron-on transfer method for embroidery. I just recently found some wax transfer sheets, patented dated October 14, 1879.

In 1895, the company was incorporated and became William Briggs & Co. That company joined Coats in 1939, and is still in existence today. The company became famous for traced linens and heat transfer printing after WWI. They made embroidery and needlepoint kits under the brands Penelope, Anchor and Fleur de Lis. Today William Briggs produces tapestry wool and kits for Coats companies around the world. The William Briggs Mill is located at the Halliwell Business Park in Bolton, UK.

I have several of the early catalogs, from Briggs & Co., that have printed illustrations of the stamped pattern motifs that had available. The early catalogs were imprinted with "Briggs Patent" on the cover in gold lettering. They are cloth-bound, with brown, blue or burgundy covers. They are not dated, but are prior to 1895 when the company incorporated.

Kate Greenaway designs were in the catalogs, mostly for splashers. They also released a booklet catalog called Village Scenes which was dedicated to illustrations by Kate.

Dover has put out a couple of books of Briggs' designs and are readily available:

Designs and Patterns for Embroiderers and Craftsmen: 512 Motifs from the William Briggs Company Album of Transfer Patterns by Marion Nichols

400 Floral Motifs for Designers, Needleworkers and Craftspeople by Briggs & Co. (Author), Carol Belanger Grafton (Editor)

The original catalogs are much harder to find - I am lucky to have several of them.

J.F. Ingalls was a "Special Mail Agent" for Briggs and imported the patterns for the American consumers. Briggs & Co. had ads in the Ingalls' magazines in other publications. Ingalls also published a paperboard copy of the Brigg's Transferring Papers catalog and provided copies to its subscribers.

Now Back to the Wax Transfer Sheets:

The tissue transfers are very fragile and there was a significant amount of bleed-through between the tissues. I photo copied the tissues and used a LOT of white-out to remove the extraneous lines. I recopied the white out sheets, cut and pasted them together and reduced them to 25% so I could show them to you.

These are part of a Stamping Outfit that was sold for about $1.00. 100 designs, plus a catalog and a few booklets came in the outfit. These three sheets contain 65 patterns - there probably was another 30 image sheet and another 5 image sheet (just a guess on my part) in the outfit.

See the next entry to see the wax transfer images.

J.F. Ingalls - Listing of Publications

2007-07-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

I have summarized a listing of publications I have documented what the J.F. Ingalls' company of Lynn, Mass. published. I have several of these (but not all) in my collection.

J.F.Ingalls, 67 Whiting Street, Lynn, Mass.
Publisher J.F.Ingalls of Lynn, Massachusetts established a mail order business in 1878. Shortly afterwards, J.F. Ingalls published “Briggs' Patent Transferring Designs (patented for the United States of America),” a book of transfer patterns available from Briggs, a UK company founded in 1874. Today, the William Briggs Company is part of Coats Craft UK.

J.F. Ingalls published several how-to instructions booklets, such as:

Ingalls Manual of Fancy Work (1882), 37 pages.

Ingalls Hand Book of Crochet and Knitted Lace (1883), 48 pages, 5.5 x 4.25 inches. Directions and illustrations for an assortment of lace edgings, both knitted and crocheted.

Instructions for Patchwork (1884), 34 pages, 5.817 x 4.125 inches, 15 cents. "It is Very Popular to Make Tidies, Mats, Sofa Pillows, Afghans, Bed Spreads, etc., of Small Pieces of Silk and Satin."

The Jenny June Series of Manuals for Ladies. Knitting and Crochet. A Guide to the Use of The Needle and the Hook. 200 Illustrations. Edited by Jenny June (1885), 144 pages.

Kensington Embroidery and the Colors of Flowers (1885), 72 pages, 35 cents

Instructions for Kensington, Lustra and Hand Painting (1886), 48 pages.

Brush Studies (1886), by Lida Clarkson, J. F. Ingalls, Publisher, 104 pages, 5.4 x 7.8 inches. 1886 New Edition, Revised and enlarged, with additional notes and suggestions; 1885, originally published in Ladies' Home Journal. 1888 and later version of this were also published.

Perforated Stamping Patterns
In the mid-1880’s, Ingalls published a catalog listing of available perforated patterns, plus an illustrated version of the designs. Later on, the catalogs were given to magazine subscribers as premiums for ordering or starting an embroidery club.

Catalogue and price list of our perforated parchment stamping patterns, (undated)

New Sample Book of Our Artistic Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns (1886), 254 pages, 25 cents. (Note this is the catalog John Governale posted on his blog Exceedingly Curious at http://exceedinglycurious.com/2007/07/redwork-in-blue/)

Ingalls’ Home Magazine
In November of 1887, J.F. Ingalls began publishing the Ingalls’ Home Magazine, a monthly publication devoted to art and fancy work. Subscriptions were $1.00 for the year. Each issue had illustrations for stamping patterns to be used for tidies, splashers, aprons, household linens, etc. Tidies were used on the backs of chairs to protect furniture or to cover up laundry. Spashers were tacked on the walls behind wash basins to protect them from water damage. Many splashers had water related scenes – cranes, swans, fishing, water lilies, etc.

After three years, the magazine changed its name to Ingall's Home and Art Magazine. They continued to sell stamping patterns – their own and Briggs’. They also published instruction booklets on how to use the stamping patterns.

Ingalls' Instruction Book (1889), 16 pages, 6 x 4 inches. Directions for Stamping with Perforated Parchment Patterns, Hand-Painting, Lustra Painting, Kensington Painting, advertisement for Catalogue of Stamping Patterns.

The Ingalls’ Home and Art Magazine continued until at least March 1893, and maybe until July 1894.

According to The Writer: A Monthly Magazine for Literary Workers, Volume VIII, Boston, June, 1895, No. 6, Page 90: The Ingalls’ Home Magazine, published by J. Fred Ingalls, and the Modern Priscilla, published by T.E. Parker, both of Lynn, have been sold to W.N. Hartshorn, of Boston, publisher of the Household. They will be combined, and issued in the future from Boston, under Priscilla name.

Other J.F. Ingalls Publications
In December of 1898, J. F. Ingalls is listed as the publisher of The Needleworker, "A Monthly Magazine Devoted To Fancy Work," with Anna Thomas Roberts as editor and designer, 9 x 11.5 inch format.

Ingalls’ Fancy Work Book (1911), a 16 page mail order catalog from "Ingalls' Mail Order Business--established in 1878." At the top it says "we have been in the mail order business selling goods by mail for thirty-three years." The address “67 Whiting Street, Lynn, Mass." is listed on the bottom.

Series Quilts – Newspapers and Magazines

2007-07-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

In 1916, Ruby Short published the first (at least that I know of) series quilt pattern called Quaddy Quiltie, see image on right. It is also known as the Bedtime Stories Quilt, and was based on the animal characters from Thornton Burgess’ Bedtime Stories. Ruby married in 1917, and became Ruby Short McKim. Her patterns, along with the Nancy Page Quilt Club, were syndicated in newspapers throughout the country. Several newspapers had their own staff design the quilt patterns, for example, Margaret Techy for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Throughout the 20’s and 30’s newspapers used the series quilts to boost their circulation. Many ran contests for the completed quilts. The popularity of the series patterns began to wane in the early 1940’s, as did the outline-embroidery needlework. Here is a listing of the various series quilts I have found over the years. I have many of these, not always complete – either the original clippings or a photocopy.

Ruby Short McKim (McKim Studios)
Quaddy Quiltie, Mother Goose Quiltie, Nursery Rhyme, Rhyme Land Quilt, Roly-Poly Circus, Fruit Basket, Flower Basket, A Jolly Circus, Child Life Quilt, Alice in Wonderland Quiltie, Flower Garden, Bird Life or Audubon Quilt, Three Little Pigs, Colonial History, Bible History, Farm Life, Peter Pan, State Flowers, Wild Flowers, Toy Shop Window, Patchwork Sampler, Parade of States, American Ships

Nancy Page (Florence LaGanke)
ABC Quilt, Snowflake Quilt, French Bouquet, Garden Bouquet, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Magic Vine, Buckle My Shoe, Laurel Wreath, Calendar, Zodiac Quilt, Falling Leaves, Many Stars, Quilt of Birds, Brother Sister Quilt, Wreath Series

Margaret Techy (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Old English, Ohio Flower, Fruit Quilt, Medieval Quilt, All-Sports

Eveline Foland (Kansas City Star)
Santa’s Parade, Memory Bouquet, Horn of Plenty

C. Mullen
Nursery Rhyme Quilt, Modernistic Flower

Aileen Bullard/Cox Features
Happy Childhood

Nadine Bradley (Omaha World Herald)
State Birds and Flower Quilt

Mary Erckenbrack
Old Glory

Laverne Bartos (Omaha World Herald)
Nursery Rhyme, Costumes of Nationalities

Harry Rasmussen (Omaha World Herald)
Big Top Circus

John F. Dille Co.
Flower Basket

Misc – Designer Unknown
Noah’s Ark (Seattle Star), Covered Wagon States (Omaha World Herald), Mother Goose (Detroit News), Golden West (Seattle Star), All American Quilt (The Record)

Types of Ephemera in my Collection

2007-06-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the items that are in the collection:

- Ladies Art Company catalogs (1897-1930’s)
- Briggs & Company and Wm Briggs & Company (Transferring Pattern Catalogs,
Monogram Patterns)
- J.F. Ingalls (Booklets, Stamping Pattern Catalogs, Home Magazing, Home & Art
Magazine, Fancy Work Magazine)
- Other Stamping Pattern Company Catalogs & Designs (T.E. Parker, Bentleys, H.
Duff McDonald and others)
- Ruby Short McKim / McKim Studios (Kansas City Star, 101 Patchwork Patterns,
Designs Worth Doing, Patchwork Patterns)
- Newspaper Series Quilts (McKim Studios, Eveline Foland, Nancy Page/Florence
LaGanke, Margaret Techy, Nadine Bradley, C. Mullen, etc.)
- Pioneering Quilt Books (Marie Webster, Ruth Finley, Ruby Short McKim, Carrie
Hall & Rose Kretsinger, Florence Peto, Carlie Sexton, Mrs. Danner’s, Anne Orr)
- Batting Supply Companies (Mountain Mist, Lockport Batting, Rock River, Taylor
Bedding, Union Wadding Company)
- Pattern Companies: Grandmother Clark, Alice Brooks, Laura Wheeler, Aunt
Martha / Colonial Patterns, Aunt Ellen's / Workbasket, Virginia Snow Studios /
Grandma Dexter, Home Art Studios / Hubert Ver Mehren
- Magazines (Woman’s World, Child Life, Better Homes & Gardens, Home Friend,
Successful Farming, others)
- Quilt / Quilting Patterns (Kansas City Star, Omaha World-Herald, Cleveland Plain
Dealer, etc.)

This is a partial list - I keep adding to the collection as I find new things of interest.

Why I Collect Quilt Ephemera

2007-06-20T22:17:00.000-07:00

Quilt Ephemera from the late 1800's to the early 1900's

I am dedicated to the preservation and documenting of quilt ephemera. As the old quilters leave us, many leave behind their prized collections of clippings, batting wrappers, pamphlets and booklets. These are often found in tattered old paper-board boxes, sometimes tied together with ribbons. In many cases, these are discarded and lost forever. It is important to future generations of quilters to be able to identify these old patterns to help date the quilts made from them.

Once I rescue them from estate or garage sales, or purchase them from vintage paper dealers, the patterns are placed in acid free plastic sleeves, ready to be shared with my fellow quilters. I have several vintage quilts, tops and blocks that correspond to the old patterns.

Greetings!

2007-06-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello, I have been collecting quilt related ephemera for over 5 years and want to share with you my findings. My collection dates from the late 1800's to the mid-1900's. My main focus areas are: series quilts (and their designers) published in newspapers across the country from the mid-teens to the mid-1949's; the Ladies Art Company and early redwork embroidery. I have blocks, tops and quilts that correspond to many of the series quilts and early redwork.

I guess my fondness for needlework started when I learned redwork it at my mother's knee when I was six years old. My paternal grandmother taught me to sew on the machine when I was eight. By the time I was ten, I had mastered knitting, crocheting, embroidery and sewing.

As time permits, I will post information regarding my research. I hope you enjoy it.