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A Man Spent 430 Hours in Making This Quilt

August 8, 1935
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A Quilt Quilt Club Corner column including letters from Quilt Club members and a list of Quilt Club members.
A Man Spent 430 Hours in Making This Quilt
Inset shows Mr. Stuart Ansell, who designed and made this unique Tiger Pennant Base Ball quilt. In it are 32 yards of assorted materials, 12 yards of binding, 46 skeins of embroidery floss and 2,600 yards of various colored threads.
Only Two Days Were Required To Collect Player's Names

By Edith B. Crumb

Monday, when I was planning what to have for the Quilt Club Corner this week and was just about to tell you about a new quilt pattern, I had two callers, Mrs. And Mrs. Stuart Ansell, of 14344 Freeland avenue, Detroit, MI. Ansell carried a generous sized suitcase and out of it he took two quilts one which is shown in the picture and another one in such light tints of shell pink and peach that it could not be photographed.

There was my story for Thursday, for Mr. Ansell had made both of the quilts and it's quite a long time since we have had a story about a man making a quilt- isn't it?

His Own Decision.
Mr. Ansell designed every bit of this quilt which he calls his "Tiger Pennant Base Ball" quilt. He is a very busy man for he is a police officer attached to the signal Bureau of the Detroit Police Department and not only is he an ardent baseball fan but a quilt maker as well, so you can see that his time is pretty well take up in the summer.

He personally solicited the names of each player on the team and also those of Neil Conway, the groundkeeper, and Denny Carrol, the trainer. It took him about two days to get these names and then they had to be entered to a uniform size.

Each Name Embroidered.
Then each names was embroidered on an eight inch tan baseball and the names of each team in the American League was embroidered in the same manner, with a numeral showing the position in which the team finished, and all are embroidered in the teams colors. And you should see Mr. Ansell's embroidery stitches! You have never saw anything like them in your life. They are just as even and precisely done as if executed by machine.

In all there were 36 balls, each measuring eight inches in diameter, these each being appliqued on a white block which is 12 inches square.

There are four Tiger heads embroidered in black and orange (it took 40 hours to embroider each of these heads) These with six large D's in black are also placed on white blocks and these are set together with a two-inch green band and all grouped around a miniature baseball diamond which is complete in detail. (At least Mr. Ansell says that they are, I don't know one thing about a ball game.)

A Young Quilter.
Mr. Ansell made his first quilt when he was just nine years old and has completed 12 since that time. He feels that this is the outstanding quilt of all, however, and I think you will agree with him when I tell you that it required 33 yards of assorted materials, 12 yards of binding, 40 skeins of floss, 2,600 yards of various colored threads and 430 hours of work to complete it.

The quilting was done by machine with white threads on top and green underneath, which makes the back green and white, this being very attractive.

Now Mr. Ansell just doesn't know what pattern he is going to start next. He has two which he likes very much and it is going to be hard for him to decide. He"ll probably make both of them and save a lot of worry.

Mrs. Ansell helps him when it comes to tying and snipping the threads; and once she and Mr. Ansell made a quilt together. It was a Double Irish chain and is still in good condition.

I am quilt sure that you will see this baseball quilt at the show. It is so unique that I think Mr. Ansell ought to enter it for everyone to see. He and Mrs. Ansell. Are coming to the show, too, for they want to see what kind of work other quilters so and I wouldn't be surprised if they came more than once for if anyone is interested in quilts one trip doesn't begin to be time enough.

From Carmel, Maine.
Dear Miss Crumb: I have finished a Horoscope quilt top. It is lovely and I have done it all n a chain stitch. It is in blue and white with a gold star in the center of each nine-patch. I would like to enter my quilt in a few local fairs here.

I didn't know that I could do such nice work. I did it all evenings last winter and some of it by lamplight as we have only had electricity since March. And, oh! What long, lonesome winters! I surely miss my old Detroit.
Mrs. A. D. Emery
Route No. 1
Carmel, Maine

It seems to me that some of you would like to write to Mrs. Emery. You know how you like to receive letters when you are away from home and Mrs. Emery probably feels just the same way. It would help her a lot to have a few new friends with whom she might correspond and exchange patches, ideas, and patterns. Perhaps she will tell us about some of the Maine fairs. They should be very interesting and have some fine old quilts on display.

Patches from the South.
Mrs. W.C. Corder, Route No. 1, Box 79, Romulus, Mich. who signs herself ever a true member is planning to visit her home town in Virginia and also her grandmother in Tennessee, so she intends to gather lots of pieces from there and those that wish to exchange with her when she returns may do so.

Here is an opportunity to have some Virginia and Tennessee patches and I know that there will be many who will wish to exchange with you, Mrs. Corder.

You surely are a true member and it is nice to have a letter from you. Do write again soon and let us know more about your trip.

A syrup made by boiling sugar and water makes an excellent sweetener for chilled beverages.

All of These Quilters Belong to the Corner
The first three names are of new quilters, and aren't you surprised to see Maine and Mississippi represented on the list?

Mrs. Dorothy Gardner
South Lyons, Mich.

Mrs. Ada B Sharp
RFD No. 1
Philadelphia, Miss

Gertrude A Walker
RDF No. 2
Rumford, Maine

Marian Bradway
512 Vermont Ave.
Detroit, Michigan

Delia Brady
1607 Le Ragne Ave
Ferndale, Michigan

Mrs. Edward Bramble
50 Harris Ave
Battle Creek, Michigan

Miss Anna Brandt
Walled Lake, Route No. 2
Michigan

Mrs. B Brandt
4411 Otto Brandt
8324 Alpine ave

Mrs. W.G. Branton
Barbean, Michigan

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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