March 12, 1932

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Beauty in the Home column announcing the Lily of the Valley, the sixteenth pattern in the Flower Garden quilt.

...books. Although the top shelves are not easily reached if the subjects are so arranged as to put books in those shelves which are not frequently used there is little difficulty with the sofa.

The woodwork, including the walls of a room sucah as this might be of pine and the floor covering of plain carpeting, dark green being a good choice for this as it is pleasing in combination with the various colors in the book bindings which really play an important part in the scheme and must be considered when furnishings are being selected.

The glass curtains might be of light ecru voile, trimmed with ruffles and caught back with ruffled bands and the over-draperies of light yellow around ahdn blocked linen with design in light green, orange, black and a bit of Chinese red.

This same material might alos be used for the covering of the sofa and one or two chairs, and it would be pleasing to have one or two red leather chairs in this room.

Touch of Yellow.
Will you please suggest a color to paint my kitchen table and chairs, also what style and color curtains to use?

There is one small window over the sink facing the west and the other faces the south and is quite narrow.

The walls and woodwork are cream, cupboard doors are trimmed with green and the stove is cream and green. The linoleum is red imitation tile.
Mrs. J.W.

The curtains in your kitchen may be made of bright yellow chamois bound in gree and the furniture may be finished in light green trimmed with red to match the color in the linoleum.

World is Quilt Minded.
Everybody must be making quilts. Last Monday I went downtown to get more material for the ones I am piecing and at the first counter I went to there were three ladies who were buying several pieces from one-eighth to a yard in length. A fourth asked me if I was wanting my pieces for quilts as I had piled up four or five bolts while the clerk measured a couple I had given her first.

Then I bought some plain peach and pale green for my Jacob's Ladder. As the clerk handed me my parcel another lady was getting the same colors "for a quilt," I heard her tell a clerk. I remarked about it to my clerk and she said "Everybody is buying for quilt-making today, so they say."

Then I went to another counter and while buying some more percales I fancied, a lady said to me - "Do you buy those for the Dresden Plate pattern?" I answered that I was making several patterns and gathered up pieces I liked whenever I was near any yard goods department. At a clerk came up to her she told her she wanted a variety of pretty figured percales for "that Dresden Plate pattern, you've no doubt seen in The Detroit News."

Another time I heard comments along the same line. When I told the clerk I, too, wanted small amounts of several pieces I'd picked out she said, "making quilts is all I hear of today. I don't believe I'd measure a dress length correctly if I would be asked as I have eighths, quarters or halves ringing in my brain after nearly a day of it.

So, I have been thinking that you are not only giving us home-makers a pleasant pastime that will leave with us a happy reminder for many many years, but - well isn't this a way of adding a bit to the buying power during the depression?

I want to thank you very much for the many patterns you have sent me. I have a good start with my Dresden Plate and even my husband has taken notice and suggests a pale green background for the pretty flowered circles.
Mrs. W.A.R.

You certainly have interesting shopping expeditions, Mrs. R., and so glad to have you write and tell us of the popularity of these patterns.

Your husband is right - the light green background would be very lovely for the Dresden Plate quilt.

Lily of the Valley Is 16th Design
How happy you will be to know that this week's leaflet has on it a pattern of the Lily of the Valley for the sixteenth block of the Flower Garden Quilt! Really, you could not consider that your garden would be complete without this dainty little flower, so here it is waiting for you.

In all, remember, there will be 21 different block patterns for this quilt, 20 being used for the top, which will be four blocks wide and five blocks long. The extra block should have 16 made alike which will be for the border to fit on the two sides and the end.

Please remember, also-that from now on no notices for patterns will run over one week, so you must watch this column closely in order to keep up with the other quilt makers and have just as many blocks as they.

A number of readers have asked if blocks might be had in advance; but that is impossible. No envelopes will be held for future patterns. By asking for one pattern at a time you will receive the most prompt service.

To receive this sixteenth pattern, this Lily of the Valley, just send your request for it to the Beauty in the Home Department, The Detroit News, enclosing with it a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Copies of this leaflet may also be secured by calling personally at Public Service Bureau in the Majestic Building or General Motors Building.

Back patterns of the Flower Garden built may also be secured at either of these Public Service Bureaus.

World is Quilt Minded
Everybody must be making quilts. Last Monday I went downtown to get more material for the ones I am piecing and at the first counter I went to there were three ladies who were buying several pieces from one-eighth to a yard in length. A fourth asked me if I was wanting my pieces for quilts as I had piled up four or five bolts while the clerk measured a couple I had given her first.

Then I bought some plain peach and pale green for my Jacob's Ladder. As the clerk handed me my parcel another lady was getting the same colors "for a quilt," I hear her tell the clerk. I remarked about it to my clerk and she said "Everybody is buying for quilt-making today, so they say."

Then I went to another counter and while buying some more percales I fancied, a lady said to me-"Do you buy those for the Dresden Plate pattern?" I answered that I was making several patterns and gathered up pieces I liked whenever I was making several patterns and gathered up pieces I liked whenever I was near any yard goods department. As a clerk came up to her she told her she wanted a variety of pretty figured percales for "that Dresden Plate pattern, you've no doubt seen in The Detroit News."

Another time I heard comments along the same line. When I told the clerk I, too, wanted small amounts of several pieces I'd picked out she said, "making quilts is all I hear of today, I don't believe I'd measure a dress length correctly if I would be asked as I have eights, quarters or halves ringing in my brain after nearly a day of it."

So, I have been thinking that you are not only giving us home-makers a pleasant pastime that will leave with us a happy reminder for for many many years, but-well isn't this a way of adding a bit to the buying power during the depression?
I want to thank you very much for the many patterns you have [text becomes unreadable]

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.