November 12, 1933

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Harriet Clarke

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A column including information the prize list for The Detroit News Quilt Show.

Antiques
Church Holds A Quilt Show
Many of the Exhibits Will Be Entered in News Contest.
By Edith B. Crumb.

Now that there is more being done in the way of making quilts and increased appreciation of old quilts there is scarcely a week passes without some sort of quilt exhibit being given. Last week I attended one held by the women of Trinity Presbyterian Church (Whittake and Central).

I was met at the door by a lady in a gay nineties dress and in like attire were the other members of her organization. There were tables of cakes, cookies and such goodies as one always finds at church socials and, of course (I heard quite a bit of Scotch burr), tea was served. And - what do you think? There was a plaid silk tea-cozy trimmed with a little silk ruffle. No cool tea around that place.

The quilt exhibit was planned without any idea of the number that might be entered; and almoste before the chairman could take a long breath 60 had been sent in - and such quilts! The first thing I said, of course, was "You must bring these to The News Contest, too, for I would so like to have them included in the array." I am sure that all the old quilts will be there and such of the new ones as are made from News patterns.

Tragedy of 1878.
One old quilt which belonged to Mrs. A. Taylor was somewhat on the order of our Log Cabin design and was made by a young bride-elect in 1878 in a little finishing village on the east coast of Scotland. It was never completed, for her fiance was drowned on a voyage just before they were to be wed. The lady never married.

There was a blue and white quilt 109 years old, that belonged to Mrs. Owen Long. And Mrs. Opal Klein exhibited one made by her great-grandmother. And, of course, there was a blue and white Irish Chain quilt. There always seems to be at least one at every exhibit and they never faiil to be fascinating.

Among all these quilts was a table filled with antiques - just the kind that a collector would give his eye teeth for, but none was for sale, merely being loaned for exhibition purposes. Nearly all were brought from England or Scotland.

Traced to 1783.
There was a pair of very lovely heavy brass candlesticks that could be traced back to 1783. Someone is certainly fortunate to possess them.

And with them was a seventeenth century wine decanter - heavy, lustrous crystal: a large mug of copper lustre (eighteenth century English), a handless cup with saucer and a compote said to be 130 years old. There was a candlestick with a base measuring about seven inches square and of brass which was said to be about 200 years old.

One quaint article which attracted me was a yarn holder. This was a polished wood ball, about three and a half inches in diameter, with a hole in the top and a long twisted silk handle that the knitting lady put her arm through, bringing the yarn up through the hole in the ball. She was never upset because she couldn't find her yarn or discovered the whole kitten family making merry with it.

Just as I was leaving this quilt exhibit, the gay nineties ladies were about to sing "Seein Nellie Home from Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party."

Don't Forget This Contest.
And speaking of the quilting parties, you simply must not forget that which is being held by the Beauty in the Home Department of The Detroit News on Nov. 17, 18 and 19, in the United States Naval Armory, on East Jefferson, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge. There is not only going to be a large number of quilts, but a crowd of sightseers.

And, if you have a quilt to be entered - remember that if it is new it must be from a News pattern and if old, it must be at least 50 years of age - please bring it as soon as possible to the main office of The Detroit News, Second and Lafayette, any day from 9 a. m. to 4:30 p. m.

Please see that your name and address are written on a piece of cloth or paper and sewed to your quilt.

If you have sent in a coupon, please do not expect an answer to it, for it is filed and the office is waiting for you to bring in your quilt as soon as possible. For your own convenience, why don't you bring it early to avoid that crown which is sure to be along at the last minute?

I'll be seeing you at the Contest!

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

6119.43A