December 30, 1933

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser; Lynne Charlet; Harriet Clarke

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner column including an advertisement for the Calico Nosegay Quilt pattern, a coupon for Quilt Club membership, and letters from Quilt Club Corner members.

Quilt Club Corner
One-Patch Quilt Design Began Early in America
By Edith Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as thy wish, but limit each letter to three questions. State your questions clearly, write only on one side of the paper, enclosing a self addressed stamped envelope and address Beauty in the Home Department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers, but names and addresses will not be made public.

The one-patch is one of the earliest forms of quilt-making and at first there was no attempt at creating a design. The crazy quilt made up of small, large and irregularly shaped patches soon gave way to a more definite block and the Roman Stripe with its long narrow ribbon-shpaed pieces of equal sizes, as well as the Brick Wall, which needs no illustration to give a quilt-maker an idea of waht it is like, are examples of these. The pieces are rectangular, or equal size, and arranged like a wall of bricks.

Then came the popularity of the hexagonal block. It offered a little more opportunity for fine sewing, for the putting together of these small bits required more careful planning than the straight strips. At first there was no attempt at design, but when the early American quilt-makers began to realize that several pieces of one color could be so arranged as to bring our a definite pattern, several variations were popularized. Some showed the blocks joined in circular form, similar to the French Bouquet quilts of today, others were done in mosaic form with a large, colorful medallion in the center and small circular motifs around this: and the third was made up into diamond-shaped pieces like that shown in the quilt top in today's illustration.

The fine thing about the one-patch quilt is that it is economical to make and economy ruled the sewing basket of the early times. The small hexagonal pieces could be cut from the bits of material that might otherwise have been thrown away, and by careful calculation, it was possible to arrange the colors so that there was a balanced beauty about the quilt which was difficult to achieve with more intricate patterns.

The quilt top shown today was one of those which won a ribbon award at The Detroit News quilt contest, and is owned by Mrs. John Hamerick, 6931 Vinewood avenue, Detroit.

It may interest you to know that great interest is being taken in the new Calico Nosegay quilt, for hundreds and hundreds of them have been mailed out and given to those who called for them at The Detroit News Public Service Bureaus,and I feel sure that all who are starting this quilt will be glad that they have it, for it is not only fascinating and economical to make, but also will make a very charming addition to the household equipment - and who isn't always looking for something like that?

One of the 50,000.
I am another one of the 50,000 who visited the Quilt Show, and enjoyed it very much. My favorite quilts were the Trip Around the World patterns and the Flower Garden quilts. I enjoyed all the antique quilts, especially the Log Cabin design and that lovely embroidered Crazy Quilt from Ireland.

I would love to belong to your Corner. May I? This will be the first years of my life that I have had the leisure to sew all I please, and I intend to make at least one patch work quilt and one applique quilt during 1934, so I am eagerly awaiting the new patterns. I was very pleased to see that the first one is a doll's quilt.
Mrs. Charles Jones.
1605 Fairview, Detroit, Mich.

Many have sent in and called for the doll's quilt pattern, but you are the first to make any comments on it and I am so happy to know that you like it.

Aren't you glad that you joined the throng of 50,000 who were quilt-minded? I am sure that you must have found some color schemes that you may wish to use in the quilts you are planning to make during 1934. You know, you will make many more than two, for one just can't stop making quilts, once she starts. It is so fascinating.

I would be delighted to have you belong to the Corner, so please fill in the coupon you see in this column and slip it in with your next letter or request for leaflet, or you may leave it in the Majestic Building office of The Detroit News.

Mrs. Russell Thrilled.
Well, now that I am beginning to survive the shock I shall have to write. No one will know (only those who experienced the same thrill as I did) how thrilled I was when I found that prize card on my quilt.

I surely enjoyed the Exhibition and hope that there can possibly be another one next year. It was such a pleasure to meet so many of the members personally. I was glad to see Gran and so glad that she was able to make the long trip. Don't you think Chief Hardy enjoyed it as much as Gran did?
Mrs. William Russell.
Richmond, Mich.

Several asked me if you would give them samples of the material in your quilt, Mrs. Russell, so if you receive any letters asking for them it will be because I told them to write, as I knew you would be only too glad to send them clippings.

I don't know which had the better time, Gran or Chief Hardy. He made a good "landmark" in the crowd, for every time I wanted to find Gran I just looked for a gray-haired man towering above everyone else, and I knew that Gran would not be far away.

Letters from you will be welcome, and I hope that you will write often to the Corner.

Missed Quilt Shown.
I want to thank all the members of the Corner who responded to my S. O. S. some weeks ago. I asked for 10 names and have received 28 for my friendship quilt. I am more than pleased to get so many.

It was good news to read that the Corner would continue and to know that there will be another one next year. I am sure it is a lot of fun meeting the members and exchanging pieces.
Hazel E. Cornell
Route 5, Owosso, Mich.

Oh, Mrs. Cornell, you never should have missed that Quilt Exhibit. Anyone as interested in quilts as you are could have spent hours and hours browsing about, and there were a good many that did just that thing and came back the next day to look again.

You certainly got enough names for your quilt, and now I suppose you will have to make two. What are you doing about it?

All one has to do is to let this quilt-making crown know what she wants and they are right "Johnny on the Spot," and I am so happy to know that you had such a response. Please write again.

From Mrs. Anders.
I have not written in for a long time. I just heard over the radio that the Corner will still continue. I certainly enjoyed listening to the broadcast - the first that I had heard in a long time. Because of my illness I was not able to finish my quilt and could not attend the Quilt Show. I know I missed something wonderful and the more I think of it, ?????? disappointed I am. I hope you have another one next year. If you do, will you use the same quilt pattern?

I wish some of the quilt members would visit and write me. I don't go many places as I have a two and one-half months old baby, and it cheers me up to have company. I don't get much time to quilt now.

I saw the pictures of the quilts in the Sunday News. They looked lovely and would looks so much nicer if I could have seen them, as I know the colors were beautiful. I pieced a Flying Coud in red, white and blue and set it together with cream-colored material. I have part of the Horoscope patterns. May I get the rest now?
Mrs. Hattie Anders,
622 Widman, Detroit, Mich.

Everyone will feel so badly to know that you were unable to finish your quilt or attend the Exhibit because of illness. Either misfortune would have been bad enough but to face both must have been very disappointing.

Your question about the eligibility of the patterns will have to be answered later on if there is a decision to have another quilt contest.

I wouldn't be surprised if your wish came true - and that you would have callers and letters; for everyone is so ready to respond to the wants of the readers; and, of course, they will want to see that little baby.

Your Flying Couds quilt must be very attractive in red, white and blue and I should think that you would plan on using it on the baby's bed later on.

You may have the rest of the Horoscope patterns any time for there is a big supply on hand now.

Looked for Gran.
I must write to let everyone know that I think our Corner is perfectly splendid and I hope we have a lot of letters. I am looking forward to the new quilt patterns, although I have a number of the other patterns started.

I attended the Contest and was very sorry that I missed Gran. I guess I left before she got there.
Mrs. Charles Voelker,
12022 Harwell, Detroit, Mich.

Even though you may have some other patterns started you are not going to be able to resist the new ones and I feel sure that your name will be among the first sent in when the notice is read.

Gran was at the Contest a good part of Friday and then came again early Sunday but left early. She will be sorry to know that you were looking for her.

Save the Pieces for This Calico Nosegay Quilt
Even the little scraps and corners of bright prints will find places in the delightful new nosegay quilt pattern which is all ready for Detroit News Quilt club members. Write now and ask for the first leaflet which gives the first nosegay and full directions for making the new quilt. Address Quilt Club Corner, Detroit News, and enclose self-addressed, stamped envelope. The leaflet is free.

Copies may be called for at The Detroit News Public Service Bureau in the Majestic Building, the General Motors Building, and the Pontiac Bank Building, Pontiac.

Beauty in the Home Editor:
Please enter my name as a member of the Beauty in the Home Quilt Club.

Name………………
Street and number……………
City………………………State…………………

This enrollment in the Beauty in the Home Quilt Club entitles the member to enter her quilt in the exhibit which will be held after the completion of the series of Horoscope patterns. Date of announcement will be made later.

Anyone who has completed a quilt from any Detroit News pattern will be eligible to become a member and enter this contest.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

6119.43.40, 6268.1.7