June 10, 1934

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner column including letters from Quilt Club Corner members.

10-Year-Old Boy Quilter Wants to Be Good Tailor; Writes With Left Hand Because Right ‘Rist’ Is Broken

By EDITH B. CRUMB.

THIS week for the first time in a long while a letter came from a little boy whose name is James. He says that his right “rist” is broken so he is writing with his left hand. He is 10 years old and in the 5th grade.

His mother belongs to the Quilt Club and now he wants to make a quilt, too, from a News pattern so has sent for the Album or friendship design.

He wants to make this quilt all by himself and he’ll have the names of his school friends to keep always.

In a postscript James says, “I’ve made a quilt. It wasn’t form a News pattern. The boys call me ‘sissy’ but I don’t care. Maybe someday I’ll be a great famous tailor.”

Go right ahead and make your quilts, James, and don’t let the boys tease you. Maybe those very boys won’t earn as much money as you when you are all grown up; and if you learn to sew now, and then become a tailor, I am sure that you will be famous.

Letter From Indiana.
I hear you are having another contest. Like the Mohammedan pilgrims who go each year to worship at a certain shrine, the Detroit Quilt Show is already calling me. I don’t know, however, whether or not I will be able to come. It depends on how things are getting along. I certainly want to come. And if my club entry holds good from last year, I want to enter a quilt this year.

Thanks so much to all the lovely ladies who sent me such cheery greeting cards. I wasn’t actually down and out, but was under the doctor’s care for a while. Am feeling some better now. I have just had so much to do and as everyone knows, one can’t go on always.

How I wish I could go to the little shows and exhibits and quiltings you have! If I am not there in person, you may rest assured, I am there in spirit.

I look forward eagerly to all the clippings that Constance Murphy sends. I certainly appreciate her sending them, for I know she is very busy, and especially so since her children’s illness. I hope they a have recovered by now.

This is just the right kind of cleaning weather here, so most people have let the quilts go for a while. I think the Dolly Madison quilt is very pretty.
MRS. HARRY C. PURCELL,
426 N. Armstrong avenue, Kokomo, Indiana.

Of course, your membership from last year holds good and don’t disappoint us by not coming, for I know the Cornerites would like to think that there is to be a regular visitor from Indiana.

The little exhibits and quilting circles are so interesting that it is too bad anyone as interested in quilts as you are can not attend them.

Be sure to keep in touch with us and, of course, everyone will want to know what pattern you select for your quilt.

Enjoys Making Nosegay.
I haven’t written the Corner for some time but believe me I am busy with my Nosegay and certainly enjoy it. I have several tops done and am working on the Trip Around the World and Dresden Plate along with my Nosegay. I visited an exhibit lately and enjoyed it but never will get that balcony picture of our own exhibit form my mind. It was grand. I hope to show my Nosegay next time.

I have made pillows on black satin of almost all the Flower Garden and Nosegay patterns. They are very pretty. I have also pieced a “Trip” in one-half inch squares of soft silk velvet pieces and padded each little square. My friends think it is lovely.

We have a small club and meet every two weeks from 10:30 to 12 and have grand times. Just eight of us.

I am sending Mrs. Pelkey some pieces today and will exchange with others. My pieces are small but large enough for Dresden Plate.
MRS. JAMES DICKERSON.
7311 Elmhurst, Detroit.

I am so glad that you say the quilt exhibit from the balcony for that was the best spot in the whole building from which to view it. Wasn’t it just like a big flower garden?

You must have lots of fun experimenting with the different patterns and using them for pillow tops; and your padded Trip must be unusually pretty.

Eight quilt-makers certainly can have a good time when they get together and I know that your little club is a congenial one and that you accomplish a great deal. Thank you for writing in.

Waiting for Replies.
I am impatient and can hardly wait until I get all of the Nosegay pattern.

I have answered some club members’ letters about exchanging pieces or patches—the letters were in the paper recently. Mrs. Quinn of 248 Cass Avenue and Mrs. Loftus of [number illegible] Chamberlain were the members I wrote to, and I am waiting patiently for a reply. One needs a variety of pieces for the Nosegay. I have some blocks done and am on my tenth so I expect to start the border in a few days.
MRS. MARGIT GAUSE,
5445 Williams Avenue, Detroit.

That Nosegay quilt will be done before you know it, Mrs. Gause, and then what will you do with your spare time? I know. You’ll just start another quilt or two for one who works as quickly as you do, likes to make quilts too will not stop at one like the Nosegay. Am I not right?

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.