October 09, 1933

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Beauty in the Home column including a story about girls who quilt.

Beauty in the Home
Three Industrious Little Quilters At A Regular Saturday Meeting
by Edith B. 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 they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly, write on only 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.

Left to right - Winifred Kennedy, Edna Marie Kennedy and Shirley McLeod at a regular Saturday morning quilt-making "bee."

Whoever said little girls didn't like to make quilts will have to change her mind after seeing the accompanying illustration for these three little girls are certainly serious about their occupation.

Winifred Kennedy who is only eight years old is making the "Prairie Queen" top for the Contest; and even though she only has two blocks completed so are, she is not one bit discouraged and feels certain that she will be on hand with her top.

In the center is Edna Maria Kennedy, aged 12 years. She is making the Horoscope quilt and doesn't like to make and applique the stars at all. But think how glad she will be in years to come that she will have an heirloom!

Shirley McLeod, aged nine years, has completed the top of a "Philadelphia Pavement" in a beautiful blue and white. It is all ready for the quilting and while she does not intend to do this herself she will do one square of it.

The sewing on the quilts these little girls are making is very fine, the corners are even and the edges straight; and you should see the fine stitches Edna Marie has used in working the characteristics in the Horoscope quilt.

Winifred's "Prairie Queen" has a lime green center and the surrounding blocks are white and apricot.

There is one other member in this little quilt-making "bee," Jane Camp, aged 13. Jane is making a Dresden Plate but could not arrange to attend Saturday's meeting.

Don't you just imagine that these little girls are going to be very busy afternoons when school is over from now until the Contest? Saturdays seem so far apart for those who are looking forward to sewing on quilts and, after all, it is very important to have these quilts ready on the dot and every good quilt-maker tries to be on time.

Quilt Club Corner
Last time I wrote, you suggested my sending in a membership blank and after all this time, here it is, I have kept up with the column and many of the hints sent in. I can remember hearing my grandmother discuss with her neighbors.

I want to see the finished quilts as I think they can help me decide the several color schemes I have in mind for both the Flower Garden and the Trip. Now that the children are back in school, I hope to get my Jacob's Ladder finished. My Winged Square has been going so slowly that my daughter says to put it aside and make a Peek-A-Boo quilt, since I am not ready for the Trip.

I am sending in my membership blank, as I do not want to miss the contest. Since my last letter I stamped and embroidered two pairs of pillow cases with the floral basket designs from the Wonder Package.
Mrs. W.A.R.

You are surely going to have lots of work to do this winter with all of those quilts started. Perhaps you can finish a top for the Contest. Even if it is not quilted you may enter it. Thank you for sending in your membership blank and do write again, Mrs. R.

My antique quilt is 65 years old and contains prints and calicos from dresses worn 75 years ago. It was pieced by a little girl eight years old. However, the lining is very modern as it was not made up when the quilt was sent to me. It is tied instead of being quilted Is it eligible?
Mrs. Lillian M. Baker.

As long as your quilt was pieced such a long time ago , even if you have just recently put it together it is certainly eligible and I certainly hope that you will enter it.

Today I was able to hear the radio broadcast, the first time in several weeks.
It took me quite some time to figure out the Horoscope border. Now it is ready for the frames, and, as I have a nice large room, I can quilt it at leisure.

I enjoy making the Trip a little each evening as that is the time I have to piece quilts.

I was afraid I would have no quilt ready, only tops, but now that the Contest is not to be until November, I hope to get one, and perhaps two quilts finished.
Mrs. M. Bixler,
3111 Fourth
Detroit, Michigan.

Isn't it nice that you will be able to finish a quilt or two for the Contest? I am so glad that it was postponed for it has made it possible for so many more to enter it.

I know that you will enjoy quilting on your Horoscope pattern and those few minutes that you spend on putting the Trip together must be very pleasant, too. Do write again, please.

You have no idea how much I enjoy the Quilt Club Corner. I know it is one of the items always looked for. If is fun watching the names of the quilters, wondering if there is anyone I know.

Several of the members live in my neighborhood. I should like very much to see their quilts. I have two quilts over one hundred years old, and your members are welcome to come and see them.
Mrs. Mildred Hovey,
17187 Dresden, Detroit, Mich.

Aren't you going to enter those lovely old quilts in the Contest Mrs. Hovey? I think everyone interested in quilts at all always finds the old ones especially fascinating and I should like to have them where everyone could see them. No doubt you will have some callers as you have so generously offered to show the quilts to anyone.

I am so glad to know that you like the Quilt Club Corner and hope that you will continue to be a contributor to it.

I have sent in my entry card for one antique quilt. It was made 76 years ago but was just quilted recently. Will that make any difference in entering it?

I have several tops for quilts. I like to make them. I certainly enjoy reading the letters from the members.
Mrs. George Lysinger.
97 S. Jessie street, Pontiac, Michigan.

As long as your quilt was pieced so long ago it will certainly be allowed in the Contest.

If your quilt tops are from Detroit News patterns, I do hope that you will enter them in the Contest.

Will try to take time to drop a few lines. I would like to be in the Contest, but it will be impossible to leave my mother. I started two quilts. Dresden Plate and Double Wedding Ring, but have them only half done. I am sorry that I will have no quilt to enter.
Mrs. Villia M. Lumbert,
Portland, Michigan.

Oh, Mrs. Lumbert, I do hope that you can finish those two tops to enter in the Contest. Don't you think that if you work very hard on them that it will be possible to do so? Everyone will be sorry not to have you present at the large gathering.

I miss the radio hour of quilting since I have been canning and busy. I am sorry because I always enjoyed it.

I see the Contest is to be postponed until November. That will give us more time. I knotted the Trip as I did not see the paper in which you answered my question.
Mrs. G. Baeckeroot,
St. Clair Shores, Michigan.

Now that the canning season is about over, I do hope that you may be counted as one of the Corner listeners as well as a reader, and I know that you are glad that the Contest has been postponed; and I am sure that a great many others are also.

Quilt Club Corner Editor,
c.o. The Detroit News,
Detroit, Michigan.

I am planning to make entries as follows in the Quilt Show to be held October 12, 13 and 14. (Please state how many of each):
..........Quilts and ..........Tops from News patterns.
..........Quilts and ..........Tops from original designs.
..........Quilts and ..........Tops made by a man.
..........Quilts and ..........Tops made by a child.
..........Quilts and ..........Tops from a distance.
..........Quilts and ..........Tops to compete for prize
for largest number of pieces.
..........Antique Quilts and ..........Tops..........
..........Antique Samplers..........
Name..........
Street and number.........
City and State..........

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

6268.2.6