December 19, 1933

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner column including an advertisement for the Doll Quilt pattern and letters from Quilt Club Corner members.

Quilt Club Corner.
Campbell Avenue M. E. Church Ladies Finish at Least 15 Quilts a Year
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.

UPPER ROW, standing, left to right: Mrs. Chas. D. Deeg, Mrs. Otto Schmidt, Mrs. James Mullican, Mrs. Minnie Gleason, Mrs. Geo. Bowles and Mrs. Geo. Misner. Second row, standing, left to right: Mrs. G. Sunderland, Mrs. Geo. Smith, Mrs. Jennie Strobe, Mrs. John Waun, Mrs. J. C. Moore, Mrs. A. L. Hatch, Mrs. H. Stringer, Mrs. John Roberts, Mrs. C. A. Harwich and Mrs. C. D. Root. Sitting, left: Mrs. David Wittet, Mrs. Chas. Blair and Mrs. Annie Savage. Sitting, right: Mrs. C. Hoffenrath, Mrs. Emma Bullock and Mrs. Lewis Wright.

TO finish 15 quilts a year is the record set by the Ladies’ Aid of the Campbell Avenue M. E. Church, and when the 22 members shown in the illustration get together every week there is a general good time combined with the work which, after all, is only play to these experienced quilt-makers.

This group of women meets every week and nothing but the quilting is done, the tops having been made outside of the church.

Of course, there are many different patterns brought in for quilting but there are more Dresden Plates and Double Wedding Rings than any other kind. Isn’t that interesting?

As you will see by the illustration, there is a Dresden Plate now being quilted. It had just been put on the frames and I suppose by now it is nearly finished.

The quilting designs are made by the women to fit the quilts which they are to trim. Quilting is not only a method of holding the three layers together but it also makes a pleasing trimming or decoration.

The room in which these women work will allow for several frames at a time and with 22 willing members and two or three quilts in the working, there is little doubt that every Thursday when they meet there is cnsiderable work accomplished.

Aside from the unfinished quilts there was a display of finished ones, including many Detroit News patterns and some of small designs which were ideal for utilizing scraps.

Thursday there will be shown another of the ribbon award quilts from the Contest, and it will show you still another way of putting together a Log Cabin block. Isn’t it interesting to see how many different ways these may be combined?

Today there was a letter and Christmas card from Gran in her very own handwriting, which is evidence of her rapid recovering. That is good news to everyone, I am sure.

Has Had Many Letters.
Here is my letter so that you will not have to work Christmas Day. I have had some lovely letters from different ladies of the Corner and such pretty pieces that have been sent to me! It is almost as much fun exchanging patches through the mail as it was at the show, only you do not see the ladies who exchange with you.

I am patiently waiting for the new pattern so I can start to work. I am going to see how many tips I can make this next year. I have never done much quilting and I am going to try hard and learn how, and see if I can compete with some of the quilting at the show.

Here are my best wishes to all of you, Miss Crumb, Beatrice, Marian Martin, Mr. Mishler, and the quilt members.
MRS. MARY STROBILIUS
17457 Lumkin, Detroit, Mich.

Thank you for that letter, Mrs. Stobilius. If everyone responds as quickly as you do, Christmas will be a very happy day for me.

I am so happy to know that you are getting so much enjoyment out of the Corner and now I would like to know what kind of a quilt you are going to make from the patches which you are exchanging.

It will be interesting to know how many tops you will be able to finish this year and I know that after you start the quilting you will enjoy it.

Thank you for your kind wishes and all of us are sending our very best wishes to you, too.

Doll Quilt Pattern Is Ready for You
The first quilt pattern to be offered since the Contest is ready and waiting for you to send or call for it and you will be pleased and surprised to know that it is for a doll’s quilt.

At just this time of the year, a pattern such as this should be very welcome for I am sure that you have overheard more than one conversation between dolls: and they say that even dolls are talking about quilts now, so it is only probable that every doll has been wishing for one for Christmas.

If you would like to have a reprint of this leaflet, please send your request for it, accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to either the Beauty in the Home Department or the Quilt Club Corner, The Detroit News.

Copies may be secured by calling personally at The Detroit News Public Service Bureau in either the General Motors Building or the Majestic Building.

Pontiac residents may secure this leaflet at The Detroit News Pontiac Bureau, 412 Pontiac Bank Building.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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