September 9, 1949

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Quilt Club Corner and Needles for Defense at the Detroit News. This column gives information about the needle work fair.

Quilts are Eye Catchers of Needle Work Fair
By Edith B. Crumb

This quilt which is a copy of a museum piece is one of the 1200 entries in the Needlework Fair which will be held in the J.L Hudson auditorium the week of September 12. All articles are made by hand and include nine categories of workmanship.

The needlework fair which will open its doors in the J.L Hudson auditorium on Monday, September 12 will remind quilters of the days of The Detroit News quilt shows for many of the best known patterns are on display.

Without looking at the tags, one may recognize many of the quilts. There is our old friend the patch work Lady sitting primly on a ladderback chair, working on a small quilt n the center of the big one.

Nursery quilts antique quilts of fine old chintz, pieces and new quilts made of copies of the old old boiled calicoes are neighbors in the display.

1,200 Entries
Besides quilts there are rugs, needlepoint, embroidery, lace crocheting, and tatting, knitted wool and nylon yarn items including children's toys and beaded bags. The entire exhibit includes over 1200 entries.

Of course, every article is handmade and there will be a grand prize to the winning entry in each of the categories. First, second, and third prize ribbons will be awarded in each group and honorable mention will indicate outstanding workmanship.

Mrs. Harold Morgan of Vassar, Michigan will highlight the exhibit by giving a daily demonstration of old spinning wheel yard making.

She will use a wheel which has been in her family for over 150 years wear a homespun dress of the period when women spun their own yarn and wove their own fabrics and sit in an early American white pine and maple rocking chair, about 100 years old.

Expert Judges
Judging will be under the direction of Elisabeth Blondel of New York, editor of McCalls Needlework magazine. She will be assisted by Michigan experts in needlework. The fair will close Saturday, September 17.

​​​Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.