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Why Not Slip-Cover an Unattractive Old Bed?

December 11, 1935
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 members.
Why Not Slip-Cover an Unattractive Old Bed?
Here is how an old bed ready for the discard may be slip covered and become the best looking bed in the house. It is merely a matter of cutting, fitting and sewing the cover to fit the bed exactly for there could not be a pattern for it. The cover may be of quilted or flowered chintz and piped with a contrasting color.
Fine Sewing Necessary for Very Best Results

By Edith B. Crumb

If you have a bed which is so unattractive that you would like to discard it, but being a good home-maker, you feel it would be too extravagant to do that - how about making a slip cover for it?

Is is an idea that may be carried out quickly or slowly depending upon your ability to cut, fit and sew. There is no such a thing as a pattern for a slip cover of this kind. It is made by cutting the material right on the bed and the cover in the illustration is of plain chintz quilted by hand. This brings out a charming design and that hand-made touch brings the piece top in the scale of attractive furnishings.

This may even be done to an old iron bed (and who could be blamed for discarding one of this type - economy or no economy?), but in order to fit the slip cover over the gew-gaws and curlicues (of which every iron bed boasted a large number) it is necessary to have a firm foundation. This may be accomplished by fitting a piece of beaver board, front and back of the head and foot boards.

By doing this you may change the outline of the boards, which may be a relief. For example, under the head and foot-boards as shown there may be some very badly twisted, bent and ornamented iron.

The slip cover should be made for the side rails as well as the ends and a shirred or pleated ruffle may finish the bed all around.

You would not find a plain covering as attractive as a quilted one. This may be either in a floral design of in a diamond lattice pattern. If you do not wish to spend the time and patience to quilt this material you will find that a flowered chintz or linen will be very effective.

A piping in a contrasting color should finish all seams and a binding of the same color half an inch wide may be used for the finish of the bottom edge of the ruffle.

Draperies to match the slip cover may be used to give harmony to the scheme. If they are of plain chintz, they should be lined with sateen and a band (about four inches wide) of quilting may finish the front and bottom edges of the draperies, which should be floor length. There may be a flat valance also quilted, this same style being used for the tie-backs.

Use snap fasteners to hold this slip cover in position so that it may be easily removed for cleaning purposes.

Wants Some Letters
Dear Miss Crumb: The quilt show was grand and now that it is over, I can say we are all breathing more normally. I went out to see Mrs. J. Glenney, 168 E. Huron St., Pontiac, and found her recovering from a very bad cold. She had to miss the show. I also had a friend, Mrs. May from Carnegie, Pa. She came on the bus arriving here in the morning, and went back at night. We enjoyed the show so much.

I wish some more of the quilt-makers would write to me and I would like to exchange pieces. I would also like some of the shut-in members to write to me.
Mrs. Hilda Rintoul,
900 Lawndale Ave.

It was nice of you to go and see Mrs. Glenney, Mrs. Rintoul. We are all so sorry that she had to miss the show. After sending in 15 quilts to help make it a success, it seemed a pity that she could not attend. She would have had such a good time visiting with all of the quilt-makers in the Corner, exchanging patches and examining quilts.

You don't know how happy we were to know that your friend came all the way from Pennsylvania just to spend a day at our quilt show.

From "Miss 15"
Dear Miss Crumb: I have just decided to come out of my silent corner into your so very active Quilt Club Corner. I am 15 years old and have made a Flower Garden quilt which is beautiful and now I am making a Dresden Plate quilt. My hobby is sewing and I also enjoy cooking. I receive a great deal of valuable information about quilt-making by reading every letter in The Detroit News Quilt Club Corner. I would be thankful and happy if you would enter my name and also my mother's in you Quilt Club.
Helma Kerner.
23051 Reynolds st.

We are certainly happy to have both your name and your mother's Helma, and I hope that you enjoy belonging to the Club and will keep reading the letters every day and writing to us occasionally.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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