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Quilting Is in Fashion Again (J&P Coats, Leaflet No. 575)

1933
Waldvogel Ephemera Collection; Waldvogel Archival Collection
New York, New York, United States
This leaflet published by The Spool Cotton Company makers of J. & P. Coats Threads is trying to capture a slice of the burgeoning quiltmaking market of the 1930s. While reminding the customer of the company's long-standing reputation for its cotton thread, they are introducing a new "quilting thread." Like other cotton thread and batting manufacturers who made similar leaflets showing how to use their products while learning to quilt, this company concisely provided instructions for making "heirloom" quilts. From planning and cutting to piecing and quilting, this leaflet provides a window into how quilts were made in 1930s.
QUILTING
IS IN FASHION AGAIN
THE CENTURY-OLD ART OF PATCH QUILT WORK IS AGAIN IN VOGUE

THIS BOOKLET IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU CREATE BEAUTIFUL QUILTS ï
THAT WILL BE ADMIRED AND TREASURED AS FAMILY HEIRLOOMS



Make This Interesting New Design
AND OTHERS
SHOWN INSIDE
WITH > & P. COATS
new QUILTING THREAD
OR BEST SIX CORD IN
CLARK'S 0. N. T. OR J. & P. COATS
COPYRIGHT-THE SPOOL COTTON COMPANY. 1933. NEW YORK, N. Y. PRINTED IN F. S. A. LEAFLET NO. 575



DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING "HEIRLOOM QUILTS"
QUILTS-Their Planning and Cutting
EACH quilt is made up of five important parts-the top, the lining, the padding, the thread, and the binding. Each part should be in harmony with the others and they should all be chosen to wear equally well. Quilt SizesóQuilts vary in size according to the size of the bed and the length desired. Old-time four-poster beds
usually require a quilt as wide as it is long. The average quilt of former times was approximately two and one-half
yards long and two yards wide. Frequently a harmonizing border was used all around the quilt.
For double beds, where quilts are used as coverlets and fold over the pillows, they may be three yards long and two
and one-quarter or two and one-half yards wide.
Sufficient material for the quilt should be purchased at one time. Quilt blocks are usually twelve inches square.
Figure out the amount of material that will be necessary by calculating the number of finished blocks you wish in
the quilt. The lining is usually two inches longer on all four sides than the top in order to give room for fastening
into the frames, as well as to allow the top to be stretched slightly.
MaterialsóThe materials chosen for the quilt should be of the best quality to insure beauty and long life. Fabrics
should be fast in color and should have sufficient body for easy handling. Per-
cale, calico, broadcloth, chintz, prints, and gingham are most generally se-
lected in pleasing color combinations. The back is made of widths of yard
goods either in white or a plain harmonizing color.
Threads and Needles to UseóClark's 0.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Best Six Cord
thread should be used for piecing or applique, and J. & P. Coats Quilting thread
for doing the quilting design. Six Cord thread is made of the longest fibers
, of finest selected cotton. It contains no starchy coating-the lasting strength
is in the thread itself.
J. & P. Coats Quilting thread has a special twist and finish which gives
ease in pulling through the fabric with fine even stitches. It may be had in
White, Yellow, Nile Green, Blue, Orchid and Rose. If Quilting thread is not
available, use size 30, 40, 50 or 60 Clark's 0.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Best Six
Cord Thread for quilting.
Milward's Quilting needles size 7 are best for use on closely woven fabrics.
For finer work use size 8. A short needle like these encourages short, fine
stitches, which add to the beauty of the quilt.
Cutting the Pattern-Draw any one of the illustrated designs on a twelve-inch square
of heavy wrapping paper. Block off the
square into as many units as appear in
the illustration. Then draw in the addi-
tional straight or diagonal lines. Accu-
racy is important and in checking the
pattern it may help to know that the
twelve inch block is just six times the
size of the accompanying illustration.
When the whole pattern has been drawn,
indicate the pieces that are to be cut of
one kind of material-for example in
the Box Quilt, put an A on all the white,
a B on all the lightest color, and a C
on the darkest ones. Mark each part
of the paper pattern with a line parallel
to the sides of the squareóto indicate
the straight of the goods. Cut out
the individual pieces to use as guides.



WITH J. a P. COATS QUILTING THREAD
QUILTS-Their Piecing and Quilting
Cutting the Quilt PiecesóBe sure that all fabric pieces are free from wrinkles before pinning on the pattern. Use
at least two pins so that your pattern cannot slip. (One expert quilter suggests cutting out the pattern in sand-
paper. This is placed with the rough side down on the material and will not slip). Four to six blocks may be cut
at one time. Use sharp scissors. Allow for one-quarter inch seams outside the pattern and cut just as evenly as you
can so that each block will be "true" in size when pieced and, therefore, easy to join to its neighboring blocks.
Run a pin through the center of each type of block to hold a stack of them together. Place all in a shallow box so
that the pieces will be ready for piecing and will not wrinkle. You can easily lift each piece off the top of the pin.
Our grandmothers used this simple plan of keeping cut pieces in order.
PiecingóPiecing is the seaming together of the tiny pieces to form the quilt block. Most women prefer to use a
No. 40 to 50 Six Cord thread. The sewing may be done either by hand with fine running stitches or on the machine.
After the blocks are completed they are seamed together to form long strips and these strips are seamed together.
To add interest to the quilt, the alternate blocks may be of plain materialó
the design on them originating with the quilting pattern. After seaming,
it is important that every seam be laid flat and pressed open carefully, and
that none of the bias edges be stretched.
Marking the Quilt DesignóThe pattern chosen for quilting depends upon
the skill of the worker and the amount of time available. The feather design
is a favorite, while diamonds, squares, diagonal rows, wreaths, shells, and
fans are all used frequently. Our grandmothers spent much time and skill in
painstakingly marking the quilting pattern by scratching it with a pin or
delicately outlining it in chalk or pencil. Today with our modern methods
we can duplicate these lovely designs more accurately and in much less time
by applying hot iron transfer patterns and marking the design before the quilt
is put in the frames.
After all the blocks are pieced and set together, the whole quilt top should
be pressed carefully. It can then be laid out on the floor or large table and the
plan made for the quilting design. Baste in place the design that has been
chosen, placing the blue marking next to the material. Cut away all parts
that are not wanted. The feather wreath is a favorite for the center of the
plain blocks, the shell and star and crown are also popular. Arrange the
border so that it will make a pleasing
design. With a moderately hot iron,
press the wrong side of the transfer
pattern. Remove the pattern and you
will be delighted with the markings on
your quilt. You may find it necessary
to buy two or three envelopes of quilt-
ing designs to cover your entire quilt,
but considering the trivial cost for
which they can be secured and the sav-
ing in time, they are well worth while.
Additional lines may be added form-
ing diagonals, squares, diamonds, etc.
No transfer pattern is necessary for
these. Frequently the pattern of the
block serves as a guide, a row of quilt-
ing being run one-fourth inch inside
each seam line in the block.

CHARMING DESIGNS FOR QUILTING
Putting in the Frame The back is put on the quilting frame and Begin with a tiny knot in the thread and conceal it under the
then thin layers of cotton, which may be bought in rolls or sheets, fabric by pushing the fabric threads apart with a pin or the
are spread evenly over this lining. One and a half to two pounds point of your needle. Always use a thimble when you quilt.
of cotton is generally used. When the layer of cotton has been Finishing the QuiltóRemove the quilt from the frame, trim the
placed, the top is carefully laid over, then stretched, and pinned
outer edges, and then it is ready for binding. Binding may be
in place. Pins with flat heads are desirable, so that they will not made of the lining material cut on the bias, or a simpler method
be lost in the quilt. The whole is then basted firmly together. is to use J. & P. Coats Percale Bias Trim in Boilfast colors.
OuiltingóUsing Milward's Quilting needles and J. &. P. Coats The binding is applied to the wrong side eased in slightly so
Quilting thread, you will find that you can make tiny even that it will not draw-then it is turned to the right side and
running stitches following the design made by the hot iron pattern. hemmed down.
QU I LT I N G Designs that preserve the quaint
beauty of the century-old art.



These quilting designs may be obtained from your local dealer, or send
ten cents (10c) to the Spool Cotton Company, Dept. 575, 350
Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y., and indicate which pattern you desire.
For all Piecing and Quilting Use
J. & P. COATS or CLARK'S a N. T.
QUALITY THREADS FOR OVER A CENTURY
Piecing; Quilting

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