How-to-Quilt.com

April 2005 Newsletter

Greetings and Let Spring Begin!

(if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, that is)

A portion of the April 2005 Newsletter:

"A Tidbit of Quilting History” – Quilts from Petticoats?
"Tips, Tools and Tricks" - Bed and Quilt Sizes
"What's in a Name?" - Learn about a traditional quilt block that has many different names
"Recipe for Quilters" - Corn and Beans (Succotash)

A Tidbit of Quilting History

Whole cloth quilts made of silk are the direct descendents of the quilted petticoats that were fashionable until the early 1880s in America. These underskirts filled in the opening at the front of the skirt just below the waist of the dress. After the fashion died out, seamstresses opened out old petticoats and pieced them together to make quilts. Some quilters also transferred the intricate designs they had used on underskirts to whole-cloth quilts. By 1840 this kind of quilt was no longer made in New England. But in the South, quiltmakers continued to add elaborate quilting and trapunto to white areas in both their appliquéd and pieced quilts.

Thanks to a book called America’s Quilts, created by the Country’s Best Quilters for this bit of history.

Tips, Tools and Tricks - Bed Quilt Sizes

Frequently people have asked what size quilt to make for a particular bed. The answer depends on whether you would like a “Pillow Tuck.” As you can imagine, that is where you fold the quilt under the pillow, then around to cover the pillow. The following are charts that have some useful sizes. The first chart shows Bed Sizes, the second shows Quilt Sizes without a Pillow Tuck, and the final chart shows Quilt Sizes With a Pillow Tuck. All of the Quilt Sizes assume a 10” drop on 3 sides of the quilt.

It’s not that easy or critical to make your quilt the exact size on the chart. I use them as approximate sizes, and tend to lay the quilt on the bed in question to see how it will fit. If it’s too small, I add a border. It’s never been too big!

Bed Sizes: Twin === 39” x 75”
Extra long === 39” x 80”
Full (double) ==== 54” x 75”
Queen ==== 60” x 80”
Eastern King === 76” x 80”
California King === 72” x 84”
Dual King === 78” x 80”

Quilt Sizes with a 10” drop and without a Pillow Tuck:

Twin === 59” x 85”
Extra long twin === 59” x 90”
Full (double) === 74” x 85”
Queen === 80” x 90”
Eastern King === 96” x 90”
California King === 92” x 94”
Dual King === 98” x 90”

Quilt Sizes with a 10” drop and a Pillow Tuck:

Twin === 59” x 95”
Extra long twin === 59” x 100”
Full (double) === 74” x 95”
Queen === 80” x 100”
Eastern King === 96” x 100”
California King === 92” x 104”
Dual King === 98” x 100”

What's in a Name? - Early in the 1900s, as more women became interested in quilting and wanted to expand the variety of blocks they used in their quilts, they would write to magazines and newspapers for ideas. Publications would list the requests in one issue then publish the answers in the next issue. The blocks would be published with instructions and a picture. Often the blocks were renamed to sound more current or to given credit to a city or state.

This month’s feature has eight different names! The name I am most familiar with is Shoo Fly; it is also called Duck and Ducklings, Ducklings, Fox and Geese (Nancy Cabot), Hen and Chickens, Handy Andy, Wild Goose Chase (Carlie Sexton), and Corn and Beans – which ties in very nicely with this month’s recipe.

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/patterns/blocks.shtml.

Thanks to Maggie Malone's book 5,500 Quilt Block Designs for this information.

Recipe for Quilters - Corn and Beans (Succotash)

1 10 oz. package of frozen baby lima beans, cooked and
drained; or 1 1lb. can of lima beans, drained

1 10oz. package of frozen corn, cooked and drained; or
1 1 lb. can of whole kernel corn, drained

½ cup light cream
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

In a medium saucepan, combine cooked beans and corn with remaining ingredients. Heat through, stirring occasionally.

Note- you can also use fresh lima beans and corn. If you do, be sure to cook them thoroughly before adding the other ingredients.

This recipe serves 6, and is from Betty Crocker’s Cookbook.

If you have a recipe to share, email us at: info@How-to-Quilt.com. We will be happy to publish the recipe in an upcoming newsletter.

©How-to-Quilt.com 2005