How-to-Quilt.com

October 2005 Newsletter

1) ‘A Tidbit of Quilt History’ – Sorting Fabric (written in
the 1890s)

2) ‘Tools, Tricks and Quilting Tips’ – UFOs

3) ‘What's in a Name?’ – Learn about a traditional patchwork
quilt block that has many different names.

4) ‘Recipe for Quilters’ – Roast Goose with Brown Potatoes
and Apple-Raisin Dressing

1) A Tidbit of Quilt History – Sorting Fabric

Last month in the ‘Tips, Tools and Tricks’ section of this
newsletter, we explored ways to make cheap quilts. This
month, we will continue the journey through quiltmaking in
the 1890s with quilting tips published by Household
Discoveries, by Sidney Morse, published in 1890.

Sidney suggests that you sort your fabric pieces, ‘putting
goods of the same general character, as ginghams, woolens,
calicoes, silks, and the like, in separate lots.’ He suggests
that quilts made of similar fabrics are ‘generally more
satisfactory than if various kinds of goods are mingled together,
and may be used for different purposes. Silk quilts may be used
for couches and sofas, woolen quilts for the guest chambers,
gingham and calico quilts for everyday wear, and quilts from
old stockings for summer quilts, porches, and hammocks.’

How different making quilts is in 2005!

2) Tools, Tricks, and Quilt Tips – UFOs

A great use for some of those Un-Finished Objects (otherwise
known as unfinished projects) is to cut them up randomly and
then sew them together to create a piece large enough to use
as a backing for a quilt. Sew in some scraps of fabric that
might be cluttering up your stash as well.

Note for new quilters: you may find yourself starting a
project, and then stopping work on it. You could be tired
of it, have run out of a particular fabric, became interested
in an even better project (and will return to the first one
someday), any number of excuses work!

This is very common, and tends to be quite a joke among
quilters (who will admit they have such items). The challenge
is to do something creative with the UFOs - gift wrap them
in fancy boxes for your kids to open when you die; stuff them
in the back closet and pretend they have gotten lost; trade
them with your local quild members; the list goes on.....

3) 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 give credit to a city or state, and one block
would end up having several different names.

This month’s block has several different names: Flock of Geese,
Birds in the Air, Birds of the Air, Flying Birds, Flying Geese.

This month you may notice something new about this page. We
have added FREE Patterns as links to each one of these blocks.
Click on either the picture of the quilt block or the name of
the block that is highlighted in blue and underlined, and a
file will open that has a colored quilt block picture, templates
for the pattern, and rotary cutting instructions. There will
be links on the pattern page for each one of these blocks soon
(many of them are already there).

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

=================================================

4) Recipe for Quilters – Roast Goose with Browned Potatoes

In keeping with the www.How-to-Quilt.com practice, this month’s
recipe ties right in with the featured block, although this
bird won't be flying any more.

Roast Goose with Browned Potatoes

1 goose (9 – 11 pounds)
4 – 6 large potatoes, pared and cut into halves
salt and pepper
paprika

Trim excess fat off of goose. Rub cavity of goose lightly
with salt. Fasten neck skin of goose to back with skewer.
Fold wings across back with tips touching. Tie drumsticks
to tail. Prick skin all over with fork. Place goose breast
side up on a rack in shallow roasting pan. Roast uncovered
in 350° oven until done, 3 to 3½ hours, removing excess fat
from pan occasionally.

One hour and fifteen minutes before goose is done, place
potatoes in roasting pan around goose. Brush potatoes with
goose fat; sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. If
necessary, place a tent of aluminum foil loosely over goose
to prevent excessive browning. Goose is done when drumstick
meat feels very soft. Place goose and potatoes on heated
platter. Cover and let stand 15 minutes for easier carving.
Garnish with kumquats and parsley if desired.

Note: to carve, remove the wings and legs. Cut away each
breast half in one piece. Slice the breast meat, thighs and
drumsticks into smaller portions.

Apple-Raisin Dressing

1½ cups chopped celery (with leaves)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup margarine or butter
8 cups soft bread cubes
3 tart apples, chopped
½ cup raisins
1½ teaspoons salt
1½ teaspoons dried sage leaves
¼ teaspoon pepper

Cook and stir celery and onion in butter in 10” skillet
until onion is tender. Stir in about 1/3 of the bread cubes.
Pour into deep bowl. Add remaining ingredients; toss. Place
in greased baking pan, 13” x 9” x 2” or a 3 quart casserole.
Cover and cook in 350° oven for 15 minutes. Uncover and cook
until hot and slightly crisp, about 15 minutes longer.
6 cups dressing.

Thanks to Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cookbook for this
month’s recipe.

Happy Quilting!