My Transgenerational Quilt, 1835-1945 & 19th Century Fabric Swatch with Purchase Offer Extended to July 18th

The winner of one set of Antique Quilt Dating Guides on The Quilting Gallery's Friday Give-Away is Diana Higdon from Clarksville, Indiana. Congratulations to Diane.

Last week one set of my Antique Quilt Dating Guides...by Style were the featured Friday Give Away on Michele Foster's Quilting Gallery here -http://quiltinggallery.com/2009/07/03/antique-quilt-dating-guides-by-style/   Here is a shout out and big thank you to Michele Foster, the creator and publisher of The Quilting Gallery's many offerings.

My offer for a 9" swatch of 19th century calico (cut from antique yardage I was lucky to find years ago) with your order for a set is being extended to July 18, this coming Sat. until midnight. Michele asked if she could extend the offer from her website so again I decided to follow suit. Thank you to Janet Dykstra for answering my question about the origins of "following suit," which came from playing card games such as bridge or hearts. Of course now that I hear it, it comes back. I was an avid card game player during cold Chicago winters as a kid and I was good. We played gin, canasta, and double solitaire, but Michigan Rummy was my favorite when 4 or more were playing.

Here is the deal for you:

For each set of AQDGs ordered I will enclose a 9" swatch of late 19th century fabric, ca. 1880-1900. Until I run out of either fabric, you can chose the print you prefer to receive as your gift with purchase. They are like new, in perfect condition from my antique stash. The double pink photo looks fuzzy, but the fabric is perfectly clear.

Simply write Double Pink or White Floral on the comments line on the order page at www.antiquequiltdatingguides.com This offer has been extended until next weekend, July 18 midnight, PST. You can get 4- 2.5" squares, 4- 3" sqs. , 2- 4.5x9" strips, or keep it as one block in your quilt or fabric collection.

(left-This Guide is for 1900-1950 quilt styles only. On the front is a check list of the main features of a 20th century vs. a 19th c. quilt) The Guides will help you date the era of a quilt or decide upon the style you'd like to make with that great repro fabric you just had to buy!
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This is one of my favorite quilt in my collection and this is why; the puss in the corner, or elongated nice patch blocks are made from beautiful intact, not faded early chintz and calicos, ca 1835. Steam and mineral dyed chintz, my favorite ones, often in ombre tones and wood blocks prints and early roller prints are combined with plain muslin that was bleached in it's day and now has a beautiful patina.

Apparently the blocks were put away until later in the century, like in the 1880s and put together with sashing in a Pepto Bismo pink color. Yikes! And again it wasn't finished, but folded away until the 1940s or there about.I assume that because if it were used as a top on another back there would be more evidence of use or fading I think, but of course, can not be sure. At last, someone who loved the blocks as much as I gave this top a back. She chose a fabric popular in her time that had a similar color of pink, in a paisley of pink and yellow-gold with thin black details and outline on the paisley shapes. She tied the layers together with floss through a thin flannel blanket for batting and it remains intact and safe today.

My Dating Guides would have alerted you to the fact that this quilt wasn't from one era had you been basing your thoughts on the fabrics. Dating quilts is so much fun!

Check out my next group discussion/interview tele-conference on Women On Quilts that I just posted. We are getting together on Monday. Please join us!

Have a great week everyone!

Kim