| The history of quilt materials is almost as varied and | | | | size. Four bats will make three extra sized quilts by |
| fascinating as the history of quilt names. For instance, | | | | using the length for width and piecing out the length. |
| our chintz may be traced back through various family | | | | Sometimes a lightweight cotton blanket or flannelette is |
| connections and changes of name to the "India | | | | used, but the quilt will not have that soft puffiness that |
| Chinces" brought over from India by the East India | | | | cotton gives. The best bat costs a trifle more but the |
| Trading Company. This very fine cotton material was | | | | finished quilt is a thing of beauty. If flannelette is used |
| charmingly designed in much the same motifs of | | | | for padding, the breadths of cloth should be whipped |
| Paisley fame. The Persian influence, particularly the | | | | together, as a seam will cause an ugly lump in the quilt. |
| "Persian Pear" which women called the "pickle pattern" | | | | We never use sheet wadding as a filler for a cover |
| or "gourds," peacock feather designs, with pineapple, | | | | that is to be quilted; it is much too stiff for easy work. |
| pomegranates and certain exquisitely unreal but lavish | | | | As to the lining or backing, colors are quite popular, |
| flowers all bespeak the Oriental influence. Chintz came | | | | lemon yellow, baby blue, or whatever tint harmonizes |
| both glazed and unglazed. | | | | with the quilt top. White or unbleached were always |
| Imported "unglazed chince" became English made | | | | used on the old time quilts. But white or tinted, the lining |
| "Flowered Callicoe," and then there came a day when | | | | must be soft, unstarched either wide sheeting or strips |
| the British sheep and flax farmers framed legislation | | | | of 36-inch width inconspicuously seamed, to use with |
| making it unlawful to produce or wear this cotton stuff | | | | wash material tops. Satine is best with satine, while a |
| so beloved of the feminine heart! This stringent law | | | | silk quilt may be lined with wool challis, with a silk that |
| raised such a storm from the ladies that in due time | | | | will not cut out, or even with dark cotton chintz where |
| the ban was modified to a tax, but still unpopular. A | | | | a blanket interlining is used. |
| few of these taxes on tea, stamps, etc., you will recall | | | | Thread is the only other "material"; this is usually No. 50 |
| bore the fruit of real history on both sides of the | | | | white for piecing, finer or in matching mercerized tints |
| Atlantic. | | | | for applique. For machine piecing use finer thread, |
| On to practicalities, the warmth of the quilt will depend | | | | perhaps 70. Numbers 50 or 60 are the standard quilting |
| upon the thickness and kind of interlining you use. If | | | | threads, white in almost all cases, although quilting on |
| warmth is desired, have a thick interlining which means | | | | fine satine is lovely in No. 70. A No. 50 crochet twist in |
| that the quilting lines must be farther apart. If the quilting | | | | colors is effective for quilting on silk or rayon comforts. |
| is to be close and elaborate the interlining must be thin. | | | | Workmanship should be, like materials, the "best you |
| When a bed cover of exceptional warmth is needed, | | | | can afford." This may mean machine stitching for busy |
| use a comfort bat of cotton or wool. This will be too | | | | women, or the finest of handwork which we prize so |
| thick to push the needle through easily, making even | | | | highly in heirloom quilts. Close stitches are imperative in |
| stitches impossible. Instead of quilting, this coverlet must | | | | quilt making. We certainly want no ripped corners |
| be tacked or tufted. | | | | where cotton will pop out, or pulled seams in our quilt |
| Cotton batting is most commonly used as interlining for | | | | top. |
| quilts. One bat is enough for a quilt, unless it is over | | | | |
