South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19

rows OF minute stitching Of white
silk, making the bedcover almost
solid needlework Besides the quilt
ing, there were at wide intervals
conventional flowers i'm peacock
shades OF blue and green silk. exc
cuted in chain stitch. When found.
the needle was still sticking in one
of the flowers"
In northern Europe there is little
evidence of quilting, and in Ger
many nothing of the kind found in
England and America. The thick
feather beds of medieval Germany
were covered with various kinds of
comforts filled with wool or feathers
and sometimes sparsely quilted" In
England. however, as evidenced by
the few specimens still left. many
bed hangings were used, as well as
wall covers. 10 keep out the cold.
For the homes of the mobiles. these
were richly embroidered with Jew
els and silver and gold thread. The
patched and pieced quilt was nee
essity with the peasant"
During the reign of Henry VIII
the most elaborate quilts were made.
Mary Queen of Scots was devoted
to the needle, and was expert i'm its
use. Hardwick Hall is init
mately associated with Queen Mary's
life, and is rich in relics OF her in
dustry. In one room named for her
there is a bed curtain and quilt said
to be her work"
Much is due TO the careful pro-
vision Of the Countess of Shrews-
bury's will that so much of this fine
work is preserved The earle of
Shrewsbury was Queen Mary's GUS
todian, and the author points out
that often the countess and Queen
Mary sat together, working with
their patchwork or applique APP
plique was popular in the middle
ages. not alone on quilts. but on
petticOats, chair seats, coats. and
ever on boots and gloves
All these quilts were deliberately
embroidered. In the time of Charles
l. "a Chinese quilt embroidered i'm
gold" was brought 10 England
From this rich embroidery there
seems TO have sprung up a custom
among DANES Of the time, a very
unfortunate habit. known in
France as 'parHege' and in England
as 'drizzling. This was nothing
more or less than ripping up. stitch
by stitch the magnificent old hang
ings and Quilts-to secure gold and
silver braid. Lady Mary Coke.
writing from the Austrian court.
says All the ladies who do not play
cards pick gold u is the most gen
eral fashion 1 ever saw. and they all
carry their bags containing the nee
essary tools in their pockets.
In the United States. as in Eng
land. the quilting and patching WAS
surely a necessity at first. There is
no evidence that the French or
Spanish brought the custom here.
The Dutch and English seem TO be
responsible for its introduction.
Among the relics preserved of these
old quilts there are many made of
most costly fabrics brocades sa-
tins. silks and velvets Especially
elaborate are the old quilted petit
coats which were a necessity i'm the
New England climate. IL is evident
that. In spite Of the protests Of the
clergy. there was much display i'm
dress and the pieces of this CASTOR
elegance went into the patched and
pieced quilts 10 keep people warm
In the middle west sprang up pat
terms Of great originality. the names
Of which are taken from local and
national events. and these are most
interesting i'm their variety Of range
Some are Biblical as. for instance
such names as Garden OF Eden.
Golden Gate. nautical terms appear
a. Bouncing Betty. ocean Wave
and there are flowers I'm an uneud-
/ Ing procession The names are as
original az the stitching and the
pieces worked into them-each quilt
being a family history in ward
robes.
; A collector Of note i'm the middle
west told the writer that. when the
/ steam boats began 20 make their
t.ips 10 the gulf the settlers often
| brought back from these VOYAGES
quantities OF silk and satin pieces
/ which their wives made up into
| elaborate quilts.
The patched guilt was really the
aristocrat OF quilts and beautiful
| patterns were cut out and apphqued
on by these early pioneer women
/ Many OF these rare specimens have
been found through the southwest
! ern portions OF the United States
and iu the mountains OF kentucky