The Rural Voice, 1980-12, Page 39Stace eaceatv 7edetateaa if9tecesdreete
A PATCHWORK WINTER
BY MILDRED BUSCH
Southampton
What can farm wives do to make their
spare time productive in the long winter
months in this part of the country?" That
question has been asked in your maga-
zine.
Down through the years women have
looked forward to the winter season when
they could continue in one of the most
creative crafts of our country - that of
quilt -making. Its history is most fascinat-
ing. May 1 tell you a little about it?
It was born from necessity --the need
for bed covers to keep warm in the home
and for those at war.
In Canada, the new world's folk art was
the patchwork. as it was known then.
Patches are nothing new. Bedcovers were
made by sewing pieces of cloth together
to make larger pieces. At first the pieces
of cloth were cut from used garments.
These quilts of a haphazard mosaic were
called Crazy Quilts. The next generation
made crazy quilt throws of scraps of silk
and velvet, embroidering them and
feather -stitching the seams. These ele-
gant throws were sometimes draped over
pianos.
True patchwork is designed; it has
meaning in every line. Women created it
who had not a penny to spend or a
half-inch of cloth to waste. Some of the
most beautiful patchwork was created by
these women.
As women worked in groups their job
was to sew the scraps together; nobody
suggested patterns, but one after another
scraps were picked to make pictures;
curved blue for a lake, green strips for a
bank of dark painted pines, a gray road,
autumn woods. white clouds, blue sky
above.
It was in this spirit that women created
patchwork and are still creating it. New
patterns come from wanting to express
some meaning with shapes. Traditional
patterns are innumerable.
PATCHWORK PATTERNS
It you lived at the seashore you may
be created a quilt pattern such as the
"Ship", "Crossed Canoes", "Ship's
Wheel", "Ocean Wave", "Storm at
Sea." If you, as a pioneer, made your
first home in a cabin, the "Log Cabin"
might have been created by you, or "The
Pines," "Bear's Paw", "Turkey Track",
"Maple Leaf," "Indian Trail."
The first log cabin quilts started with a
small red square representing the hearth,
the centre of the home, or the light in the
window. Each strip added was ano they
room. Today the "Log Cabin" is again
very popular.*
In pioneer times the young girl in the
family pieced blocks in her leisure time.
A bride's chest was supposed to contain a
ezuee 3edeocativa
ANNUAL
MEETING
Dec. 3, 1980 7 p.m.
GUEST SPEAKER Johannes Jarvalt,
Legal Counsel, OFA,
Elmwood
Community Centre
baker's dozen of quilts; the thirteenth,
known as a bride's quilt, was more
elaborate and was planned only after the
engagement was announced.
Almost always the bride's quilt pattern
was anapplique. No favorite design has
more versions than the "Rose of Sharon."
We have been speaking of patchwork
as pieces sewn together, and so it was
called. Technically there is a difference
between "piece" quilts and "patch"
quilts. The patch variety was the
aristocrat and the pieced, the poor
relation: for "patch" is really "sewed
on" meaning applique with new material,
and piecing used every vestige of
left -over material.
However "piece" quilts have come up
in the world. Patterns have been evolved
from squares, triangles, diamonds and
strips: Double Irish Chain, Drunkard's
Path, Double Nine Patch, and many
versions of the "Star."
For a number of years the plain quilts
with fancy quilting designs in a darker or
contrasting thread have been very pop-
ular, but as materials, thread, and quilt
batts soar in prices, where is the art of
quilt -making going?
So much for a little of the history of
quilt -making, but many a time the winter
storm was over when the quilt came out
of the frames.
Another beautiful piece of folk -art!
BRUCE BEEF HEALTH STUDY
The 91 Bruce County beef farmers who took part in the first
two years of the Bruce Beef Health Study will take part in the
third and final year of the program with this fall's run of calves.
No new volunteers will be added to the study this year . There
will be more emphasis on loss of production due to sickness as
well as death this year.
Vaccines will be studied in more detail this year. In addition to
the Bruce study the Ontario Vet College is undertaking a
program of vaccinating a large number of calves in the west two
to three weeks prior to shipping. These pre -vaccinated calves
will be offered for sale through the regular sales. The only date 1
have at this time is November 3, at North Battleford.
COMPUTER RATIONS
We just received a report on the Canfarm Computer ration
programs. We were pleased to see that 64 Bruce dairymen had
satisfaction of knowing that they were feeding their cows a
balanced ration. There are many success stories about computer
rations and feed testing in Bruce that tell of increased milk
production and lower feed costs.
Let us know if you wish more information on feed testing and
computer ration formulation.
M. R. Bolton, Agricultural Representative.
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1980 PG. 37