There were other periods of economic depression in addition to the Great Depression of the 1930's, particularly during the late 1800's and also in the South during and after the Civil War. Also there were pioneers in the US who were isolated from sources of fabric, even during times when they might have had a prosperous farm. The idea that 5 cent a yard fabric was cheap is somewhat distorted because a nickel was a lot harder to come by when people might have had almost no income. During WW2, the army paid my sergeant dad $10 a month plus "room and board", and he probably sent some of it home to his impoverished mom. Before the price went down as you describe there was no way a poor person could buy fabric, but even at 5 cents, it was a luxury for many people. As late as the 1950's my widowed grandmother in Nebraska was making quilts from scraps to warm her family's beds as well as to barter for other necessities. Maybe in cities people could buy fabric just to make quilts, but there is no way scraps did not play a prominent role in quilt making throughout the history of quilts. All you have to do is look at some vintage quilts to see the seams in the middle of a patch to get a large enough piece, or designs where some of the same fabric is much more faded because some was cut from a dress made from yardage and had been worn for a few years and some was from the leftover bits from making that dress, or some had a welted seam running through, showing that they were cut from the side of piece of clothing. It's very common and the evidence is everywhere.

One of my first quilts was an Amish style and our teacher told us the ‘purposeful error’ Myth! And actually made us put a block in wrong! I kept thinking: ‘don’t we make enough errors organically?’.Thank you for setting some of the history straight!

I believe what might be left out in Mary's quilt history is the great depression. There was very little of anything, every piece of chicken was eaten that could be eaten, my great aunt and uncle even ate the neck, and what they could of the feet. Every scrap of fabric that could be used was used. I have a patchwork quilt, a thing of beauty created by my great aunt that was made from my uncles suits, ties, and had intricate embroidery added. Waste was next to sin in those days.

The truth is never a "bummer" The only one that I may disagree with a little bit is the scrap quilts., I know for a fact that some quilts were made from clothing that was worn out and old worn out blankets were used as fillers. But there are always exceptions to every rule. :)

The deliberate mistake was definitely around in the 1960s. The Mennonite quilters from my childhood got asked about it a lot at their annual silent auction for quilts to raise money for Mennonite Aid. They all said they made so many mistakes in each quilt, there was no need to add one deliberately.

Enjoyed your talk, and I kind of thought The Underground Railroad would be among the myths. No, I am not upset, nor am I disappointed. However, it is difficult to agree totally with your statement regarding quilts and the Underground Railroad. Slave quilts, though they may not have been neatly sewn, as with Harriet Powers Bible Quilt, but were strategically sewn; and played a very important role in slave communication - A secret code to send messages throughout plantations, and to help and encourage those who chose to risk running away. Every slave was not privy to this secret for reasons of disclosing the purpose. As for factual documentation - Word of mouth was customary of our slave ancestors, my 2X great-grandparents included; and written word did not come about until slave descendants, as well as others began documentation of slave life.

I enjoyed your informative speech. I do disagree with your statement about women made patch work quilts because the abundance of materials. My mother-in-law never got rid of a dress, or any garments without Savaging everything from the garments and make their quilt with it. I sill have many of her quilts. They were beautiful 😀

I love the idea that you were prepared to throw yourself into something with the potential of being so contentious! That's why your channel is so great. Thank you Fons & Porter - thanks Mary - great summation! Love your work. xo

Thanks Mary, I can totally related to number 3! Love your presenting style.

I think the Underground Railroad one comes from a misunderstanding of what the whole thing was. I think people want to believe that a bunch of escaped slaves were just wandering around looking for places to hide along the way. The whole operation was actually quite involved. They had people leading them to specific places and there was a lot of communication work others going on.

Love the myth-busting! I love fun stories but I love solid research even more. Please bust some more myths any time you feel like it!

In the 1600-1700's people did coverlets woven from wool and cotton. I have a printed collection of diaries from the late 1700 into the 1800. One of the women was quoted to say "I make quilts fast enough to keep my family warm and beautiful enough to make life in this land bearable". I know you probably meant to come off as glib and hip, but it came off as condescending.

Truth is more people work to discredit underground railroad quilts than validate. Look who'd telling the story.

You have a mistake, during the "Great Depression" you bought flour, it came in a fabric flour sack! The flour companies used different prints to get a sale. My parents had dresses, shirts, pillow cases, dish towels, etc made out of "flour sacks"! Dad born 1929, Mom 1931. The Great Depression last 10+ years. My family where farms & had more to eat than a city person. But you hoped & pray your cousins shoes/jacket, etc would fit you when they out grown it.

Thank you for sharing, this is good to know as a novice quilter that I am.

my children wore feed sack shorts in the summer. we lived on a farm and got lots of feed sacks and this was back in 1970 something. that's when I started mkaing scrap quilts. for the middle of the quilt I did not use batting. what was used was old blankets. so feed sacks were not thrown away.

Thankyou for the info it’s great to learn the true history of quilting I learn more everyday keep up the good work

Thank you so much Mary. Great information, you did not bum me out. In fact my confidence as a new quilter has increased! Keep up the great videos.

I hadn't heard 'the myths' so I didn't have to undo my thinking...but it was all interesting. Have you ever done a show on the different feet and how to use them? I'd like that.

Mary, love your show. However, there are those whose "research" would conflict with yours. You have a right to your opinion.

Such a cool topic! thanks!

Who made handwoven coverlets? I think a lot of history has been revised in the colleges and universities.

i DON'T BELIEVE THAT LEAVING A MISTAKE IN EACH QUILT ISN'T TO SHOW THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT. I leave a mistake in my crochet work too...you will never find it, but I know it's there

Fascinating video. I absolutely loved the class I took with you in Savannah. I hope to get the opportunity to take another. I should find a way to send you a pic of the finished quilt.

Thanks to Mary for bringing attention to our quilt history. She has the myths right, but not all the facts are accurate. Colonial period were using more woven coverlets or wholecloth quilts, like linsey woolsey and other similar pieces. Chintz was being used in early 19th century. Repetitive block quilts emerged in America about c1840. And like Mary says, quilts were not used to assist slaves escape during through the UGRR, in any way. Not just the block in the window, or quilt on the porch. But they were not used as maps or have secret codes. This has been researched extensively. Block patterns like Ozella Williams and Eleanor Burns used as examples in their books, are for the most part 20th century patterns...way after the Civil War.

When people were sent to the new world, the women in England would send them with a bag of sewing materials, needle, scraps of fabric, so when they arrived, they could show off their sewing skills.Necessity made quilts, from anything the women could use.

Love this little bit of history!

"never let the truth get in the way of a good story" thanks for shining light in the dark corners of lore.

The information about underground railroad quilts is mostly true. The sources are mostly oral tradition. There are several books out there that document the cloth traditions in the areas of West and Central Africa and how they were transformed by the mixing of various African groups (Charleston, South Carolina is one example) in the United States. Hidden in Plain View: The Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline Tobin is one of the books that traces the cloth tradition through oral history. Thanks!

I realize that this is somewhat old. But I too have to disagree with most of those myth busters. I watched a whole documentary on Quilts being hung on a line for the underground railway. And more. And in a way I feel like a child that someone just tried to convince there is no Santa Clause. As for me, I believe in Santa.

Thank you! The history geek in me is so glad to hear these tidbits.

Something I think that was also left out were the quilted petticoats of colonial times. Though not quilt bedding, it was still a quilted garment and used to keep warm. For men there was a banyan or a waistcoat.

Very interesting!

Love your show. But have to tell you that here in Australia, pioneer women made what they called "woggahs" to keep their beds warm, and they were patched from sugar bags (hessian bags usually). Also, they used fabric from worn out clothes to patch on to them. Still, your U.S. History is fascinating. Viva la difference!!

What fun to hear these myths and find out how they're busted!

love the quilt behind you, where can i find the pattern?

Will the Baby Locks y'all use on the show still be functional 80+ years from now, like my all metal 82 year old Singer 128? Modern sewing machines have way too much plastic in them for my tastes. I'll stick to all metal vintage sewing machines. I am happy to have modern rotary cutters.

I like that quilt behind you what is that called, n how do you make. thanks.😆

*Standing Ovation* Thank you! I've had more than one person say "well you didn't really quilt/sew/whatever that, since you have a machine" >:/

Great video, Mary.... Have you read any of Barbara Brackman's books? The woman is such a great quilt/fabric historian....

I know this is an old video, but this is my first time seeing it. I am wondering.... is there any research to back up these myth claims? Where did you get the historical information about each of these? I'd like to research some of these further, but not sure if there is something already documented somewhere?

About number three - is it true the Amish at least at one time in their history would but a "zinger" lock, one different because life isn't always sooth sailing?

Interesting!

Well done girl I will remember all those tips

pretty sure the "only god is perfect" myth came from when someone noticed a mistake in a quilt and point it out, and the quilter wouls reply "only god is perfect" as a defense to say "yeah there probably is a mistake in there, but thats okay because im not perfect". someone may have interpreted it as an intentionally added flaw because a quilter replied that way. as for scrapsb yes, the industry may have been booming with fabrics and there may have been a surplus, but that does not mean every sewist had a surplus of fabric in their home or the means to buy it. they may have bought a yard every few months because thats what they could afford, and saved the scraps left over from that yard (or the flour sacks that had prints on them) and once they had enough made stuff out of that. its a lottle arrogant to assume that just becaise there was a surplus of fabric, that everyone always had tons of fabric on hand

it was sad when they started using paper for feed sacks. plus they were scratchy and had a tendency to fall apart when washed.

BOOOO... that really burst my bubble about the underground railroad. I have been researching this for some time now. Eleanor Burns even did a show about it.However I like the idea of it all.I wonder if there is much on how each pattern got its name? Thanks for the heads up Mary!

So.....I never knew that "older is better". In our family why the older quilts were better was because they were handed down to us from ancestors, with a story. This piece of fabric came come leftovers from aunt whoever dress when she was 5, that piece over there from uncle somebody's old shirt, blah blah blah. We no longer have those quilts or the quilting equipment from my grandmother but the memories are great. I am watching these videos because I want to make a quilt, but it WILL all be done by hand. I dont have a special machine or anything. But I will make them with love 💘

What a great show! I'm a new quilter and would love to learn more about the history of this great hobby. ALSO - that great quilt behind you! How is it made?

My grandmother made quilts from scrap clothing (the pieces that were left when they couldnt be patched anymore) because they were poor and could not afford yardage- your myth #5 reason isnt accurate- sorry! She was 84 when she died in 1977-

What is the quilt behind you called?

I heard or read somewhere that they used flour sacks to make things like doll clothes and quilts. Is that a myth?

The 5th myth is actually true. A lot of women made quilts out of necessity due to poverty. Most quilt researchers only study quilts made by upper class women because those quilts were not necessarily used. Those quilts were treated as heirlooms and mostly used as decoration. Therefore those quilts survived the ages. Lower class people would have cut up old clothes and quilted them into blankets. These blankets would have been used and eventually thrown away once they were worn out. They looked more like rag rugs with no big layouts because there was not enough of one fabric to make an all over design. They were also stuffed with wool fabrics - not cotton batting - because they couldn't afford batting. Look at the Gees Bend quilts made out of old beat up denim jeans for an example of quilts being made out of "recycled" fabrics made by the lower classes.

Mary Fons I think you are so cool!!! I have learned so much from you!!!!! Thank You!!!

I respectfully disagree with some of these points. One cannot say with absolute certainty that something in history didn't happen just because there is a lack of formal evidence to show proof. Heirloom quilts of wealthy people may have been preserved, but the same cannot be said for common people quilts, such as those that belonged to families who assisted people in the underground railroad. It's very possible that people could've hung certain blankets or quilts on the line or in a window as a symbol of sanctuary, but how would modern historians know if these particular quilts or blankets were used for this purpose or not? Especially if these quilts have not survived time? Also, while certain quilts may have been made with an abundance of fabric, there were also plenty of scrap quilts made from salvaging old garments as well as feed, flour, and sugar sacks. Dolly Parton even has a song about a scrappy coat that her mom made for her out of various fabrics that were salvaged.

Some people think that quilts are much to heavy to use in any season but Winter.

I enjoyed your history lesson.

Thanks for the truth behind what I thought were truths in Quilting. I love your show.

The earliest known patchwork quilt is from around 5000 years ago in China

Mary, just got to see this video today (and it's 5 years old!). Was astounded at all the negative comments. Also realize that they came mostly from people who have no background of quilt research, have not studied quilt history, and are angry that their pet beliefs are being debunked. I've been a quilter for more than 50 years. I've heard all these myths and have realized that they aren't uniformly true--maybe some of them in some situations, but to say that ALL women made quilts from scraps because they couldn't afford new fabric, or that ALL women in the 19th century were much better quilters than we are today is just short sighted. And the Underground Railroad was not a myth, it was a fraud that took on a life of its own! Thanks for this excellent talk.

I hadn't even heard about the quilt blocks in windows on the underground railroad

My mom quilts, has won first place a few times when she entered. I find them to be more like art and I find people don't understand what goes into making one.

Freddo, you broke my heart. Lol

You are so right! We need to double check things before spreading urban myths. I love the quilt behind you on this episode. Could you share the name of it and where I could get the pattern?

Saw a documentary of modern day Russian embroiderers who do the mistake on purpose. You can't make a blanket statement that no quilters in the past ever did that. And no, we are not more accurate because we have more tools. Tools don't give you talent and skill. Every quilt made with a sewing machine and rotary cutter looks great and all the stuff they did by hand centuries ago is uneven and unskilled? A trip to the Smithsonian may be in order.

My mother has the hand made quilts from her mother & her grandmother.

I'm surprised that anyone believes the deliberate mistake myth. To put in a deliberate mistake is saying that you could have made it perfect, which is, if nothing else, the sin of pride.

Thank you, Mary!

Quilts have never stopped being made. Poor has always been around and scrap clothes needed a use

If I had to leave a mistake on my quilt would be as an identifiable mark, in the event my quilt got lost in a hurricane or terrible disaster and would end up in other people's hands, I would be able to claim it as mine or my children or grandchildren.

“They didn’t do anything properly?” Honey, they were all doing it long before you decided you know everything. Your arrogance is disgusting.

During the civil war, quilts, not blocks, were used to convey messages. Look it up. During the Victorian era, embroidery was taught to proper young women..there is a pretty good history on quilts out there. Just look it up.

You have the best style.

With all your commercials in front of your video I choose to go someplace else

Actually the only god is perfect isn't a myth about quilts it is a myth from ancient Greek myth where the weaver Arachne challenged the Godess of craft and wisdom Athena to a weaving contest and won which angered Athena (as only gods could make perfect things) who turned Arachne into a spider. Crafters in ancient Greece would then put deliberat mistakes in their craft so as to not bring down the wrath of Athena.

funny!

Yeah sorry but my husbands great grandmother was a Cherokee Princess, her Father was the chief or something and I know for a fact not only her but her friends as well always left a mistake and these women were as pro as you get and they always told me they didn’t want their quilts too perfect and I know a lot of other women in my generation who did the same thing! Also scrap quilts usually came from flour sacks and that’s not a myth! It’s what they had and the feed sack and flour sack makers did that in the early last century. My Mom hated sewing but her mother was a quilter and hats were a big deal and so she made hats as well and they told me that’s where they got a lot of fabric

I don't believe they are all myths.......

New info on the quilts of the underground railroad, bummer. I bought the books when I taught art. Oh well.

i love the quilt behind you, in fact, it would look lovely on the floor....

Less than 1% of farmers owned a salve in America and that was the super rich. My g-ma had 11 kids on one side, the other g-ma side had 8. That was your farm hands. One great grandmother had 22 kids.

totally disagree

Can’t watch these videos due to the advertising at the beginning.

The Great Depression was devastating world wide not just the USA. Do a little more research and people need to learn there family history .

Ummm....wasnt the colonial woman whom sewed the first american flag a quilter?

Too many ads in the beginning

HAHAHA!

I don't know about the quilting use of the off-block in quilting because only God is perfect, but I do know that, at least in my mom's generation, the Japanese rarely made things 'perfect'. There would be one flaw, and that was because people are not perfect. She even has a brooch that was made that way. She would know....she was born and raised in Japan and is 100% Japanese. So, it's possible that there were some quilters in America that thought the same way. Just saying. Nowadays, perfection is what we humans strive for. I just do my best on any given day.

On the topic of quilter putting a mistake in their quilts because," only God is perfect". Well true, only God is perfect but as a Baptist, this is just ridiculous. You want your quilt to be perfect!

how dare you say that quilts were not used in the underground railroad. You have a lot of apologizing to do.

Scrap quilts can and have been added to as they had scraps or remnants. Also, why do people smack their gums or cluck their tongue when speaking; it's annoying and not very presentable

Number four is an opinion, not a matter of truth or myth.

I have one of those quilts made of scraps of clothing, curtains, flours sacks etc, by my grandmother that doesn't exist... should I throw it out? Your arrogance is astounding.

So annoying!

That's Arabic rugs, dear. And yes, still today, they intentionally make. Mistake because of Allah. So , you're kind of wrong there. Lol

Interestingly - putting mistakes into a thing because only God(s) are perfect is a Japanese thing. If artists created something too perfect, and too beautiful, there were spirits that could become jealous and take their anger out on the artist. So, for example, Yomeimon (one of the most famous structures in Japan) was created with one of the intricately hand-carved pillars installed intentionally upside down.

You booted those myths right out and bummed me out in the process. Wondering why you felt you had to do this. Not sure your research is accurate on all of your points. And just for the record, my grandmother would not have preferred a rotary cutter any more than I would prefer a laser cutter to make my Tiffany lamp reproductions. For some of us it's not about speed and ease - but about enjoying the process. Unsubscribing to your channel...

Thanks Mary, I can totally related to number 3! Love your presenting style.