PATC HWORK PR E S S
Fig. 39. Details of reverse of cotton quilt top, before conservation.
Did you know ironing could be utterly fascinating, asked MTS intern Anne Lehmer-Mattek? Pressing flat all the creased and twisted scraps of newspaper used to piece the 20th century patchwork quilt top was just that for our guest from Montana. The technique of paper piecing dates to the 19th century and helps to stabilize patches of fabric during construction. Normally the paper is torn off the assembled quilt top once it is complete, and other times it appears to have been left as an additional layer of insulation once the quilt was assembled. The maker’s choice of piecing paper provides a unique opportunity to know more about the origin of the unfinished quilt, which is an anonymous loan to the Wheaton College Permanent Collection. Transported back to a time when men's suits were advertised starting at $15 and boys' started at $1.50, Anne marveled at how much information could be gleaned from these fragments of newsprint. Wagon makers were trying to convince readers that theirs were superior, even claiming "The Last Word in Wagon Excellence Is...". Otherwise, you could take the train to the beach or enjoy a ride on one of the new Indian brand "motocycles," the "Master of Them All." Should all this activity wear you out, you would certainly get better rest if you purchase one of the "Feather Bed Bargains," but if your repose was challenged by ailments like asthma, itching, neuralgia or "old sores," you could turn to "Dr. Sloan's Liniment."
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Fig. 40. Details of reverse of cotton quilt top, before conservation.
