Sunday, December 30, 2012

The world is changing...

While I am often miffed at how quickly the world seems to be changing and my inability to keep up with the speed of change, I remind myself that this is likely to be a universal conundrum.  I think about when electricity was introduced to the home and suddenly those gas lamps that were quite functional were being replaced.  I think of how quickly the technology changes with cell phones today making the cell phone from a year ago seem obsolete.

I have a quilt top that reminds me of change, and how it is possible that change doesn't always work out for the best.

It was described on the estate sale tag as a "silk coverlet".   It is neither silk, nor a coverlet.  It is a machine pieced quilt top with nylon fabric.

Nylon was first introduced at the World's Fair in New York in 1939.  It was the part of the innovation of synthetic fabrics - nylon to replace silk - and promoted at the fair for replacing silk for the production of ladies stockings.  The production of nylon went to the war effort in the 40's and it was used for parachutes for the troops; functional and more economical than silk.

At first glance, this quilt top looks like an Amish framed square pattern, except in a pink and blue colorway popular during the 40's.

The nylon strips measure 1 3/4" wide.  Forgive the wrinkles, I'm not brave enough to press this top.

The top is on a full size bed.  The top measures approximately 87" square.
Take a peek at the reverse side.  The nylon is starting to fray at points where it was cut at the end of the strips.



What a nightmare this top must have been to piece.  How did this individual cut the nylon with such accuracy?  Did she rip her strips?  How did she possibly iron the fabrics without getting her iron overheated and melting her fabric?  Did the sewer use strips of nylon binding rather than nylon fabric?

I keep thinking about the top and I am often glad it was never made into the "coverlet" or quilt or anything covering one sleeping.  Think about the 1940's when smoking in bed was commonplace.  Nylon melts when it is heated.  Not only does it melt, but it adheres to the surface of the object making contact and this disastrous scenario would end with the individual caused more severe burns than an organic/natural produced fiber bedding (which would burn and turn to ash).

But back to assembling this top.  I am amazed.  I had sewn with nylon in my youth and vowed never again.  Pressing was a nightmare.  I never selected the proper size needle so holes wouldn't appear, and keeping the slippery surfaces from shifting was just too much for a young, inexperienced seamstress to handle.  A few dresses ended up wadded up in bags thrown in my closet which meant I had wasted my allowance money without anything to show for it.  So for this top to be quite straight and uniform means an experienced or very patient seamstress loving assembled the new fabric of the future.

I never really considered making a quilt of synthetic fabrics.  Synthetic fabrics don't appeal to me mainly because they aren't comfortable.  I get hot and sticky in hot weather because they don't breathe like natural fibers.  In the winter, I feel cold because they don't retain body heat.

Double knits?  Oh, that's another synthetic nightmare of the 60's and 70's  right along with a fashion malady called "Hot Pants".  







10 comments:

  1. What an unusual and graphic quilt. I've seen lots of double-knit quilts for sale, but never one made out of vintage nylon. I can't imagine how the quilter managed to stitch this fabric so neatly. Years ago I made windsocks out of rip-stop nylon for everyone in my family -- they were cute, but challenging to sew, and rip-stop isn't nearly as slippery as the old nylon.

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    1. I've seen the double-knit quilts for sale also and I think about a pattern where there are several seams intersecting at the same point. I am just not a fan of bulk. Think about quilting those beasts!

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  2. I wish you could go to the Gilbert Historical Museum outside of Phoenix, AZ. One of the members of the church we attended out there had died as had her husband a few years before. They never had any children, so the caretaker of her property donated her wedding gown and wedding photo along with the story to the museum and it is my understanding that it is currently on display there. I got to see it shortly after she died. Her husband was in WWII and had been an Airman (I hope I'm saying that right). They married shortly after his return from the war. She and/or her mother had made her dress out of a parachute and it was the most fabulous thing! The style of the gown would have been popular and beautiful today, except it was more elegant and modest than modern gowns and it had a long train. I'm not sure why I didn't take a picture of it! The cords from the parachute were braided in a most beautiful way and trimmed the bodice. You'd never look at the gown and think it had been a parachute! It was so well made, but I can't imagine working with those materials. I don't think she was trying to be quaint, but frugal and it had such a beautiful result.

    My friend volunteers there. They have a room where ladies come and quilt other people's quilts on a giant frame for a mere pittance that goes to the museum. They do beautiful work and have a quilt show every year, although not many things are vintage or historic. I'll see if I can get pictures of the gown sometime to share with you.

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    1. What an amazing story. I am marking down the locating of this museum and will try to visit it if I am in the area. The wedding dress sounds gorgeous. Rather than thinking of the bride being frugal, I see the parachute as the the object that brought her love home safely to her and now it was going to guide them safely in the future. What color was the dress?

      One thing I didn't mention was that the sale I purchased the quilt top was a family of aeronautical engineers.

      Thank you Tina for writing!!

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  3. The gown is white. I'm trying to find out if the display has been made and if my friend can take some photos for me to share.

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  4. The story is getting better! There is a boy who is building a case for the dress as his Eagle Scout project. It isn't quite done yet, but she promised pictures. I hope someone has written out their story to go along with the items.

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    1. I can't wait to hear more about this Tina. Hopefully you'll give a full scoop on your blog!

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  5. I'm not a writer or a photographer, just a blog reader!

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    1. I'm not a photographer or writer either :) Write a blog Tina, I'll read it!

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  6. This makes me think of my grandma. She used to tell me the story of her and my grandfathers first apartment after they were married. He was in med school and they had little money. She used a parachute from his military days and sewed curtains and a bedspread. The things you do to make do.

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