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Then and only then was the quilt frames set up in the living room. They were four 8 foot long 2 x 4 pieces of lumber with a bumper pad made of old mattress pad attached so it would not splinter into the quilt or tear the blocks that had been so skillfully arranged.

Blanket Quilt The cold, damp nights were particularly tough to get through with any kind of true rest. The warm quilt material was a welcome protection and security from the drafty old colonial houses and they quickly became popular.

If one is machine piecing they can use the flag method and join a few pairs of patches at the same time. The right sides are pinned together in pairs. Using the foot as a guide one along the seam line machine stitches. Between the pairs a short uncut thread should be left. Each is then cut into units. Enough pairs are then joined to make a patched piece. Avoid bulk by pressing flat to one side the patch seams.

Now it is time to start the actual quilting process. You need a small set of scissors, quilt needles (these have a larger eye but are very sharp in order to go through all the layers), quilting thread, thimble and a very comfortable chair.

Place a few straight pins at random places on the surface of the quilt. (Anywhere but on the lines.) This will keep the pieces from shifting during sewing.

When you store your handmade quilt in a closet or drawer, if you feel the need to wrap it up in something, use tissue paper rather than a plastic bag. Storing it in a plastic bag for a long period of time may result in yellowing and discoloration.

Some women used larger scraps, and often the block's strips were a variety of widths. Scrappy strips were asymmetrical and uneven, or pointed, or on the bias. Whatever fabrics were available, they were used as is. There was no time to waste cutting them to size. Women used an old blanket or quilt as the filler and tied the layers together; winter was near -- no time for quilting it.