Tropical

How wonderful to have such precious memories of your GGM.

Tropical

My Mom used to tell us stories of when she was young and growing up during the depression years. One was about people who used to go around the neighborhood and ask for old clothes, etc. She said they were called "rag pickers." Mom's family usually didn't have anything to share because there were 12 in the family and all of the older kids clothes went to the younger ones. Her father was out of work until he got a job with the WPA. I think that is the right name. I used to feel so sad when she told of the really poor people. She said they didn't feel poor because they took care of each other and her Mom had two jobs. My Mom quit school at the age of twelve to take care of the babies so her Mom could work outside the home. Mom is the only member of her family still living she is 87 and doing great and she keeps her sewing machine busy.

jitkaau

Putting newspapers under linoleum was a very common practice in Australia - especially during the depression years. I always have great fun reading all of the old stuff when renovating the floor coverings. One place I was in even wall papered the house with newspapers. Another interesting one was a rattan blind made out of cord and rolled up newspaper where the cane would normally be - it looks really funky.

GailG

I don't think they washed them in those days. I've read that they used newspaper as a foundation for piecing especially for the insulation properties.

Delbra

Never heard of newspaper as batting, but I know it is great insulation for frozen and cold foods when traveling.

Gramyx7

I have quilt blocks that have the paper on the back. As close as we can find the paper is dated 1911, I would like to piece the quilt together but I do not want to remove the paper. so I guess I will leave them alone. they were all hand pieced. the paper is starting to get brittle on a few blocks. But I had never heard of it being used for batting. :)

quilterfly

My grandma never washed a quilt. When you think about it, how would you handle a large wet quilt? Remember the washing machines were primitive if they even had one, otherwise you washed in a large tub, rinsed in another large tub, etc. But you can bet once a week all the quilts got a good airing in the sunshine.

desertrose

It doesn't suprise at all. Quilts were not washed on a regular basis back then so multiple layers of newspaper would not break up easily. Newspaper is actually a very good insulator and when used in multiple sheets is much like a blanket. This is why homeless people use it to keep warm.

Frontierlady

Late in the Civil War, mainly in the south when supplies were rare and the need for soldier blankets was great, paper was used for batting. It provided good insulation when cotton and wool were not available. Not many of the quilts survived, however.

I have several string quilt blocks where newspaper was used as a foundation for the block. Usually it was removed before quilting. I also read an article about a quilting project during the depression for orphans where paper batting was used out of necessity.

Quilts were very seldom washed. Even clothing, especially "good" clothing like silk dresses or wool items were not immersed in water but brushed well and hung to air. Our ancestors were pretty creative when it came to using what was available and making do.

Rann

I have a cousin in the early 80's that has her great grandmother's quilt on her den wall. (no, it's no near any windows) I'll have to check it out when I see her next.