I found these facts in a book titled Heirloom Machine Quilting by Harriet Hargrave published by C&T Publishing, copywrited 1995. She is quoting Suellen Meyer who wrote a research paper for AQSG about early machine quilting.

1. When the sewing machine was introduced it cost $125.00; at a time when the average annual family income was $500.00. This is equal to purchasing a car today. The machine was a true status symbol.

2. By 1859. machine quilting was being entered in California fairs. By 1860, it is reported that about half of the quilts dated after 1860 are machine pieced, and that the edges of both applique and pieced quilts were commonly finished by machine.

3. During the period of 1865-1900, 10% of all quilts bear some machine applique or quilting on the surface.

4. By the end of the century, machine quilting was not looked upon favorably in fashionable circles.

Very interesting!

All I know about machone quilting I learned from Harriet. She is the best! And so is her book!

Very interesting :) Brings to mind many things that are cyclical, and Barbara Mandrell's song "I was country when country wasn't cool." I wore Keds and flip-flops when they were "poor people" shoes, for instance. And jeans were just for dirt farmers, remember that?

I do remember when hand-quilting was considered a "retired old lady" hobby, and my Gran took ribbing from her cousins. I'm glad both hand- and machine quilting are finding their place, side by side in the quilting world.

Thanks for sharing. BrendaK

interesting!

Thanks!!

Amen to that :thumbup:

Interesting. Was there some social imperative which required ladies to spend hours getting arthritis from stitching little stitches with little needles? To distinguish them from mill girls who worked on sewing machines in sweatshops for pennies?