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| early 1800's patchwork quilt |
Linda McLaughlin grew
up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable
case of wanderlust inherited from her father. A lifelong dream came true with a
trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with
research for her novels. Today she’s here to tell us about colonial crafts and
her latest book. Learn more about Linda at her website and blog.
This is the second stop of Linda’s Rogue's Hostage Blog Tour, and she's offering a great giveaway to a lucky reader who comments during the tour. Leave a comment with your email address to be entered for a $10.00 gift certificate of the
winner's choice: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. Contest ends March 3.
-- AP
Colonial Crafts
Crafts
are considered hobbies nowadays, but in Colonial America they were necessities
of life. Farm women, in particular, had to know how to sew, knit, and quilt,
for shops were often far away and seldom visited. Little girls learned their
stitches at the same time they learned their letters, sewing samplers made of
different kinds of stitches. Knitting was useful for scarves and even
stockings.
Quilting
was especially important, given the cold winters in America. Warm covers were
needed for beds, and the layers in the quilt helped to keep in body heat.
Quilted curtains hung at windows and over doors to keep out the drafts. Scraps
left over from the sewing of garments were used for quilting and almost all
quilts of the period were patchwork. Clothing was also quilted, including
petticoats, hoods and capes as well as waistcoats for men.
Quilting
bees provided an excuse for a social event. When the women were finished, the
men showed up for supper and dancing. In The
Seasonal Hearth: The Woman at Home in Early America by Adelaide
Hechtlinger, I found a diary entry from a Virginia housewife:
April 28, 1772 - Invited to a quilting party
at Martha Washington's… I have many pieces to be exchanged for other cotton
goods. However, I have been doing some samplers and Susan, although only 7, has
made two this winter.
Pretty
nice invitation!
In
my historical romance, Rogue’s Hostage,
my heroine Mara finds comfort in the homely task of knitting after being taken
captive and dragged far from her home.
Rogue's Hostage
His hostage...
In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and
dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life
crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her
husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her
resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning
of courage and the tempting call of desire.
Her destiny...
French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive
threatens what little honor he has left.
But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her
freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As
the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite
the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past
misdeeds forever.
Buy Link
Buy Link
Great post Linda. I love history. Another of my author personae wrote a Youth novel about the Underground Railroad and a specially designed quilt with hidden symbols. Best luck.
ReplyDeleteRose
That sounds like a fascinating book, Rose.
ReplyDeleteLois, what a beautiful example of a colonial quilt! Thanks for hosting me today.
Hi, Linda! Great post! I lived close to a Hutterite colony, and was invited to a sewing bee. Although, once the ladies saw how terribly I sew, I was asked to watch over the food preperations. Ha! It was fun though.
ReplyDeleteLani
Really enjoyed your post, Linda. And I'm in love with the quilt--the photo posted at the beginning of the aritcle.
ReplyDeleteLinda, very interesting. I love quilts, one of my close friends is an artist in the craft.
ReplyDeleteRayne Golay
Lani, how cool that you were invited to the quilting bee. I'd have probably been sent to the food table with you. Not the most experienced seamstress. Though I used to do crewel and cross stitch, many years ago.
ReplyDeleteAnnette, I'm in love with the quilt, too.
Rayne, there really is an art to quilting. I'm so impressed by anyone who has the patience it requires.
If you want to be entered in the drawing for the $10 gift card, don't forget to leave your email or send me a message at flightsafancyATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteLinda
Terrific post. I love looking at quilts. They are work of arts. And your book sounds wonderful. Lots of great conflict for the hero and heroine. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, lots of conflict, Edie. Nothing like falling in love with the enemy!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was a quilter ,when I was growing up she and her sister and cousins would all gather at her house and quilt for hours every day I love watching them and the beautiful quilts they made.
ReplyDeleteflanagan@mebtel.net
My grandmother was a quilter ,when I was growing up she and her sister and cousins would all gather at her house and quilt for hours every day I love watching them and the beautiful quilts they made.
ReplyDeleteflanagan@mebtel.net
Wanda, how cool that your grandmother was a quilter. Hope you still have some of her quilts.
ReplyDelete