In an earlier post this year, I lamented the lack of cigarette silks in my collection of vintage textiles. I have corrected that now, with this recent antiques mall find:
This is an unfinished project, done in the crazy quilt assembly style. Most of the pieces are true cigarette silks, printed with flags of various nations. The silks are larger than the two that I have already, these are about 3 X 4". Two pieces are commemorative ribbons from social club events with a European ancestry requirement. These identical ribbons are dated 1927, and I have no idea yet what language they are imprinted with... will have to investigate "Kesajuhlet." The world of old social clubs and secret societies is a whole areal of study on their own, a fascinating study.... for someone else!
The silks are machine sewn to a piece of muslin backing, then lengths of satin ribbon were machine sewn over the seams, The maker hand stitched over almost all of the ribbon with a herringbone stitch. What I want to know (and never will) is why the yellow herringbone stitching on the top horizontal row stops half way across, and why four of the silks are upside down.
What is fun for me is making connections with these vintage objects, I'll never know the maker or the answers to the above questions, but I am certain that the hand stitches are done in Glossilla Rope embroidery cording ("Brighter than Silk"). I found a stash of new-old-stock Glossilla at a recent quilt show:
I have found it to be impossible to pull through regular cotton fabric, but it works well for couching or for the weaving thread in whipped and threaded back and running stitches. Someday soon I will try it through silk.
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