On this day in 1913, a New York socialite named Mary Phelps Jacob received a patent for her invention of the modern brassiere, a streamlined alternative to the unhealthy and painful corset.

Michigander Libby Cassin of Ishpeming began this quilt around 1930 and finished it in 1995 with the help of by her friend, Veronica Paeske, of Escanaba, Michigan. This “Square in a Square” quilt was machine pieced using “scraps left over from “The Gossard,” a factory in Marquette County, Michigan that made ladies undergarments such as bras and corsets.”

The quilt was documented as part of the Michigan Quilt Project by the family member who inherited it.

View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view.

Sources:
http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/brassiere.htm

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Amy Milne headshot

Posted by Amy E. Milne
Executive Director, Quilt Alliance
amy.milne@quiltalliance.org

See You in June for Month Three!

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in the Quilt Alliance’s Birthday Block of the Month so far! We’ve made two very different but complementary blocks together and we can’t wait to make more. Join us next month as we make a block designed by Pat Sloan — we’ll send instructions out on the 15th.

Be sure to tag @quiltalliance and @zakfoster.quilts on Instagram with your block photos this month, and use the hashtag #QuiltAllianceBOM (or email us a photo of your block at blockparty@quiltalliance.org). And leave any questions about this month’s block in the comments below!

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