More on Ernest B. Haight

The best information I've ever seen on Ernest B. Haight is in "The Complete Book of Machine Quilting" by Robbie and Tony Fanning. On page 107 they explain Ernest's method of assembly-line nine-patch and starting on page 143 there are pages of explanation and diagrams of his method of doing diagonal crosshatching on a whole-cloth quilt. There's even a photograph of this elderly gentleman in his bib overalls using his wife's old White sewing machine. The Fannings called Mr. Haight "the patron saint" of machine quilters.

In simple terms, Mr. Haight would start in one corner of a quilt, stitch diagonally unti he reached the far edge, pivot ninety degrees and stitch to the bottom edge of the quilt, pivot ninety degrees and stitch up toward the starting edge, pivot ninety degrees ... and keep on going. This was rather like a pinball that keeps ricocheting around in the pinball machine. The beauty of his system is that the bulk of the quilt is never under the arm.

If my words have you curious, see if you can find a copy of the book (published by Chilton in 1980 and I think I've seen a second edition as well) either at Amazon or on eBay or through your interlibrary loan.

Judy in Ohio