vintage fabrics

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01-12-2010, 02:09 PM

#11

Shorebird

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Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: Winchester, VA

Posts: 1,552

If the fabric has dry rot, it will be very obvious if you give it a strong tug......threads will be weak and tear where they should not........I have several pieces that belonged to my Grandmother (who was born in 1899) that are still good and solid.............Cannot WAIT to see the pictures you post.

01-12-2010, 06:02 PM

#12

quazyquilter

Senior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Central Vermont

Posts: 366

Okay, Ladies, thanks for all your help. I will try to post pics in the next few days. There's a lot!!

01-12-2010, 07:59 PM

#13

RedGarnet222

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Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Reno, Nv

Posts: 16,539

Oh Lucky Lady!!

01-12-2010, 08:20 PM

#14

ghostrider

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 4,688

You can also tell if a fabric is cotton or a blend by burning a small cutting of it. Cotton will turn to a light, dry ash. Poly or man-made fibers will melt and turn to a lump of gunk.

01-12-2010, 10:23 PM

#15

jljack

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW

Posts: 7,940

I would wash them in the washer on gentle. It rehydrates the fabric and gets all and any dust or other debris out of it. It will make it pliable again, and should soften it.

01-13-2010, 05:03 AM

#16

Ninnie

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Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: Athens Ga

Posts: 11,420

What a great thing!! Can't wait to see pictures of your find,

01-14-2010, 10:19 AM

#17

Junior Member

Join Date: May 2007

Location: Florida

Posts: 176

What a wonderful find !!! Wish I could catch a break like that. I love the traditional quilts and the old fabric. They go so well together. Count yourself very lucky. Have fun.
Jean

01-14-2010, 02:09 PM

#18

GailG

Super Member

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 6,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by quazyquilter

I inherited yards and yards of fabric, i know by the patterns, that some of these are 30, 40 years old, maybe more. most have been stored in tightly wrapped plastic for the past 10 years. I even have fabric that someone told me was printed feed sack fabric. My question is- Is this fabric going to hold up in making quilts? How do I tell if it's got dry rot. They are the most beautiful fabrics. They don't make cotton fabrics the way they used to. These are much thicker, sturdier than the ones we buy today. Thanks for all your help.
Conni

Give the fabric a good washing and drying. If it holds up to that is will be fine.

01-14-2010, 07:09 PM

#19

mare

Member

Join Date: Sep 2009

Posts: 10

I also inherited fabrics such as these. 38 boxes of. I washed and ironed it all. If it shreds, it isn't any good. :thumbdown:

01-15-2010, 06:24 AM

#20

sewjoyce

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2007

Posts: 9,496

I also came into a bunch of old fabrics. These fabrics were NOT taken care of -- they were stored in boxes in a barn. Well the mice and bugs had a real field day. So I washed everything is warm water with Tide. If it fell apart, I trashed it. I was surprised at how well some of it came out -- however, washing didn't get rid of the little mice holes (LOL)