Antique Quilt?
12-03-2010, 05:11 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Elkhart, IN
Posts: 385
I have an old quilt. The fabrics in it remind me of yours. My brother gave me the quilt top. I thought it was rather ugly. It was fragile looking, but it had a smell I couldn't tolerate. I washed it by hand in my bath tub and spread it in the grass on a sheet to dry. I showed it to an Amish friend whose mother advised me and then quilted it for me. At her advice, I fused lightweight interfacing on the very thinnest places (fold lines). It was very out of square, and I thought it would need darts taken in it. But this Amish quilter was amazing. She was able to quilt it square. After it was quilted, I thought it was beautiful. I'm sorry I don't have a good photo handy to show. I just spread it out on a bed and snapped a few pictures of it. It is such a scrappy quilt, I believe from worn fabrics, not just left overs. I love looking at all the combinations in the log cabin blocks. Quilting friends have estimated early 1900's for the fabric. I believe yours may be that old.
old log cabin, not spread out well
[ATTACH=CONFIG]137706[/ATTACH]
close up of some of the old fabrics
[ATTACH=CONFIG]137743[/ATTACH]
12-03-2010, 05:14 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Elkhart, IN
Posts: 385
I have an old quilt. The fabrics in it remind me of yours. My brother gave me the quilt top. I thought it was rather ugly. It was fragile looking, but it had a smell I couldn't tolerate. I washed it by hand in my bath tub and spread it in the grass on a sheet to dry. I showed it to an Amish friend whose mother advised me and then quilted it for me. At her advice, I fused lightweight interfacing on the very thinnest places (fold lines). It was very out of square, and I thought it would need darts taken in it. But this Amish quilter was amazing. She was able to quilt it square. After it was quilted, I thought it was beautiful. I'm sorry I don't have a good photo handy to show. I just spread it out on a bed and snapped a few pictures of it. It is such a scrappy quilt, I believe from worn fabrics, not just left overs. I love looking at all the combinations in the log cabin blocks. Quilting friends have estimated early 1900's for the fabric. I believe yours may be that old.
12-03-2010, 05:15 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,408
Originally Posted by mommamac
do you have a local quilt guild? They might know of an appraiser in your area or can direct you to someone with knowledge of antique quilts. I would do nothing to it until I had a professional look at it then I would get it insured depending on value.
12-03-2010, 05:48 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: High Entropy Zone
Posts: 1,247
I was going to suggest contacting some of the historical societies in the Virginia area. I know there are several quilt museums (the Virginia Quilt Museum is in Harrisonburg). Williamsburg has a wealth of information on some of these things. The property the quilt was found on can give a clue to the history of the quilt as well. Anyone check county records?
It is a great find. I would check with a reputable conservator before doing much to it just in case.
It is a great find. I would check with a reputable conservator before doing much to it just in case.
12-03-2010, 06:21 PM
#19
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SE MI
Posts: 13
You guys are the greatest! Thanks so much for the info. I know a lot more now than I did. My local guild does have a member who's familiar with antique quilts, not an apparaiser, but very knowledgeable. I'm going to have her look at it soon, but my curiosity was killing me!Thanks again.
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