How Old is your Oldest Fabric? <>
#81
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Snellville, Ga & Hiawassee
Posts: 1,994
I have some from my grandmother - just scraps that she'd made things for us grandkids. Maybe from the early 50's or 40's. But I also have a wonderful book from my great-grandmother that she compiled for teaching sewing back in the late 1800's. She was a teacher & also taught needlework. The book has the instructions for the stitches & then a sample piece on the page. It's in very fragile condition but I love it.
#82
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 3,273
I've got some scraps and 9-patch blocks I inherited from my great-grandmother, who passed away in 1979. She was in her mid-70's. I have no idea how old the fabric is, but she quilted her entire life, so it could be as old as 80-90 years.
I'd love to do something with the blocks, but it looks like she didn't use a pattern when she made them, because they're all over the place, as far as sizes. Some may not be usable anyway, as they've become stained over the years ... but I don't have the heart to throw them out. :)
There are also some blocks to a wedding ring (double wedding ring?) quilt that she'd started. They're more consistent and appear to be in good condition, but I've never made one of those quilts before, so I'd want to practice first. :)
I'd love to do something with the blocks, but it looks like she didn't use a pattern when she made them, because they're all over the place, as far as sizes. Some may not be usable anyway, as they've become stained over the years ... but I don't have the heart to throw them out. :)
There are also some blocks to a wedding ring (double wedding ring?) quilt that she'd started. They're more consistent and appear to be in good condition, but I've never made one of those quilts before, so I'd want to practice first. :)
#83
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Triad, North Carolina
Posts: 639
Wow ... I love all the answers and "wannadoes" in this topic. For those that have some fabric from their ancestors, be it mother, grandmother or whatever .... use it! Decide on what to do to honor that person ... make a quilt, a wallhanging, a tabletopper .... but use it! It will make you feel so much closer to that person.
Now to figure out what to do with that 40 year old flannel .... :P
Now to figure out what to do with that 40 year old flannel .... :P
#84
I only started quilting three years ago so I don't have much of a stash to speak of. But I do have some creme faux suede fabric from four years ago that I was going to make for a cosplay costume (Gum from Jet Set Radio). I never used it and now that I think about it I wonder why in the world I chose suede.
#85
Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
I never used it and now that I think about it I wonder why in the world I chose ...
#87
I stll have fabric I bought to make myself clothes. that was before I found out about quilting. I did buy different pieces of about 3 yards. That was at least 30 years ago. I still have the best which I will not cut YET ANY WAY! I do have rick rack that is from the 50's a lot of it
#88
Originally Posted by moonrise
I've got some scraps and 9-patch blocks I inherited from my great-grandmother, who passed away in 1979. She was in her mid-70's. I have no idea how old the fabric is, but she quilted her entire life, so it could be as old as 80-90 years.
I'd love to do something with the blocks, but it looks like she didn't use a pattern when she made them, because they're all over the place, as far as sizes. Some may not be usable anyway, as they've become stained over the years ... but I don't have the heart to throw them out. :)
There are also some blocks to a wedding ring (double wedding ring?) quilt that she'd started. They're more consistent and appear to be in good condition, but I've never made one of those quilts before, so I'd want to practice first. :)
I'd love to do something with the blocks, but it looks like she didn't use a pattern when she made them, because they're all over the place, as far as sizes. Some may not be usable anyway, as they've become stained over the years ... but I don't have the heart to throw them out. :)
There are also some blocks to a wedding ring (double wedding ring?) quilt that she'd started. They're more consistent and appear to be in good condition, but I've never made one of those quilts before, so I'd want to practice first. :)
#89
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Posts: 1,914
My favorite is the cut pieces whose newspaper pattern has a joke that goes something like "The way to get Al Capone is for him to be the target of a drive-by shooting". That HAS to be from the 30's! That bag of pieces has small fans and 3/4" hexagons of assorted 30's (and/or 20's?)prints.
#90
I have some lace that came with my great grandmother from Ireland when she immigrated. It was made for her wedding dress and then passed down. I am thinking that I can trace it back to the late 1800's. I have it carefully stored. Hoping that someday I will have Black Fox make a frame that it can be sealed in to protect it. Or perhaps donate it to a museum.
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