Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • I need advise on old quilt >
  • I need advise on old quilt

  • I need advise on old quilt

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:03 AM
      #1  
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Sep 2010
    Posts: 2
    Default I need advise on old quilt

    My mother in law passed away a few months ago and my husband and I have been cleaning out her house. I found an old quilt top done up in the crazy quilt pattern. Embroidered on it is the year 1914-15. It is made with wools, cottons and some other fabric not sure what it is. What I need help in is what do I do for a border on it, and for backing? From what I can tell it is all hand stitched.
    SusanneL is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:11 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    ptquilts's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Location: Vermont
    Posts: 7,044
    Default

    How big is it? Could you use it for a lap quilt or throw? That is what crazy quilt were usually used for, although some were bed size.
    I would put a neutral backing on it, tack it unobtrusively, and use it as a throw, somewhere where it is not going to get a lot of wear.
    ptquilts is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:19 AM
      #3  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2011
    Location: Bee Branch, Arkansas
    Posts: 314
    Default

    What a wonderful find. Size is important to know. I would make a wall hanging out of it ,if it is small enough, with maybe her picture beside it with some brief history. Just me, I like to save memories.
    bubble951 is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:36 AM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Location: West Texas
    Posts: 2,073
    Default

    It would be wonderful to see a picture. This is truly a treasure! Depending on the weight and drape, you made need only a thin batting, perhaps flannel. If you trying to go for authenticity, you might like to do some research on vintage crazy quilts to see how the borders looked. I think in many cases, they didn't have borders at all. If using it as a wallhanging, a medium to small border just to frame it might look great.

    Congratulations! I hope some family research turns up information about its original for you. You are lucky to have the date embroidered on it.

    Dayle
    Daylesewblessed is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 08:31 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
    Posts: 8,562
    Default

    Many crazy quilts did not ever have a border.

    Jan in VA
    Jan in VA is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 11:13 AM
      #6  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    If you want to keep the vintage value, do not add anything or finish the quilt. It will decrease the value. If it is a quilt you want to use and not keep as a heirloom then add a backing and binding. The vintage crazy quilts I've seen have an unquilted velvet or silk backing, no batting, and usually no borders.
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:33 PM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2011
    Location: Yorkville, IL
    Posts: 7,639
    Default

    Originally Posted by BellaBoo
    If you want to keep the vintage value, do not add anything or finish the quilt. It will decrease the value. If it is a quilt you want to use and not keep as a heirloom then add a backing and binding. The vintage crazy quilts I've seen have an unquilted velvet or silk backing, no batting, and usually no borders.
    I agree and also all I have seen have either silk or velvet on the back...no borders. I am no expert but do a lot of antique searching and investigating.
    luvstoquilt is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 04:55 PM
      #8  
    RST
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Posts: 947
    Default

    For a quilt of that age, I would be inclined to use it as a wall hanging or a decorative table topper -- something that won't need to be washed. Crazy quilts sometimes don't hold up to a lot of wear -- those lovely fabrics are often pretty fragile. Depending on the size, you could consider having it mounted on a stretch canvas or placed in a shadow box type frame.

    RST
    RST is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 05:28 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    MacThayer's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2011
    Location: Nevada
    Posts: 1,103
    Default

    I have been restoring quilt tops my Great Grandmother made and let me tell you how fragile the fabric is on those. Two were made in the 1950's, and I've got fabric that bleeds in cold water, thread wearing out and coming apart, and patches worn through. The "daintiest" cold water wash with soap especially made for heirloom quilts caused color bleeding that will require me to repair more patches than I had planned to do. The third quilt is a Postage Stamp quilt that she started somewhere in the 1930's, I'm guessing, or possibly even earlier. Some of that fabric is literally falling to bits. It crumbles when I touch it. I intend to take the best parts and make a wall hanging. The other quilts will be for "display only" for my sisters. I cannot imagine taking a quilt from an earlier period and actually using it in daily life, and I reached that conclusion by taking the quilt tops to an expert in textile restoration. She flat out told me that if I restored and then actually used in daily life the two quilts made in the 1950's, they wouldn't last 5 years, if that. I'm not doing all this work, most of which has to be done by hand, just to watch the quilts be destroyed! They didn't look that fragile to me either, until I started working on the first one. Then I'd go to repair a patch, and the whole seam would just fall apart. I will have to re-stitch every seam in the quilt, because the thread is old, and it wasn't the best quality thread when my Great Grandmother bought it in the 1950's.

    So please, before you even think about using it, find out what kind of shape it's really in, and if it can take the wear and tear of every day use. I'm betting it can't, but would work well as a lovely wall hanging, if hung properly. I'm sure the quilt is your treasure, as mine are to me, which is why I'm working so hard to preserve them.

    Best of luck to you and your treasure!
    MacThayer is offline  
    Old 01-26-2012, 06:29 PM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Posts: 2,771
    Default

    can you frame it?
    frugalfabrics is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    sue.ross.8782
    Main
    13
    06-17-2013 04:11 AM
    sewnsewer2
    Main
    17
    09-01-2011 09:53 AM
    MaryStoaks
    Pictures
    18
    02-23-2010 01:57 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter