Thread: Reusing antique Feedsack quilt

As a child I slept under feedsack quilts at my grandmother's home in Denver. I was given two of them. They must be from 1910-30 time frame. The pattern is very simple and the squares are random, a mixture of squares and crazy quilting. I like some fabrics more than others. They were created for warmth and utility, not beauty. I really don't like the overall look of the quilts, but the fabrics in them that I like give me good memories. Is it possible to untie the quilts and reuse the fabrics in a more appealing way? I could easily untie the quilts as they are tied with yarn. They have large pieces in them as well as 3" squares. Are they valuable even though so simple and unappealing? right now they aren't helping anyone in my closet, so perhaps nothing ventured, nothing gained (or lost).
What do you think? I will try to send a picture.

no problem reusing the fabric. You may find that the ties left holes in the fabric tho and will have to work around those. As to value. While I'm not an appraiser there probably is not a lot of dollar value in them. And you can find feedsacks to add to what you have if necessary. Prices of feedsacks and pieces on ebay and other sites are way too high but it is possible to find them at reasonable prices. Large qult shows will have vendors with vintage fabric. I even have a couple boxes in the closet. So take them apart and reuse, remake and enjoy.

Thanks
Rose

I would keep them like they are if they were mine. But that's just me. It is a real piece that shows how your grandparents lived back then. That's what they had to work with.

I don't think I could bear, to undo a piece of family history.

Same here I wouldn't be able to take them apart. Maybe you could loan it to a local museum for display?

I don't think there's any right or wrong here. I can agree with both sentiments: leave it as is, and re-use the fabrics to make something you like. It doesn't sound like taking the quilt apart and re-using the fabrics will destroy a quilt that is worth a ton of money and must be left untouched. So I think you should do what will please you the most. Some people would be most pleased with the quilt exactly as it was created, whether it was their cup of tea or not. Others would dislike the quilt as is, refuse to use it, and it may end up at Goodwill, which would be a shame. You sound like you are in that category, and if so, enjoy recreating the quilt into one you like better with good memories built into it from the vintage fabrics you slept under.