Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Pictures
Given to me today--great grandmother's quilts.  Rough shape. >

Given to me today--great grandmother's quilts. Rough shape.

Given to me today--great grandmother's quilts. Rough shape.

Old 04-29-2010, 03:32 PM
  #11  
Super Member
 
chewboo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,301
Default

what a charished memory
chewboo is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 03:35 PM
  #12  
Pam
Super Member
 
Pam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,672
Default

Fix them up, that way you will not be afraid to take them out and hug them from time to time. One way to do it is to cover the areas with the bad fabric with top quality bridal veil netting, it will never be noticed, unless you point it out, it is soft and just blends into the fabric.

The reason that one fabric is so bad is that in some of the old dyes, it made the fabric weak, so it was actually hurting itself.

I am glad that you have these.
Pam is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 03:38 PM
  #13  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 10,357
Default

These are just exquisite...I can understand how important these are to you. Maybe you could applique some fine muslin over the damaged areas just to stabilise and prevent further tearing....don't know if I would try and replace/match. Before tackling it, perhaps you could seek advice from a conservator.

Thanks for sharing your family treasures.
earthwalker is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 03:43 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 419
Default

Karla, I know just how you feel. Gosh, if she had just not worn that dress for the last year before she made the quilt, that fabric might still be intact!! Have the same problem here with quilts that have been passed down to me. I have given some consideration to just doing an applique over the "bad" spots, but just cannot bring myself to change the original. For now I have mine folded in bunches of acid free tissue to keep the folds to a minimum and stored in a walk-in closet. BTW I also have the frames these were probably quilted on hanging overhead in the attic, original tack strips included! I guess someday my children are going to have some decisions to make??
Farmer Girl is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 03:49 PM
  #15  
Super Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,688
Default

Originally Posted by Elsie
they are nice though they even look like they were hand quilted i wonder if it was hand piecing too
Oh absolutely--all done by hand.

We're at that stage in life where bedrooms are opening up--so I think I'm going to get a quilt rack and display them in a place out of the sun. There's not one place for a quilt rack downstairs (I've checked so many times!--older home that has very little wall space) but I bet it'd work upstairs. I don't want to use them.
barnbum is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 04:10 PM
  #16  
Power Poster
 
Jingle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Outside St. Louis
Posts: 38,181
Default

You are so lucky to get these beautiful quilts. She put lots and lots of work into these and maybe used some worn clothing that was maybe a lighter weight than the others.
If it were me, I certainly would try to display them and not try to patch them, nor wash them. Good luck. Good for you to get these.
Jingle is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 04:15 PM
  #17  
Super Member
 
SaraSewing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: AZ/Utah border
Posts: 2,345
Default

Wow!
SaraSewing is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 04:15 PM
  #18  
Super Member
 
Gramof6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,357
Default

Karla these are true treasures! Gosh I am so so happy that you have these quilts! Such history there. I wouldn't use them but would have them out somewhere that you could gently pet them and see them. A great idea was given to research how to restore them. Thank You for sharing these with us. I just love older quilts like these. If only these tired fabrics could talk.
Gramof6 is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 04:16 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
sarahelloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Romsey, Hants, UK
Posts: 754
Default

Magic. You are so lucky to have such treasures. Sorry I can't help with restoration, but they are real jewels..
sarahelloyd is offline  
Old 04-29-2010, 04:27 PM
  #20  
Super Member
 
zyxquilts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So. California
Posts: 3,769
Default

Those are wonderful Karla - such treasures. I saw a show or read an article about quilt conservation once. They did what Pam said - used a very fine, sheer material & stitched it over the torn & worn areas. That would protect them from getting caught on anything, but still let the character shine through.
((((((((Karla))))))))
zyxquilts is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tartan
Main
7
11-03-2014 01:03 PM
chairjogger
Pictures
11
10-25-2012 11:14 AM
GrandmaPeggy
Main
6
11-20-2011 03:51 AM
moonrise
Pictures
73
06-10-2010 11:20 AM
pittsburgpam
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
21
05-17-2009 10:53 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