SusieQOH

My first thought is cotton because that's what they used back then.

ptquilts

some quilts were made with new fabric.

SusieQOH

Need to rethink my answer. I'm sure some were filled with all kinds of odd things. But I still think cotton would be a good look for it.

ptquilts

We used to buy and sell antique quilts and almost all of them had cotton batting. Once or twice there would be a wool blanket inside, but it made for a very stiff, heavy quilt. I would go with the thinnest cotton batting, I have no opinion on the crinkle factor.

Are you going to hand quilt it?

lindaschipper

Interesting question and answers. I know nothing about period quilts, but could one layer of pre-washed flannel be used for batting??? I did try to google knife edge quilt finishes and nothing came up.

roguequilter

true. especially in the new england states. scrap quilts were made as people started moving west into the interior of the country. few drygoods stores & any income was needed to feed children & livestock ..not wasted on fabric. clothing fabric was recycled into more clothing or household needs such as blankets or scrap quilts. not to say that midwestern people never used newly pirchased fabric, just that there just weren't that many who could afford to do so.

carolynjo

Also, because most men had beards, a strip was sometimes basted on the top edge of the quilt to protect the fabrics.

roguequilter

i have found baby quilts at flea mkts that when peaking thru tears i found older baby quilts from late 1800's. i have a carriage quilt found at farm auction that had layers of old heavy cotton blankets for batt. heavy quilt made of mens wool suits. i found on my husbands family farm a pad on tractor seat. i saw a spot of read thru a torn seam. i grabbed it ..grinned at the hubs, said "this is mine! went up to house to open it up. beautiful quilt. his 90 yo grandfather recognized some of "mama's" dresses, the pinstripe from his fathers' bar tender shirts (think opening credits to "Cheers") ..he sai mama & the other women were "always sewing & making things. the batt in that quilt is cotton ..looks like carded cotton.

roguequilter

they weren't laundered the way we do now. when living in southeaster PA, Bucks county in late 80's it was common to be driving into town & see quilts hanging out of windows being "aired".

roguequilter

they used whatever was available yes, but in eastern regions quilting was more of a artistic endeavor, not the midwestern or appalation quilts born of necessity. cotton in south where it was grown, wool in northeast where more sheep. as stated in other comments here, crinkle depends on type of batting. i personally find the current fascination w the crinkle thing quite humorous. have never seen or read comments re: it until recent years. probably a thing dreamed up in magazine articles duscussing the "charm" of "colonial" quilts

there is a thread on here from few weeks ago that we discussed knife edge finishing. if i can find it i'll pm you the link. but one thing i have learned in my reading is that quilts were finished in ways unique to geographic region.

i.e. ..four poster beds were new england states primarily. haven't found discussion re: finishing, but in my books of quilt history in america, all the four poster quilts were knife edge finish & minimal quilting in the pieced quilts, more quilting covered surface of applique quilts.

in pennsylvania edges of quilts were made with wrap around finish. bring edge of quilt towards front of quilt.

i have done extensive reading re: quilting history in the last thirty years. always a history buff, when i learned to quilt, i found a whole new to me fabulous world textiles to research. i am not a quilt historian expert like cuesta benberry, barbara brachman etc ...but i do know a lot and still learning more. hang out at brachmans cw site ..there's a wealth of historical info there re: quilts of 1800's, lifestyles ..plus free patterns for her various series quilts. i love all of her websites.