Unless the blocks are intolerable for you to work with, I would leave the laundering til after you have the project finished. Their fragility will be much less by then. Instead, I'd gently press. Rather than using a full sized iron, I'd work with a small travel iron. If there's puckers, you could press them a bit, to allow you to take in tucks, almost appliqueing to get them a bit flatter. Understand what I mean? Some would sooner they be left as is, puckers and all, as after all, that is the way they were made!!
Because of the age, I too would be scared of the red bleed. Retayne is the product you will want for that when the time comes.
Agree with you, sashing will help stabilize the old blocks. Plus, help deal with any size differences. Also, any of those puckers. If the sizes of each are variable, I would go with a full border on each block, and then trim each to the same size, before joining, as is or with a sashing and cornerstones.
Audition the blocks with your muslins and quilting cottons, to see what looks the most natural when together. Some find that the wrong side of a "new" fabric blends best when combining with "old" fabrics.
Good Luck!
... and yes indeed, please do share your progress on this thread!
I am excited to cheer you on as you go from pieces through to a finished project.
Last edited by QuiltE; 09-10-2024 at 08:41 AM.