I'm hand quilting this beautiful charm quilt my aunt made. I inherited about 20 of her beautiful hand cut, hand sewn quilt tops. I love this one. I don't know the name of this star...notice how the tumbling block is used to join the stars together. I think it is very cool. I'm about 3/4 of the way done quilting it and can't wait!

oops....

Also, does anyone know how to get out the yellow staining on the quilt?

That is beautiful. I don't know the name but thank you for preserving her work.

I don't know the proper name, but think Tumbling Star would be a good name for it.

beautiful, but I don't know the name either

Made me think of Seven Sisters. I'm guessing that each block was pieced and saved/stored until enough were done to do a complete top... that each "star" got a complete border of neutral and then the tumbling block appeared when the blocks are joined.

Someone here mentioned getting stains out of an old quilt by soaking it in her washing machine for several days (refreshing the wash water daily). She used regular laundry detergent, I think.

Basically what you do is fill up the machine with water and detergent, stop the machine, add the quilt, and hand-agitate once in awhile. Daily set the machine to spin to get rid of the old wash washer, and add new water and detergent. When it comes time to finish the quilt, after spinning just add rinse water and hand-agitate. Rinse as many times as necessary to get all the soap out, then spin. You can dry in the dryer if it is large enough for the quilt. If you have to stuff it into the dryer, take the quilt to a laundromat; a too-small-dryer can actually burn parts of the quilt.

I would not try OxyClean except as a last resort, as I have had it leave spots occasionally on clothing (similar to bleach spots). If you do end up trying it, be sure to dissolve it well in the hottest water possible before diluting with cold water. Before trying OxyClean, I would add some powdered bleach (safe for colored fabrics) to the soaking water.

The block is called Whirling Diamonds and is from the Kansas City Star (circa 1937).

Personally, I would not get a quilt top that age anywhere near a washing machine, let alone a commercial dryer! Soak in a bathtub (with a sheet underneath so you don't have to pull on the quilt when wet) in three parts warm water and one part white vinegar. Rinse well, squeeze out as much water as possible (do not wring) before lifting out of the tub. Dry flat with a fan blowing over it, not onto it. It's worked for me several times on antique quilts.

Thanks. I too am very careful with all of my aunt's quilts because of their age, and their hand-stitching.

Thanks for identifying the block! After I'm all finished I'm going to have it appraised. I know my quilting is not as fine as my aunt's, but I still want the information on the age of the quilt, etc.

I've been having all of her quilts appraised a few at a time to get age, etc. My aunt never left any information on her quilts, so the only ones I know about are the ones she gave me. The many others I have no idea!!! And since she was a total scrap quilter, it sometimes confuses the appraiser!

Let this be a warning to us all! Sew a label on your quilt and leave the date and pertinent information!! :shock: :shock:

Lovely quilt...reminds me of one my mom had that her mother had made. Hers had a green background with yellow stars.

I would try soaking it in a mixture of white vinegar, baking soda and cold water.

I forgot to mention that the washing machine is never allowed to agitate. All you use it for is to soak and to spin. All agitation is done by hand, pushing down on the quilt from above. (Obviously won't work in a front loader!)

If you don't want to tumble dry the quilt, it needs to be laid out flat on a clean sheet. Outside on the grass is fine *but* it must be in the shade (light, including sunlight, fades fabric) and it must be covered with another sheet (to prevent damage from bird droppings). You never want to hang a wet quilt over clotheslines; with the weight of the water in the quilt, this puts enormous stress on the seams and fabric.

For a nice antique quilt like this, I would dry only until lightly damp and then block on a flat surface.

ah yes, I was going to say the bathtub too. And yes the vinigar should take out the stains.

As someone else already mentioned, no washing machine or dryer. Your LQS should have an antique soak that soaks out yellow stains. Orvus soap also works, also LQS. Do it in the tub with a sheet under so you can pull it out without pulling on the quilt itself. Those stitches are fragile and weakened with time.
The yellow stains got there from being in contact with wood, likely a cedar chest. The wood fibers and cotton fibers will interact; adversely for the quilt. When you store your quilts, put them in a pillowcase and store on a shelf, or in a plastic tub. The best way to store quilts, is on a bed, but when you're outta beds, you're outta storage! Plastic tubs work good because even tho they have a lid on them, they aren't air-tight and the quilt can still breathe. Hope this helps.
btw, it's a great quilt!!

ve been having all of her quilts appraised a few at a time to get age, etc. My aunt never left any information on her quilts, so the only ones I know about are the ones she gave me. The many others I have no idea!!! And since she was a total scrap quilter, it sometimes confuses the appraiser!

The quilt will appraise at the quilts newest fabric. She may have scraps from 1899 in it, but if there are any that are 1935, then that is it's age.

YTQ

I suspect the quilt will also appraise at the date finished, which is now 2010 and not the date your aunt completed the top. Something to keep in mind when deciding whether to finish off tops made long ago.

What a beautiful quilt, how lucky are you? Wonderful that you are giving this piece of your Aunt a new life!

Enviously Yours
Gal

Try lemon juice and iodine free salt, let it dry and soak. Don't twist, dry flat.