Could this fabric be 100 years old?
 

I was talking to my sweet brother a couple of weeks ago about trying to quilt. He remembered that he & my sister-in-law had bought this fabric 20+ years ago. At that time they liked to accent with red in every room. So they saw a show about this fabric & they bought this table cloth. (He' doesn't remeber where) He also thinks it is called "Turkey Red". Since it isn't a red/red they packed it away. Anyway I recieved this wonderful surprise from him today. The funny thing is that "Iris's" are my favorite flower & he didn't even notice that was the design on it. Does anybody know anything about this fabric? I hate the thought of cutting up something so old, but I don't want to pack it away either. I don't know that you could use it for a quilt, any suggestions???

Have you got a picture? I'd love to see it :)

if it's a tablecloth, use it.... there's a lot of red fabric out there...and newer fabrics with better dye solutions and therefore more colorfast....

I am still trying to upload a picture.

Finally got the picture to load. This fabric is not a tight weave. Keep in mind I know that it is very old.

Perhaps you should just use it as a tablecloth and get to enjoy the iris that way?????

The fabric is so unique that you certainly don't want to mess it up. Take it to your LQS and ask their opinion of whether it would be suitable for quilting. They may be able to advise you as to what you can do with it to showcase it's uniqueness. Good luck and keep us posted.

Good idea. Thank you so much. :)

It's beautiful fabric, maybe you could just drape it creatively over a chair or something? Maybe a back for a small quilt. Pillows? If red fits in your house there are so many things you could do with it.

Thinkk I would use it as a table cover......it's beatiful and does look old, if you have a quilt museum somewhere you will be visiting take it with you and ask a conservator.

delma

If the fabric is not a tight enough weave, when you sew seams and put any tension on them, the threads could pull apart. I think the table top idea is wonderful. I might even put a piece of glass on top of it to protect it from spills.

perhaps you could use a lightweight iron-on stabilizer. it's really beautiful. i'm partial to red. if you do decide to do a quilt, maybe use the fabric as a single large center block. Something like this
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cool, make a special wall hanging. it would be perfect.

That looks like a linen tablecloth to me. I have seen similar in different colors and designs through the years. Drapes well and washes up like a dream. Great find!

I don't know if it is 100 years old or not, but it sure is pretty. I too, would use it as a tablecloth, only I would put a clear plastic tablecloth over it ( the kind you buy at Wal-Mart) so it doesn't get ruined.

There are also a couple of really good books on dating fabric. I'm not sure the name of the authors but if you check out amazon you should be able to find them.

That's a good idea. Thanks.

Is the pattern woven or printed? If woven it might be a type of "damask" and used for table linen. Older would be natural fibers and more modern may have synthetics. It looks 1940-50ish to me. The iris pattern looks like decorator fabric, not dressmaking goods.

It is a woven print. I now believe that this is a coverlette for a bed, not a tablecloth.

Turkey reds fade to brown due to the chemicals even if kept in a closet. I have several from my childhood that were in my grandmothers stash. They are still lovely to me but others think not so. It looks to be from the 20's. I would back it and bind it and lay it across a chair back or couch back and enjoy it. Maybe cut a large square frame it with an info card down in the corner about it. JMHO

There is quite a lot of history behind Turkey Red.....read here

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/...urkey-red.html
When I look at this it feels kind of Art Deco to me 1920's-1930's Its a real gem!

My Mom made a skirt with that fabric for herself and it is at least 100 years old.

Looks like it could be Damask to me. I would keep it as a tablecloth...it is lovely.

How about a quilt back? Then you could see it and not have to cut it up (at least not too much).

How about a table runner. the fabric is stunning and like you, I love it. What a neat piece to get from your brother!

I saw this fabric at Quilt-in-a-day not sure if they still have it but i saw it this fall. hope this helps.

How much do you have? Can you make a one block and make a large wall hanging? Maybe put it in a picture frame? or stretch it over canvas? I like the idea of taking it to your LQS and let them look at it. Maybe you wouldn't have to cut it up. Just display it some other way. It's beautiful.

I, too, love iris and I don't know if I could stand to cut that beautiful fabric. I agree with those who suggested checking with a quilt museum to ascertain age and historical value, if any, before doing anything to destroy it. If they say there is no reason to save it, then you can make all kinds of lovely things if you can bear to cut it. LOL And I will be begging for your scraps. LOL again!!!

I think I am right in saying that Turkey Red Fabric was dyed in Scotland in the 19th centuary.
Hope this helps.

I love Turkey REd. It's the red that is often used for redwork. I agree that it should be used as a table cover. But remove it before eating. Washing may destroy it.

Becky, see if you can get in touch with Bets Ramsey in Knoxville. She knows a lot about old fabrics and quilt patterns. There are also several quilt appraisers in our area. Contact Tenn. Quiltsin Jonesborough. There is one appraiser, whose first name is Joyce, I think, that they will know about, and she is from Knoxville. I live in Bristol. Small world, eh. Good luck in finding out the age of that lovely fabric. It would be hard for me to cut it.

Thanks for the information. I will do that on Monday. :thumbup:

I'd quilt it as a wholecloth...and use as a padded table cloth or throw. This fabric will not hold up as an actual quilt on a bed. I have worked with this type fabric before...yes, it could be 100 years old. The fabric we were given to use on an antique sofa/chair set was from drapes...forest green on one side, Turkey red on the other.. not fun to work with when cut into.

I don't think I would cut it. I would use it as a single piece and just quilt it or send it to have it quilted.

I agree with Ilma and Marge and would do a whole cloth quilt. I have done several and they have turned out nice. What ever you do with it, put a history with it so in the future people will know the sentimental value.

I have blue fabric just life this. I got it in a box that I bought from a woman who lived on the Andrews Air Force Bace in D.C. and she and her husband were getting ready to move overseas and she had to downloan her stash. It's beautiful fabric but I don't know how old this is either. She had quite a few UFO's in those boxes as well. I plan on finishing them. I wish I would have gotten her address so I could have sent her one of the quilts when I finish them.