I posted a thread a few days ago, about purchasing treadle legs and making them into a table or something.

I recieved alot of encouragement, and have since done a little googling and found some beautiful inspirations!

What I am thinking about is to make a table top, but instead of a flat top, make a display case (for what else? - quilts!, of course).

My question: how big would you make this display case? I was thinking a wooden box, with glass lid (or maybe a drawer type thing, not sure yet). Through the glass would be a folded quilt to display. The quilt could be changed out seasonally or as the mood struck.

I mainly make lap quilts or bed scarves, but may want to handle up to twin size in the display case.

So, I would have the top about the size of the legs (haven't measured, assume that is somewhere around 24X18??). Then how deep do you think the box should be?

I also thought of putting a cabinet w/shelves bewteen the legs, with a glass front for more display/storage. What do you think?

I love this idea! Can't wait to see it :D:D:D
Maybe fold and measure the biggest quilt you think you would place in the box and go from there?

Sounds like a great idea. I would just make sure the scale of the display case doesn't overpower and take away from the treadle parts. :-o

Oh my what a great idea !!! I have a treadle sitting on the back porch with a piece of wood on it for extra bar b que stuff. But I never would get rid of it thinking to make a better table out of it; but now I definatly will await photos of your finished project :)

Some of the really cool treadles came with an ornate wooden box to cover the machine when it wasn't tucked in the lower part. The box was just a couple of inches wider and deeper than the machine. It might be fun to use about the same size of display case as those wooden covers.
I can't wait to see what you do!

Years ago in a wood shop class a our local high school, one of the men in the class made something like this for his wife. It was basically a tall box with lovely bought wood decorations on it, but with a clear Plexiglass window in front. (He had several kids) He put a larger frame on the front but not on top, he put the top of the frame on top of the plexiglass "window". This way it could be raised and lowered to access the insides. Plexiglass, if thick enough, can have holes bored in it, I think he did that, put matching rods into the plexiglass and screws from behind into the wooden rods. It looked lovely and sturdy enough to stay nice in spite of little kids.
I don't know if he painted it or stained it, but with that quality my bet is he stained it to match other furniture in his house.

Addition to this...the front of it raised and lowered BEHIND the front of the frame. Sort of a sliding window.

I can't wait to see what you come up with for your display case