Vintage Feedsack Tops - what to back with?
 

I have 2 gorgeous feedsack tops that I want to use to practice longarming on - I have purchased them for so little and they would be perfect to make into quilts for me to cherish!

I've search far and wide and cannot find what others have used to back their quilts from the 30's-40's. More feedsacks? Muslin? Solids?

Just thought I'd ask those of you with antique quilts to please check your backs and let me know. At first I was just going to grab some cute reproduction feedsack fabric (and I may do that for one of them that is really faded). I'm noticing that with my quilts that I often turn the back to the outside for decor interest when placing on my couch. So that back can be very important after all (for use).

They are both pretty large. I'm surprised at how little I paid for them. One is hand-sewed and a variation on the Lone Star pattern (many small ones).

Thanks all! I have searched threads but none of them talk about backings that I can find. I have looked on my own antique quilts (I have 3) and have found muslin, a solid cotton, and sheeting/shirting material. So nothing consistent!
And, not a pieced jumble.

My Great Aunt backed an old quilt top I bought from a GREAT GREAT Aunt of my Grandmother's. She had her sewing circle hand quilt it and she backed in it a bright solid. Most I think used muslin.

One of my vintage quilts izs backed with muslin, but the other is backed with what looked like feedsack.
Its a shame that one quilt is so faded, but still pretty. That lonestar is gorgeous.

I have used good quality muslin and Warm & Natural or Warm & White batting for similar vintage tops.

great input, thanks so much!
Yes, the fading... but everything else is so pretty and well done.
And I looked closely and it is also hand stitched!

Not in answer to your question BUT I was just wondering if the quilts are hand-stitched, will they be able to stand the tension that a long arm would require, or might the seams pull apart?

I back most of my quilts except for baby quilts with muslin. After all, it's the back of the quilt and I'd rather use my pretty fabrics for more tops.

Cari

Muslin or that Nile green seen in both the pictured quilts would be period appropriate to the '30s -'40s fabrics seen in these quilts. So happy you are 'saving' them. :)

Jan in VA

Muslin is traditional, but a nice '30's repro print with a small design would look nice, too. No reason you have to make it exactly like our great grandmothers did. Why not have something that is beautiful in both sides? Of course, today's muslins are also quite striking and come in many different colors.

But my great grandma used that grayish blue-green muslin for the backs of her feedback quilts. I bought some at a repro LQS recently and my mom & grandma immediately recognized it as the color great grandma had on the back of all her quilts (and as sashing on several fronts). I'll try to post a pic of it when I get home.

Edit: never mind. It's the darker green on the far right of the upper left block in your pic.

thimblebug6000: yes, they are quite sturdy in construction. I'm doing the LA work so I can manage the tension.

the stitches per inch a plentiful! I had to look closely to realize that they were hand stitched.

I'll know for sure once I get it on the rollers.

I didn't even think to go to the LQS to see if they had a similar muslin! thanks for all of your tips everyone, this is so helpful. I've been ruminating these backings for at least a week.

I cannot wait to see them finished! I love this period of quilts. Bright, cheerful, hopeful.