I got an old top that looks like it is from the 30s or 40s. The material looks like rayon. I haven't tried a burn test yet. It was hand stitched and some to the stiching is lose or gone so I plan to repair it. My dilemma is should I fix thee orginal mistakes in the quilt? Some of the points don't match and there are puckers in a couple of the seams, that can't be quilted out. If the points were only a bit off I wouldn't care but the are way off.

Also, how do you quilt rayon? I plan on hand quilting it, would it make it more stable to machine quilt it? I have always heard to hand quilt older tops, as machine quilting takes away the value.

What makes you think it is rayon? I do not associate rayon with the 30s - 40s. Nylon with the 50s, yes.

Hand quilting would be the preferred choice.

I dont think its rayon either....really looking forward to reading the answers on this!!!!!

It may have been rayon. I have a quilt my great grandmother made in the 1930' and 40's and one of the fabrics is rayon. By the way it is the only one of the fabrics that has fallen apart all the cotton is still going strong.

Depending on the type of quilt it is during those times you used what you had.

Here is a good article on vintage synthetic fabric it may be any one of these

forgot the link :oops:

http://www.fabrics.net/joan500.asp

I remember reading somewhere, that rayon was used in the 30's and 40's but cotton and silk were more popular. I believe nylon was invented, but didn't actually become widely available 'til after WWII.

Is it possible for you to post a picture? Maybe someone will be able to identify era/possible fabric type. I agree with Mom-6, handquilting would be the best option. If it is fragile, there will be less scope for disaster.

Just a bit of interesting info about Rayon, it may surprise you, the fiber/fabric was invented in 1855 and refined in 1864. It was first commercially manufactured and sold in USA in 1910 under the name of 'Artificial Silk' the name was later changed to Rayon in 1924. Interesting ugh!

Gal

PS It is made up of wood pulp and cotton waste.

Also - rayon burns a lot like cotton.

So, when it comes to a burn test, it doesn't make black smoke like polyester and nylon do - and it leaves a soft ash like cotton does.

There is a good possibility that it may actually be silk.

And, even more interesting....fabric made of bamboo can no longer be called just "bamboo" in the US, it must be called rayon because it refers to the process, not the content. So, sometimes you will see "rayon made from bamboo" on labels.

I would leave the mistakes in and hand quilt. I have some old tops that I think my DH grandmother did. Accuracy was obviously not her thing. I'm going to leave the mismatched points alone and hand quilt.