I don't know about quilting it (maybe contact a museum that specializes in quilts?) but at the very least, PLEASE contact the consignee again, get the names of the women who pieced it, and write the story down. This is history.It is a beautiful UFO, and its story is worth saving.

I agree with most above. Hand peiced quilt tops deserve to be hand quilted.

I agree with mtspools. Because the top was hand pieced, I'd also hand quilt it.

I agree with mtspools. Because the top was hand pieced, I'd also hand quilt it.

Totally agree with hand quilting so that you are carrying through with the age and the hand work already done. I understand that you want to display the top but I'd question the wisdom of hanging it while unquilted since the design is on the bias. Will the weight of it tend to distort the "squareness" of the pieces? I'm told that quilting now will destroy the vintage value of a quilt top but it also stabilizes the fabrics and helps preserve them in my opinion. Do what you think is best for both you and the quilt. What a wonderful story with it. Glad you now know --the rest of the story. Makes it even more special!

I agree with handquilting it. That is beautiful.

I also agree to handquilt it-I think that the 2 ladies would want it to be used so I would definitely quilt it or have it quilted-what a treasure!

I just want to add a note here--I have a couple of quilts from the 1930's that are MACHINE Quilted. My aunt could afford to have them done that way and it was considered "something special". I helped clean shelves, turn the quilts, etc all the time I was at home (1940's) and those quilts were treated with great care.

As I understand it, the quilt top's value will decrease if quilted now.

The age of the latest item in the project is when the entire quilt will be dated- 2011.

Have an appraiser tell you more.

If resale or donation to a Museum is not of interest to you, hand or machine quilt it. Home sewing machines were invented in the 1830's IIRC, so machine quilting is definitely "to the Period". Since the top was hand pieced though, hand quilting may be preferable, if you decide to do anything to the top.

I prefer the hand quilting; however, if you want to have it machine quilted, I recommend a very simple design rather than the elaborate quilting that is in vogue now. Just my opinion :|