Advice needed
03-31-2012, 10:31 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oak Ridge,TN
Posts: 823
Advice needed
My husband's aunt (she's 80 yrs young) gave me 3 quilt tops and blocks for 2 more. All 3 tops and one set of blocks were made by her husband's grandmother. They were hand pieced and are very pretty. You can tell by looking at them that they are old, but they are in very good condition.
My question is: Would it be okay to quilt them so they can be enjoyed by our family or should they be left as is? Also, if I quilt them, would I wash them first? They have been stored for long time. They will have to be quilted on a machine. I cannot do hand quilting nor can I afford to have them hand quilted. I know from a historic value that they are only considered to be as old as the newest material added. I don't think my family really cares about that. I was thinking of using muslin. Is that what would have been used for backings back at the time they would have been made?
The other set of blocks were made by my husband's aunt. She has the backing and batting that she bought when she bought the material that she made them with. She made it over 15 years ago.
Sorry this post is so long.
My question is: Would it be okay to quilt them so they can be enjoyed by our family or should they be left as is? Also, if I quilt them, would I wash them first? They have been stored for long time. They will have to be quilted on a machine. I cannot do hand quilting nor can I afford to have them hand quilted. I know from a historic value that they are only considered to be as old as the newest material added. I don't think my family really cares about that. I was thinking of using muslin. Is that what would have been used for backings back at the time they would have been made?
The other set of blocks were made by my husband's aunt. She has the backing and batting that she bought when she bought the material that she made them with. She made it over 15 years ago.
Sorry this post is so long.
03-31-2012, 11:14 PM
#2
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: IN
Posts: 1,807
Charlotte,
Preparing vintage blocks for quilts varies from person to person but rarely if ever includes washing the blocks. The textiles are very delicate, will shrink and the weave is not as tight as current quilting fabrics plus bleeding colors were a bigger problem in years past than today. I was given some depression era orphan blocks, lots of grandmother's flower gardens & a vintage top not long ago....passed down from my great grandmother and a great great aunt.
The fabrics you add to your precious blocks are completely up to you. Just today, I was at a quilt show that featured several quilts of vintage blocks recently put together in tops and quilted using reproduction fabrics to keep the look cohesive...now, that may alter the value but if that's not your main concern, it's an option. I suppose it really depends on the look of the original blocks and the overall design you're going for. For my own blocks, I'll be adding some vintage fabrics---the perfect match for repairs and additions. If I have to add some yardage, I'd also choose a muslin as you've mentioned since I have very busy prints in the blocks and muslin or plain feedsack would have been commonplace back in the 30s.
As far as machine quilting goes, I hope someone on the board has experience in this and some tips for you. Someday when I get to the blocks that have been handed down to me, I'll probably hand quilt since it's the method I'm most comfortable with.
Best of luck! I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of your treasures.
Preparing vintage blocks for quilts varies from person to person but rarely if ever includes washing the blocks. The textiles are very delicate, will shrink and the weave is not as tight as current quilting fabrics plus bleeding colors were a bigger problem in years past than today. I was given some depression era orphan blocks, lots of grandmother's flower gardens & a vintage top not long ago....passed down from my great grandmother and a great great aunt.
The fabrics you add to your precious blocks are completely up to you. Just today, I was at a quilt show that featured several quilts of vintage blocks recently put together in tops and quilted using reproduction fabrics to keep the look cohesive...now, that may alter the value but if that's not your main concern, it's an option. I suppose it really depends on the look of the original blocks and the overall design you're going for. For my own blocks, I'll be adding some vintage fabrics---the perfect match for repairs and additions. If I have to add some yardage, I'd also choose a muslin as you've mentioned since I have very busy prints in the blocks and muslin or plain feedsack would have been commonplace back in the 30s.
As far as machine quilting goes, I hope someone on the board has experience in this and some tips for you. Someday when I get to the blocks that have been handed down to me, I'll probably hand quilt since it's the method I'm most comfortable with.
Best of luck! I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of your treasures.
Last edited by retrogirl02; 03-31-2012 at 11:30 PM.
03-31-2012, 11:35 PM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oak Ridge,TN
Posts: 823
Thanks for the advice.
Originally Posted by retrogirl02
Charlotte,
Preparing vintage blocks for quilts varies from person to person but rarely if ever includes washing the blocks. The textiles are very delicate, will shrink and the weave is not as tight as current quilting fabrics plus bleeding colors were a bigger problem in years past than today. I was given some depression era orphan blocks, lots of grandmother's flower gardens & a vintage top not long ago....passed down from my great grandmother and a great great aunt.
The fabrics you add to your precious blocks are completely up to you. Just today, I was at a quilt show that featured several quilts of vintage blocks recently put together in tops and quilted using reproduction fabrics to keep the look cohesive...now, that may alter the value but if that's not your main concern, it's an option. I suppose it really depends on the look of the original blocks and the overall design you're going for. For my own blocks, I'll be adding some vintage fabrics---the perfect match for repairs and additions. If I have to add some yardage, I'd also choose a muslin as you've mentioned since I have very busy prints in the blocks and muslin or plain feedsack would have been commonplace back in the 30s.
As far as machine quilting goes, I hope someone on the board has experience in this and some tips for you. Someday when I get to the blocks that have been handed down to me, I'll probably hand quilt since it's the method I'm most comfortable with.
Best of luck! I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of your treasures.
Preparing vintage blocks for quilts varies from person to person but rarely if ever includes washing the blocks. The textiles are very delicate, will shrink and the weave is not as tight as current quilting fabrics plus bleeding colors were a bigger problem in years past than today. I was given some depression era orphan blocks, lots of grandmother's flower gardens & a vintage top not long ago....passed down from my great grandmother and a great great aunt.
The fabrics you add to your precious blocks are completely up to you. Just today, I was at a quilt show that featured several quilts of vintage blocks recently put together in tops and quilted using reproduction fabrics to keep the look cohesive...now, that may alter the value but if that's not your main concern, it's an option. I suppose it really depends on the look of the original blocks and the overall design you're going for. For my own blocks, I'll be adding some vintage fabrics---the perfect match for repairs and additions. If I have to add some yardage, I'd also choose a muslin as you've mentioned since I have very busy prints in the blocks and muslin or plain feedsack would have been commonplace back in the 30s.
As far as machine quilting goes, I hope someone on the board has experience in this and some tips for you. Someday when I get to the blocks that have been handed down to me, I'll probably hand quilt since it's the method I'm most comfortable with.
Best of luck! I'm looking forward to seeing some photos of your treasures.
04-01-2012, 03:22 AM
#4
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
do not wash the blocks / tops before quilting-binding
you can machine quilt them if that's what you want to do- if you plan on keeping these quilts for family not expecting them to be in shows/museums- it is a personal choice how you finish them -- muslin was used often for quilt backs- there are many different weights/qualities of muslin choose a good one.
enjoy your new treasures- don't sweat the small stuff. after quilting & binding wash very gently in cold water- if there's a lot of color you may want to toss in a couple color catchers or use synthropol in the water.
you can machine quilt them if that's what you want to do- if you plan on keeping these quilts for family not expecting them to be in shows/museums- it is a personal choice how you finish them -- muslin was used often for quilt backs- there are many different weights/qualities of muslin choose a good one.
enjoy your new treasures- don't sweat the small stuff. after quilting & binding wash very gently in cold water- if there's a lot of color you may want to toss in a couple color catchers or use synthropol in the water.
04-01-2012, 05:38 AM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,197
A few years ago I was asked to finish a quilt that my daughters DML was given. It was pieced by the grandmother of the DML. The pattern was a tree made from many 1/2 sq triangles, it may be the Tree of Life, I am not sure. I put a very plain back on it matching the color in the front as best I could. It turned out very nice and they were happy with it. One thing I didn't do was make a lable for it. I didn't even think about it until now. I think that is one thing I will do and give to the owners of the quilt to put with it for future generations. The quilt was in very good condition and I am sure will last for years if it is only desplayed and not used on a bed.
04-01-2012, 05:42 AM
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
How fortunate you are to have these blocks. I agree about not needing to wash...but if you do at most only wash them by hand in very gentle quilt wash and rinse and lay flat to dry. You can finish them however you want to...machine quilting is fine for making quilts for family members. Muslin or some other solid color would be good for putting the blocks together.
04-01-2012, 07:18 AM
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,144
An 80 year old's husband's grandmother - these tops and blocks could date back to the 1870's or thereabouts. I agree with the others that it would be fine for you to machine quilt them and use them, if that is what you want to do. If they were mine, however, I would first take them to an expert on vintage quilts, just for my peace of mind - and curiosity. There must be a quilt museum somewhere near you where I think they would be happy to look at them and tell you whether you have something that should be preserved, rather than used. You wouldn't be looking for an appraisal, which would probably cost $$. It's a bit sad that all this was apparently stored away for such a long time, rather than used and enjoyed, but what a wonderful treasure for you now.
04-01-2012, 12:26 PM
#9
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,326
I'm working on a quilt rescue right now. My customer had 29 dresden plate blocks made my her grandmother. They are about 80 years old. The block fabric is white, but many of them were yellowed. I washed one in Oxy and it came out beaautifully white. So I soaked the rest of them in a washing machine with oxy and detergent. I rinsed them the same way. But do not agitate them. I then layed them out to air dry. I used starch to iron them and squared them up.
After folding 1/4" under on all four sides, I machine applqued them onto an all white background fabric ( wide backing actually) Then quilted it as a whole cloth quilt.
I'm making two - one down, and quilting the other right now.
After folding 1/4" under on all four sides, I machine applqued them onto an all white background fabric ( wide backing actually) Then quilted it as a whole cloth quilt.
I'm making two - one down, and quilting the other right now.
04-01-2012, 01:30 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Asheville, previously Lake Vermilion, Tarpon Springs, Duluth, St Paul, Soudan
Posts: 1,651
Merikay Waldvogel is a well known quilt historian. She lives in Knoxville, I believe. And the headquarters for the Alliance for American Quilts is in Asheville, although I have never been there. They might be able to give you some good advice on how to proceed.
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