Vintage Red + White Drunkards Path
10-30-2019, 05:51 AM
#12
Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: West Central Illinois
Posts: 63
Several years ago we had a quilt appraiser at our local quilt show. She was a certified quilt appraiser. She appraises alot of vintage quilts. I was acting as her helper. It was interesting to see that a lot of the vintage quilts did not appraise for as much as some of the newer quilts. I asked her about that and she said alot of the older quilts are not worth as much as you would think, now if they have historical significance or if the person quilting them does have significance then that changes everything in the appraisal. A few minutes later, a lady showed up with a quilt that she was considering throwing out because she was cleaning out her mother's attic. It was a quilt that was made by mothers and wifes of soldiers from our area going to the the civil war and it had the name of each soldier in the unit. The appraiser told the woman do not throw it away. In the end the quilt, with the help of the appraiser was given to the state museum.
10-30-2019, 07:27 AM
#13
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lakewood, CO
Posts: 53
Drunkards path quilt
Originally Posted by Dtillman13
I recently picked up a pristine red + white drunkards path top at a flea market. It's hand pieced about 82" x 96". It's definitely old, I think around 1900. I would like to finish it, but I don't want to do anything if it will damage it. Any input on whether I should finish it or leave it be would be much appreciated?
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10-30-2019, 08:36 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,184
If you are not a “collector” finish the top any way you would like to. I have a lot of unfinished/vintage quilt tops. I finish them between my other quilts I make. Sometimes I try to quilt the motif of the era, other times I quilt whatever I want, regardless of the era.
For me it is the fun of finishing these quilts “and having the person that made the top look down and smile, to see her quilt finished”. (This is in part, what I put on the label when the quilt is finished, along with any information about the top, if it was available).
For me it is the fun of finishing these quilts “and having the person that made the top look down and smile, to see her quilt finished”. (This is in part, what I put on the label when the quilt is finished, along with any information about the top, if it was available).
10-30-2019, 02:30 PM
#15
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 79
I am not a collector so I would finish it. My daughter has the same red and white Drunkards Path that my mother, her grandmother, hand pieced and hand quilted for her in the 1970's. What a treasure for her.
10-31-2019, 07:29 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,825
I love it! That said, when I express my opinion, I'm going to try to duck all the incoming darts. It's not going to be a popular opinion.
It's a great quilt top. It's pretty. It's fun. However, it's not extremely well done. The design is wonky except on the top right hand side. The corners don't match, so it was probably cut by hand with scissors. One person with good skills may have started it and it was finished by someone not so skilled. Or it was started late in life as someone's skills deteriorated. Who knows?
Will a quilt collector buy that top? I don't think so. They will save their space and money for quilts of historical value, particularly good construction, unusual or intricate design or made by someone famous.
If you don't finish it, what will you do with it? Will you leave it forever in a dresser drawer? Will it bring you any enjoyment in that dresser drawer? Will your heirs sell it in an estate sale for $20.00?
Do you hand quilt? Are you willing to spend the huge number of hours it will take to quilt it? Do you have that much free time?
I'm basing my opinion on where I am in life. I see that even though I'm into retirement, I don't have the time, money and energy to do all that there is to do. I've been spending time with a couple of friends, one my age and one considerably older. The older one still has several unfinished quilt projects but doesn't sew anymore. she's given away most of her quilts and stash. I see my younger friend starting more and more projects that will never get done. She's stressed to the limit with all her quilting projects, her church obligations, etc. I'm attempting to limit the amount of "stuff" I collect for projects. Yes, I would finish my older friend's quilts if her kids ever offered them. She's a very special friend. Would I finish that quilt top you have? No, I wouldn't. However, I have some spectacular Dresden Plate blocks that I bought at an estate sale as well as GFG quilt top that is extremely well done. So, I'm not without those tops in the dresser drawer.
If you love it and are willing to spend the time and/or money to have it finished or finish it yourself, go for it. I'm just saying to finish it any way that works for you and how much time and money you are willing to spend on it. Don't let people guilt you into "saving" it just because it's "vintage". If you do, it will probably end up in the trash after you pass.
If, after careful thought and consideration, you decide not to do anything with it, that's OK, too. Of course, this is all based on my place in life today and the number of unfinished quilts in my "dresser drawer".
bkay
It's a great quilt top. It's pretty. It's fun. However, it's not extremely well done. The design is wonky except on the top right hand side. The corners don't match, so it was probably cut by hand with scissors. One person with good skills may have started it and it was finished by someone not so skilled. Or it was started late in life as someone's skills deteriorated. Who knows?
Will a quilt collector buy that top? I don't think so. They will save their space and money for quilts of historical value, particularly good construction, unusual or intricate design or made by someone famous.
If you don't finish it, what will you do with it? Will you leave it forever in a dresser drawer? Will it bring you any enjoyment in that dresser drawer? Will your heirs sell it in an estate sale for $20.00?
Do you hand quilt? Are you willing to spend the huge number of hours it will take to quilt it? Do you have that much free time?
I'm basing my opinion on where I am in life. I see that even though I'm into retirement, I don't have the time, money and energy to do all that there is to do. I've been spending time with a couple of friends, one my age and one considerably older. The older one still has several unfinished quilt projects but doesn't sew anymore. she's given away most of her quilts and stash. I see my younger friend starting more and more projects that will never get done. She's stressed to the limit with all her quilting projects, her church obligations, etc. I'm attempting to limit the amount of "stuff" I collect for projects. Yes, I would finish my older friend's quilts if her kids ever offered them. She's a very special friend. Would I finish that quilt top you have? No, I wouldn't. However, I have some spectacular Dresden Plate blocks that I bought at an estate sale as well as GFG quilt top that is extremely well done. So, I'm not without those tops in the dresser drawer.
If you love it and are willing to spend the time and/or money to have it finished or finish it yourself, go for it. I'm just saying to finish it any way that works for you and how much time and money you are willing to spend on it. Don't let people guilt you into "saving" it just because it's "vintage". If you do, it will probably end up in the trash after you pass.
If, after careful thought and consideration, you decide not to do anything with it, that's OK, too. Of course, this is all based on my place in life today and the number of unfinished quilts in my "dresser drawer".
bkay
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