What to do with vintage quilt tops?
03-28-2012, 05:03 PM
#21
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
Originally Posted by Annaquilts
Go ahead and machine quilt. Document their history and add a label on the back. It is wonderful you are making sure these quilts are treted well.
Historians say NOT to do this if there is any family history, as once you add a single stitch you are killing the vintage/history. Fabrics etc are best documented in the raw, not quilted. But since these have no family history to you, then do as you please. Just please add the label!
03-29-2012, 03:20 AM
#23
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 15,368
In our Alabama there are "Senior Citizen" groups that meet each week. They take in quilt tops and hand quilt them for you for a price. This helps them to meet expenses for the hall that they meet in. They have several ladies that sit around a quilting frame and hand quilt. I also have arthritis.
Originally Posted by crafty pat
I have RA so I know how you feel. I have old tops my Mother made by hand that I have machine quilted and they came out fine. I have heard of quilting clubs who you can hire to hand quilt for you. If you want to keep it true to the hand quilting you might check them out.
03-29-2012, 04:59 AM
#26
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 47
Congrats on your great find! Finish them in the manner that allows you to enjoy them. On eh reproduction backing, current thread and batting are added, the "vintage" value diminishes for the true collector. But, to the quilt lover, IMO, the value of having a beautiful vintage prize quilted so that it can be used, admired, and loved far outweighs everything else.
03-29-2012, 05:10 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 751
I would suggest tying. I saw in a mag where they showed how to machine tie. You basically zig zag over what whater tie then tie it. It's fast and tying also holds true to older quilts. I love that your going to use them I think all quilts should be used and loved and that the whole reason I make them!! Good luck and happy quilting!!
03-29-2012, 05:13 AM
#28
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Rock Island, IL
Posts: 297
Whatever you decide, it will be a good decision. As a longarmer, I suggest people consider a hand quilter for any really well made- hand pieced- quilt top. Perhaps a quote from a hand quilter will help you decide. Congratulations on your great fortune.
03-29-2012, 05:14 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,803
Here's another vote for finding someone who will hand quilt this beauty. Machine quilting will get the job accomplished quickly but my thinking is that a vintage quilt should be completed with the same techniques that the original quilter would have used. This GFG was hand-pieced, I understand, so it seems to follow suit that it would then have been hand quilted. You have found a treasure. Congratulations!
I love hand quilting these old quilt tops and putting my hands where others have been, constructing the tops with such love and care. It lets me appreciate the quilter, her construction and the fabrics she used.
I love hand quilting these old quilt tops and putting my hands where others have been, constructing the tops with such love and care. It lets me appreciate the quilter, her construction and the fabrics she used.
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