nativetexan

i would leave the paper on that one and tell her to put that on the quilt rack!

BKrenning

Many of the prints do look a lot like 30's feedsack to me. The solids are very reminiscent of that era.

Also, I'm not sure how they did it back then but now days, Trip quilts are diagonal set squares--not on point diamonds. I would think they would have done it the same way back then otherwise you have bias issues to deal with.

As for your newspaper quandary; you would probably have to convince your customer to take it to an appraiser or do it yourself in order to convince them to change their mind.

I am amazed at how well kept these appear to be if they are truly as old as the newspaper & fabric designs appear to indicate. Whoever stored them did it very well and must have kept them in a very clean and almost climate controlled environment--just amazing if they really are from that time period!

BellaBoo

I hope you are asking a pretty penny for all this work and the stress of working with old fabrics! Please don't do it for pennies though! LOL

thepolyparrot

You could scan or photograph (if your digital camera has a high enough megapixel rating) the pieces of newspaper on the back.

Then to remove the paper, I would get some laminating sheets from the office supply store, cut them to fit over specific areas of the back, press them onto the paper, burnish it down with a bone paper folding tool (called a bone folder) or something similar, then peel the film away, taking the paper with it.

Most of these laminating films are acid free and archival and will preserve the paper for a very long time.

ptquilts

I wouldn't worry about the old newspapers, they are not that rare. Interesting to read though!!
I think I would do simple cross hatching on both of them. The string quilt looks so much like an antique quilt I had - I think it is the checked fabric that is making me think that.

MarthaT

The quilts were stored in a trunk. The oldest one was on the bottom and has some staining, maybe from being against the wood of the trunk. I don't plan to save all the newspaper pieces, but want to preserve the ones with dates and a few other interesting ones. (One has some hilarious quotes from kids test answers, like..."Pompay was destroyed by an eruption of saliva from the Vatican." My sister and I laughed 'til we cried over that one!) She wants the quilts made where she can use them as her mother would have wanted. So I will do my best. I think they have the means to make it worth my while, though I know I could never charge what it would be really worth per hour. But I'm excited about helping her preserve her mother's loving stitches. Thanks for your opinions.

jpmaroni

what a find!

abc123retired

I admit I didn't know string quilts were that old. Guess I will have to rethink my feelings about them. Hope you get help if you are hand quilting those.

valsma

I love your idea. Even if the quilts are finised as the lady wishes, she will have time peices of the history to look back at. For her the value may be in enjoying the quilts by using them for display or on a bed knowing she is viewing a peice of her mother daily.

Now personally being a history buff, I wouldn't want to have them finished until I spoke with someone who is an expert in the preservation of textiles who can tell me how much importance they hold.

wvdek

Most of the time, what we may think has a real value, really does not. Enjoy reading teh paper articles , then remove.
I would remove the newspaper by spreading the quilt on a white sheet on the floor, spray with warm water a small area at a time and continue until all the paper is removed.
I would then soak the quilt top in the tub with a mild soap, rinse in cold water, hang to dry or dry on delicate. Iron the seams well.

The third quilt looks like all mens shirt fabrics. I do not see flour-
sack fabric.

The others appear to be fabric of that era. May or may not be floursack.

Choose fabrics for finishing that correspond with what is already in the quilt. This is not the time to get fancy and overdo it.

Likewise, keep the handquilting to the period. You will do fine. The couple put their trust in you to finish appropriately. BTW - did you do a contract? Just because he is a doctor does not mean everything will be hunky dorey. Take pictures for future reference.