How bad is the smell? a little musty-ness? or worse?

I wouldn't wash the pieced work, for fear of the damage that may result. Start by putting them out in the fresh air and see if that can help. Best if you can lay them singly.

If you have a clothes line, perhaps pin them onto sheets and let hang?

See if that helps freshen them up so you can work on them.

Put some fabric softner sheets in the bag with them I wouldnt wash them in a machine If you must wash do it by hand I have a friend who does everything by hand and she repairs alot of antique quilts she washes them in buttermilk and rinses them several times to take out the odors

Great find

Great find, will be interested what you do with them.

boy you got a good deal have fun

Great deal. I hope you get the smell out and make something beautiful with the blocks.

I have had them laying out all day in the sunlight, strong musty-ness smell. It has helped a bit but not to much.

I will give this a try also if the fresh doesn't help.
I would never have thought to wash anything in buttermilk.. how interesting! Thanks for the tips

I have heard of using vinegar or dawn - just soak in vinegar for awhile then hand rinse and lay flat - if you have a screen or one of those seater dryers you could put outside to dry. good luck

my friend soaks all of her musty smelling quilts that she finds in buttermilk it works wonderfully havent tried it myself she says she puts them in the bathtub overnight sometimes she has to do it a couple of times but not often I would think it would be safer than some other treatments