MeadowMist

Hello! We're planning on displaying a couple vintage quilts in a show next month and am hoping someone can identify the pattern of these. I'm posting two pictures of each (hope they come through okay as I kept getting error messages). Also can anyone estimate the date of the fabric, if so that would be great though it may be hard without better closeups. Both seem to have fabric from the 20's and 30's but I'm not sure of how early or late in that period. The first one appears to be much older based on the condition but the green and pink seem to be the same in both. The second one has an embroidered "41" in one corner so we think it was made in 1941. I remember my mother telling me that the 2nd one was made up of fabric from her little girl dresses which means the fabric would be early 20's to early 30's.

The first one is not in the best of condition and has a crease line along the center fold with some tearing in this area. Do you think it could handle some light ironing or would it be better to leave it be and show with the crease?
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Irishrose2

Are you apprehensive about laundering them? I wash my 1950s quilt on gentle and dry until it's over half dry then lay it out to finish drying. That would get rid of the crease and freshen them up. My quilt is totally hand done and washes well. The second one does look like 30s fabrics.

dunster

I think the second one may be crossed tulips.

QuiltnNan

we had John Kubiniek speak at our guild tonight. he had a quilt just like the first one. he called it the Old English Flower Garden block.

Jingle

Beautiful quilts, last one looks like dresden plates.

MeadowMist

Crossed Tulips and Old English Flower Garden Block. Yes, it looks like both of you are right. Thank you so much!!

Irishrose - I wish I could wash it but I don't think it would hold up at all, it's just too fragile and has too many small tears. The bottom one would probably be okay with a delicate wash though, it's definitely the stronger of the two.

JustAbitCrazy

Someone did some really nice free motion machine quilting (meandering) on the English Flower Garden quilt! Within that same time frame, my husband's grandmother used to machine quilt her everyday quilts, but she only quilted straight lines.

SusieQOH

As for dates, they look like the 40's to me.

toverly

Don't wash. At best you can vacuum with the brush attachment and a piece of hose or knee high across the opening. Antique quilts don't need washing unless it's spot washing. Stains don't always come out.

illinois

I had a vintage quilt that was discovered and "too nasty" to play well with the others in the stack so I did wash that one. Most recommend the bathtub method but I filled my washer and put the quilt in that to soak. That way I could turn it to spin and get more of the water/soap out of it than with the tub. If all that has you concerned is that crease, I would simply lay it out or even hang it for awhile to see if that crease won't soften. This is why it is recommended to refold quilts every so often but most of us don't. Time and attention slip away.