Old Quilt - HELP!

13 years ago

DH's family does group emails to keep in touch and this is the message we received this morning from a cousin in Kentucky:

"Hey cousins! This is a quilt top Grandma gave my mom years and years ago before she passed. It has been sitting in a trunk MANY years... I don't have the skill to finish it. Kate??? Could you or would you take this on.... needs a little restoration as well."

Of course I said I would be honored! Then I cried a little thinking of the work she put into this without being able to finish it, then cried a little because this beautiful treasure was brought to light, then cried a little in terror thinking of taking on this project! Pretty emotional, right?

Now I'm excited but also in a total panic wondering how I'm going to go about this. It looks like a huge quilt, but I can't tell from the picture how much work it needs; I don't even know if the fabric is in good shape or if it's brittled with age, heat, neglect, etc. I'll take more pictures when I get it and share them with you but does anyone have any advice about restoring old quilts?

Kate

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Comments (8)

msmeow
13 years ago
Oh, wow, Kate - I don't blame you for getting emotional about it!

Are you on the Home Quilting System Yahoo group? There was a discussion recently about restoring old quilts. One of the members had done it and shared her process. They just shut the group down the other day and reopened it, so I don't know how many (if any) of the old posts may still be there.

Here's a link to the International Quilt Study Center's resources page. I don't know if they have any info that can help, but maybe it's a start.

Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Int'l Quilt Study Center
ritaweeda
13 years ago
Hope you'll share what you find out - I have a very old one, thankfully no sentimental value to it - and it's in pretty bad condition. I would like to restore it but not knowledgeable enough to know where to start or even if it's salvageable.
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I forgot to mention this. The 3rd one is the one that has the backing, borders and batting. It's going to be the easiest to finish, but it's not my favorite. I can't find any examples of this pattern on the web so I don't really know what it looks like quilted....maybe I'd like it better. The one I like the best is the first one. I think the first one would also be more fun to quilt since it's broken down in individual areas instead of the large expanse of white as in the 3rd one. Quilting will have to be done by hand. Can this be done with no quilting frame? Is it possible to hand baste the whole thing together and then quilt it on my lap? Since it seems to be important to use old fabric, what if I took the backing and batting off of the 3rd one (it's not attached yet) and use it on the 1st one? Also can you buy reproduction feed sack cloth? I'd want to make the border at least look authentic. Or I could use some of the white backing for the border, if there is enough. Or possibly not use a border and make the edges follow the contour of the wedding band, so they would be scalloped. SO many questions....lol! I think this evening I'll set up a couple of folding tables and lay the quilts out flat and measure each one.
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What a fantastic find that was, and it is lovely! Looking at that 5th row, I could almost make up a story. The original maker died or became incapacitated before finishing the top, but she left behind the remaining blocks with their octogons and appliques and there was enough of the original white fabric in the sashing to put the row together, but not enough to attach the row to the rest of the quilt. (IS it the same white fabric, though? It looks different.) Seeing that the seams are so well-matched in the main part and so ill-matched in the extra row, plus the fact that whoever tacked it on could bear to leave out the vertical sashing altogether, makes me think that #2 was not a quilter. If the horizontal sashing in the 5th row is NOT the original fabric, then you wonder why she didn't use more of that new fabric or some other shade of white so as to have vertical sashing. (To me, it would be much more intolerable to leave out the sashing than to have sashing of not quite the right fabric.) Could have been either unable to find it or unable to afford to buy more. The absence of appliques in the sashing also seems to argue that either the original pink and yellow fabrics were unavailable, or that the second quilter didn't feel up to doing the appliqueing. No surprise there! But another explanation occurs to me. I am reminded of how my grandmother was crocheting an intricate tablecloth for me, but she became unable to complete it as her eyesight worsened. It is sad, though touching, to think that perhaps the original quilter, with her eyes--or perhaps her coordination, or even her mind--going, wanted to finish the quilt and did the best she could, and no one spoiled her enjoyment by pointing out the faults and discrepancies.
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calliope
13 years ago
I have a very old quilt I found when I was at my folk's house a few years before she died. I asked her where she got it and she said 'it was your grandmother's'. (my father's mother who was born in 1884). It wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't handed down to her! It is fragile, and has only one block needing restored and one of these days when I am brave enough, I may try to reinforce it in that spot. So, I'm watching this thread as well for hints. Good luck....I have every confidence you are up to the challenge.
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
13 years ago
The year I went to the quilt retreat Jennifer was working on a very old fragile quilt, so maybe she can give you some ideas. I think one of the considerations is what is the future of the quilt....as a hanging, display on quilt rack or sofa?

Something I read recently was, as you touch and hold the quilt, think about the person who made it and what she was thinking to see if you get any 'vibes' from her. It doesn't necessarily have to be about the quilt. @:)

SharonG/FL
Carol_from_ny
13 years ago
I have very limited knowledge on old quilts BUT here's what I know. A quilts age is determined by the newest pieces of cloth in it. So if you want to keep the value you need to replace worn and torn pieces with fabric from that time period.
IF all you want to do is preserve the quilt so it continues to be useful and you can continue to display it then fixing it with fabric from the same time period isn't required.
Quilts do better rolled and not folded for storage. Acid free paper helps extend the life of a quilt when it is stored.
K8Orlando
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your suggestions and comments!
bluebars
13 years ago
Good articles and information here on quilt restoration:
http://www.quilthistory.com/restoration.htm
as well as a list of experienced quilt restorers.
Take good care of your family quilts!
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilt Restoration
rosajoe_gw
13 years ago
I would be crying too Kate, it is beautiful!!!!! I will never have that problem, because (to the best of my knowledge) no one in my family has ever quilted. Sad isn't it??

Old Quilt - HELP!

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msmeow

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msmeow

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