Janice,

The following sells reproduction fabrics from the 1930's. I am sure there are other places also but this place specializes in them.

Hope you can find what you need.

Liz

Here is a link that might be useful: Reproduction fabrics

Try this site, it has a nice selection.
Dianne

Here is a link that might be useful: equilter.com

Janice, if you are looking for authentic vintage fabric you can try antique shops, flea markets, estate auctions or the website below. Warning: like all antiques, the real thing does not come cheap!

Here is a link that might be useful: 1930's collection

I've used lots of fabrics from Reproduction Fabrics...they have great fabrics and are very nice to deal with. However, one of their best 'gifts' is free.....we can visit the different timeframes and really look at the fabrics they offer for each. They are different, and each has certain elements....either in design or perhaps in color....that sets it apart from the others. By familiarizing yourself with the elements of the era you're interested in it is then possible to 'shop around'.....there are lots of fabrics on the market that probably fill the criteria for the timeframe you're interested in, and if you know what you're looking for, you can generally pick up some 'ringers' from the regular shelves of fabric.
I'd also encourage you to visit flea markets, etc, with these fabrics in mind. Also, if you can use just one fabric to do all the replacements with, keep things like aprons in mind. Often times they are made from the sort of fabrics you're interested in, and will be much cheaper than, say, a piece of feed sack fabric, that is now going for $10.00 and up. Aprons are cheap and will often contain enough material to use as replacement.
Remember, too, when dealing with an old quilt....quilts were often made of older fabrics, too....things saved from long before, even by a mother or grandmother. Quilts often had fabrics from a pretty wide time period....and, any fabric that predated the making of the quilt is okay to use.....we only have to keep away from, in your case, fabrics made AFTER the 1930s!
Another tip, when replacing pieces of fabric in an old quilt. It's best to NOT removed the damaged fabrics.....the fabric and stitching is already old, so you want to disturb it as little as possible. Far better to cut a piece of replacement fabric with a seam allowance, and hand stitch it over the damaged piece. This will not weaken, any further, the structure of the quilt.

Sandra has some great ideas and advice! You are fortunate that the quilt is actually dated; it can be very difficult to date quilts. And IMHO you are smart to use fabric from that era instead of reproductions, to preserve the value of the quilt.
You can also find vintage fabric on ebay, but buyer beware (as always) because there are lots of reproduction fabrics. However, there are reputable antique fabric dealers online.
And we would LOVE to see a picture of the quilt! hint hint
BlueBars

Thank you all for the advice given. Although I love all the reproductions, I would really like to use the real thing if possible.

Thank You Sandra for your Lesson. I do plan to applique right over the top of the failed fabric,then try to reproduce the embroidery.

The quilt is a beauty! I suspect it's all hand done. The fabrics are all solids, no prints. It's beige with a green picket fence border. The center of the quilt is squares where every other block has appliqued flowers. Oh my, the workmanship is wonderful. It been quilted using a crosshatch pattern, and flowers in the plain blocks. It's one down fall is that it looks as though the quilting lines were marked with a pencil. My MIL has had the quilt since I've known her, and that is going on 30 years. In all this time it's sat on a quilt rack. I'm sure it's full of dust, as they have radiators. I was able to convince her to refold it from time to time.

Sandra, I think it may be time for a lesson. Maybe you could fill me in on the care. I figure maybe I should brush it with a soft brush, or maybe toss it on air in the dryer for a few minutes to help remove the dust? I don't think I dare try to hand wash.

Bluebars, The quilt is not only dated, but signed! I have never posted a picture, but will try to soon.

I also wonder if the pattern might of come from a newspaper, or a magazine. Who knows, maybe she was just a very talented lady!

Janice

Solid fabric should not be too hard to match. Go to a paint store (maybe you could take the quilt with you) and pick up some of the paint chips. You can use those little cards in your fabric search. You can also send a sample (or paint chip) to Keepsake Quilting and they will do a search for you. They have even matched fabric for me using a color photo or a little fabric swatch.
To get the dust out of a quilt, cover your vacuum cleaner hose with a nylon stocking (secure it really well), and lightly go over the quilt section by section, laid out flat. I think I remember seeing something Nancy Kirk used, which was netting stretched in an embroidery hoop, which was used in a similar way. It depends on how fragile the fabric is, how dirty it is, etc. Nancy offers a free Quilt Care course on her website (link below).
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.kirkcollection.com/quiltcarecourse.html

When Gerald Roy appraised my greatgrandmother's quilts as part of the NH Quilt Documentation project, he advised against ever washing them, even by hand. He suggested vacuuming as bluebars described and refolding every six months.

Also, if that quilt rack is wooden, have your MIL put some muslin (a cotton sheet will do) or acid-free tissue paper between it and the quilt at all contact points and make sure it is kept out of the sun.

Sounds like she has a real treasure!

Oh BlueBars thanks for the link for the free Quiltcarecourse. I'm going to sign up!

Nassongrad, You know I never thought about protecting it from the quilt rack, great idea.

Not that I'm in any hurry, or being greedy, but I do hope to inherit this quilt someday :)

Janice

Janice, I have found old blocks in antique stores and second hands stores that I have used to repair old quilts with. You can take them apart and use the fabric for repairs. I have also found them at yard sales, estate sales, etc. I hope you can post a picture, this sounds like a very pretty heirloom!
~Abbigail~

I've also heard (maybe on thie forum) that if you are unsuccessful finding the matching fabric to photo copy and print on fabric the missing pieces.