more old quilts --pics

16 years ago

Inspired by Cindy (ccoombs1)'s post with the fabulous quilts, I looked--for the first time--at 2 quilts my mother gave me in 1995. They were my grandmother's, and "needed repair." Since I don't repair quilts, I put them away.

Another reason I didn't open the bag was because I strongly prefer the muslin background on the older quilts, like Cindy's, and these had colored backgrounds.

I opened them tonight, and, wow! A grandmother's flower garden, and a Carolina Lily (I think)! And I LIKE them!

Any comments on the age of these? Both appear to be machine pieced, but hand quilted. I tend to think the Lily was made by a young girl, as the quilting stitches are large and uneven, and the bottom and one side are knife-edged, with a 1/2" binding on the other side, and a 2.5" binding on the top.

The GFG needs a new binding, but the Lily is beyond repair, I think.

Thanks for looking :)

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (6)

sandra_ferguson
16 years ago
Like the others, your quilts are typical of the 1930 era....and, as with those others, yours has the giveaway color, the nile green...and, the second, the purple..both were so common in the 30s.
You can't judge the age of a quilter by her work....believe me, there were many woman who, to our eye, had poor quilting skills...and, sometimes, the quilter was old, with failing eyesight, both of which would probably be more likely than a young child quilting in the 1930s.
I can't see, from the photos, why the lily quilt is beyond repair. What's it's problem?
If you decide not to use/repair, be sure to not store them in plastic..and, it's a good idea to roll them, rather than fold.
bluebars
16 years ago
If these were mine, I would simply cherish them. If you don't know how to repair them, leave them alone or find a professional. If it only needs some stitching here and there to secure patches, you can use some hidden applique stitches to secure them, but otherwise, I would not use new fabrics to replace anything. If there are serious rips, however, perhaps an "honest patch" would prevent further damage. They have been loved and used, but gladly, not to cover an antique car or on a dog bed (nothing against dogs, but ...).
You might also want to document them for future generations. Invest in acid free storage boxes, document and label them, and store them properly, not in an attic, basement, or forgotten in a closet as so many are.
I have only one quilt that my grandma made. That's a story for another day. I will have to post a photo and tell about it one day soon.
BlueBars
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Once something starts bugging you it is hard to "just let it go" -- I got REAL GOOD and taking things apart when I did my kaleidoscope quilt. (Even literally put darts in a couple blocks to get it to match right!) I noticed you have the four corners of blocks in the center perfectly matched -- the little muslin squares. I would let that intersection go as far askew as I needed to to get the black parts lined up. Since the muslin is roughly the same color it's really "one square" in the center -- IMO, matching it's points is not important. Where as the black/white intersections jump out at you. I would get those black squares matched up and sewn together. (Taking at least the one in like I suggested above) THEN, if I had a significant difference in size between the top and bottom muslin pieces in the center, I'd take the one that is larger and tighten its seam up -- Go up higher - maybe right below where the black starts and resew the seam angling inward ever so slightly so that by the time I reach the bottom my seam allowance is more than 1/4 inch -- I've sewn at an angle. Too extreme an angle and it won't lie flat but I think you can get away with enough to take up the slack. And once it's quilted who will know?! Clear as mud?!
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nana24
16 years ago
Cheryl,
They are both lovely. Could it be that the reason for the color rather than the muslin was your grandmother was a bold sort of person?
I especially like the lily. I'd at least for a time fold it so it's best part is out and find a way to display it.
TFS They are so special!

Sally
bluebars
16 years ago
If you display them, keep them out of the sun to prevent fading and deterioration of the fabrics. I've had even new wall hangings fade drastically with no sun at all, over time.
Another option is to reproduce the quilt with similar fabrics; label it "Made by ... in memory of ..."
BlueBars
grammyp
16 years ago
Lovely quilts. That GFG is fabulous.

beverly
ccoombs1
16 years ago
Those are beautiful!! It is amazing how much your Garden looks like mine!! I swear....it's the exact same fabric. Thanks for posting those. Aren't old quilts just the best??

more old quilts --pics

Comments (6)

sandra_ferguson

bluebars

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