04.07.08
Posted in Antiques at 9:53 pm by Administrator
Lately, I’ve often been asked about old unfinished quilt tops. I have several that I bought. One is too old to withstand quilting. The other would never lay flat, as it was pieced incorrectly. Usually, I don’t even think about finishing quilts started by other people. It would be surprising if I complete my own unfinished work, both embroidered pieces and quilt tops.
The most important consideration, if you are thinking about turning a quilt top into a quilt, is how old the fabric is. If that is from 1935 or later, chances are good that you will be able to hand quilt the top with no trouble. A student of mine did just that with her grandmother’s quilt, and I was pleased a few years later to see it hanging in a quilt show.
Remember that cotton is a natural fiber. It dries out, over time, becomes brittle, or will turn to dust, with the slightest provocation.
Quilt Tops are popular with collectors. They are easy to store. The purist would not consider finishing any antique item of this kind, or any kind. Think about what will happen when you no longer are the caretaker of the top. Will it be thrown out by someone who thinks it is of no value because it hasn’t been finished into a bed cover? Or can you leave written instructions about its value, as a teaching accessory for lectures or classes?
My best advice is to consider the final use of the piece. Do you want to “use it up, and throw it out,” or do you want to preserve a piece of history, as is, without superimposing machine quilting (Heaven forbid!), or your work, which may or may not have reached a standard equal to that of the original quilter.
The choice is yours, and heaven knows, you own the quilt top. Do whatever makes you happy. You’ll just want to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. As always, no quilt police will be sent to your home, if you make a poor decision. No matter the outcome, you will have to live with it. Good luck!
When did you say you were starting a new quilt of your own?
Patricia Cummings
Permalink
03.14.08
Posted in Antiques, Fabrics at 12:55 am by Administrator
Gleefully, I purchased a very small piece of 1870s cheater cloth, recently. It was stuffed into a too small plastic baggie, and it was full of wrinkles. Being that old, the cloth also felt very dessicated. I wanted to press out the wrinkles, but thought it might be helpful to add some plain water to the cloth first, by spritzing it on with a house plant sprayer.
All was well, or so I thought, until I moved the fabric to reposition it on the ironing board. It was then that I noticed red color all over my new ironing board cover. I’d splurged last summer and bought a wide ironing board that is more square and a lot better for pressing backings for quilts.
I realized what had happened. The red in the print was not the “Turkey Red” colorfast color that we love in nineteenth century quilts. Instead, it was some other cheap dye. I should have known better. In fact, I do know better. I just wasn’t thinking. I wish that I’d at least put paper towels under the cloth, to help protect the ironing board cover.
I still love this piece of cloth because it represents a certain time period. The dyes were cheap in the 1870s, partly because the country was experiencing an economic downturn. I think the color combination is cheerful and the design is interesting. What you see above represents only a portion of the piece I have. Ever since my article about Cheater Cloth came out in The Quilter magazine, I am beginning to see it mentioned in lots of places. Before now, it has been like a step child, often overlooked. I’m happy that I could help to raise awareness because I think that this kind of imitation patchwork has its place.
Have a good Friday!
Patricia Cummings
Permalink
02.06.08
Posted in Antiques, Quilts at 4:47 am by Administrator
I received a request for help in identifying a quilt design. The quilt’s owner believes that the quilt has a date of “1840″ on the side and is signed “Elizabeth Springer.” No other details about that were provided. The appraiser thinks that the binding is wider than usual for an 1840 quilt, or an 1890 quilt, for that matter. She thinks that it may be a variation of the typical quilt pattern “Burgoyne Surrounded,” often done in blue and white.
This is a portion of the 94″ x 81″ quilt.
Close-up.
Here is a little background about the quilt known as “Burgoyne Surrounded.”
I found an interesting entry in Yvonne Khin’s book. She states that British General John Burgoyne tried to take the city of Albany, NY but was surrounded by Americans at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. The pattern, Burgoyne Surrounded, was renamed about 1850 and called Wheel of Fortune. Taken west, it came to be known as “Road to California.”
If anyone has any further information on the quilt pattern shown here, please write to me at: pat@quiltersmuse.com Thanks!
An Addendum: The initial inquirer about this quilt pattern, has found an example exactly like the quilt shown above, only in red and white. It is located on the Nebraska state site. Their quilt belongs to the International Quilt Study Center, and is simply called “Burgoyne Surrounded.” To see the quilt, visit:
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/patchwork_lives/community_involvement.htm
and then, click on the picture, for a larger view. The red and white quilt is smaller, at 86″ x 69″ and the estimated date of its making is circa 1900-1920 which would coincide time-wise with the colonial revival period in American history. The quilt is part of the donated “James collection.”
The appraiser was most likely right about questioning the date of 1840. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher numbers on old quilts, whether they are written or “quilted in.” She wonders if Burgoyne Surrounded quilts are made today and if someone has a book. Yes, Eleanor Burns published a how-to book, and right after her book came out, I made a queen size quilt of this kind, using a wool batting.
Patricia Cummings
Permalink
« Previous entries · Next entries »
