On the Hunt!

Later this week I'll be going up to Renninger's Antique Extravaganza to hunt for quilts and fabric. With around 800 vendors I usually find some good stuff. I'll also be doing some hunting in Missouri soon. So check back about mid December for some new items!

Finished Repair!

I'm so happy!  I was actually able to get my repair finished on my quilt. I have to admit, my sewing skills are not the best.  But it's unlikely anyone will notice that the black fabric has been replaced.  Now this quilt will be able to withstand years of use.

I was even able to get a little quilting done.  I'm quite rusty though - it's been about 2 years since I've done ANY quilting.  I remembered how, but the fingers didn't want to cooperate!

I've added quite a few new items to my website this week so check it out for some unique antiques.

Happy Halloween!

My Quilt Repair



Disintegrating Fabric


I finally dusted off my antique quilt top that I (and my Mom and a few others) have been trying to get quilted for several years now. I was getting ready to start quilting it again when I came across a block that was in dire need of repair. The black fabric practically crumbled when you looked at it. 

Quilts that are historically significant or of great value should be conserved instead of repaired.  Keeping the original fabrics from further deterioration should be a priority and can involve covering the pieces with silk crepeline or simply providing proper storage (heat and humidity control) for the quilt.  Since my quilt is neither historical or particularly valuable, I decided to totally remove the black fabric and replace it with a similar vintage.  I also could have left the fabric and pieced over it but this can be a little more difficult and time consuming.

Quilting and One Piece Removed

My first step was to remove what little quilting had been completed on the block.  I simply pulled it back through, leaving enough so I can knot it and secure it.  Next I removed one piece, leaving the others intact so as not to destroy the integrity of the entire block. 

Then I cut my replacement piece.  You should always cut it a lot bigger than you think you're going to need.  Sometimes when you're sewing it down, it can shift a little and the next thing you know you're to the edge of your fabric (ask me how I know! lol).

Replacement Piece Cut Extra Large

One Piece Finished

Then it's just a matter of stitching around the edges. I used lots of pins to keep it as straight as possible. Once I finished the corner triangle, I did the same procedure for one of the adjacent rectangles.

Two Down, Six To Go

So here is what I have so far.  Like to see the finished block?  Me too!  I hope to have it completed by next week when I'll post the finished repair. 

This is just one of many ways a quilt can be repaired.  You should always evaluate the importance of the quilt before removing any fabric.  The goal of any repair should be to improve the value of the quilt, whether it be of historical value, monetary value, or the value you receive from using the quilt.

I also have quite a few new items to add next week so check my website for some cool blocks and a cute quilt.

To Wash or Not To Wash

A few weeks ago I was in Plant City, Florida looking for antique quilts when I spotted a nice quilt draped over a blanket chest. Wow, my heart started beating faster, my mouth started to water. I picked it up. There was a ton of quilting in this nice thin quilt. Almost every inch was quilted. I didn't see any rips, worn edges or holes on the front. I saw some faded blue blocks, then some faded red blocks and then, all white blocks. Uh oh, someone had bleached this quilt until it was almost unrecognizable. About 75% of the pieced blocks were total white. On the plus side, I didn't see any stains.  But as I have to say a little too often, this at one time was a fabulous quilt.

I have to wonder what the quilt was like before it was bleached to oblivion. Were there THAT many stains that it required a gallon of bleach or was it an accidental overdose? What do you do with quilts that are extremely dirty and stained? Many purists will say, do NOT wash an antique quilt. For the most part they recommend vacuuming. Which is good for the loose overall dirt but what about a quilt with a lot of stains? So you have a potentially award winning quilt - except for those darn age spots, or blood stains, or other unidentifiable stains. What would you do with that quilt?

I was originally going to blog about the "How" part of cleaning an antique quilt. But in doing my research I've found that 1) there is already a ton of information out there on cleaning quilts and 2) recommendations vary widely depending on who you consult. Museums and Quilt Societies typically recommend no cleaning and definitely no dry cleaning. Those selling or collecting offer more options, most all of which are difficult. Simply throwing your quilt in the washer dryer is typically not recommended by anyone. Although I have to say I have several feedsack quilts that have been bleached and sent through my washer and dryer just fine. But I certainly couldn't recommend this for a 19th century quilt.

I feel faced with the decision to wash or not wash more often than I like. Is the value of a nice clean, but lightly faded or tattered quilt worth more than one that's dirty and smelly? I have several currently that are quite dirty but so old that I myself don't dare clean.  I think the ultimate decision to wash or not will have to be up to the owner and what value they put on the quilt.  Is it worth the risk of losing the quilt entirely to get it clean is a question only the owner can answer.  For most of my quilts, I feel more like a caretaker than an owner and will take the easy way out by leaving this question up to next owner.

I would love you hear your success or horror stories on cleaning antique quilts.

For detailed instructions on the actual cleaning visit one of the websites listed below or consult one of the books listed to the right.



Great Lakes Quilt Center http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/quiltcare.html
Hart Cottage Quilts http://hartcottagequilts.com/quiltcare.htm
Quilt History by Kris Driessen http://www.quilthistory.com/cleaning.htm

Modern Quilting

I guess I'm a little behind the times because I'm just now hearing of the "Modern Quilting" movement.  Apparently some quilters feel that traditional quilting is too limiting so they're starting Modern guilds.

"Modern Quilting" is taking traditional quilting to a new level. Allowing quilters more freedom with patterns and techniques to create new style quilts.  The premise is that quilters are freer to experiment with new designs and aren't restrained by traditional techniques.  Funny, I've never thought of traditional quilting as well, traditional. Quilters have been modifying and putting their own artistic stamp on quilts for decades. Oh sure there are some very traditional quilt patterns that everyone knows and loves. But quilters have been modifying and "messing" with patterns since quilting began. Either through necessity (they didn't have enough fabric to do the pattern desired) or plain creativity.

In my mind, Modern Quilting is traditional quilting. There's nothing all that new about it. I have to credit them however with adding some new excitement, and new members, to the quilting community. It's unfortunate that many young people today don't even know how to sew, much less make a quilt. If the Modern movement can help continue our rich history of quilting, I say more power to them.  I only hope though that they don't forget their roots of traditional quilting.

I'll be putting a few things on eBay on Wednesday.

Have a great week!

Unfinished Quilts

This week we had only a few items to add. There were some feedsacks, Singer sewing booklets and some awesome Wedding Ring pieces (shown right).  These would make a beautiful quilt if anyone could find the time to put them together.  They are hand pieced of typical depression era fabrics.  Someone has put a lot of time into getting them completed this far.

  

I've often wondered what people do with the pieces and tops they buy.  Shown left is a quilt top I sold about 10 years ago to Darlene Zimmerman who took the top, quilted it and made a pattern for it.  It turned out beautiful and the unique pattern is deserving of the time put into it.  I've also received photos of completed projects from a few Japanese customers.  But I suspect most of these unfinished quilt pieces and tops remain that way.

The blocks and tops in my personal collection will most likely remain unfinished.  They're too pretty to part with but I can't find the time to finish them.  I purchased some fabulous Churn Dash blocks decades ago.  The fabrics were so awesome I decided to put them together.  Not having enough for a full quilt, I alternated them with dark reproduction fabrics and the effect is great. Then came the hard part of quilting it.  After a few years of not being able to get it done myself, I begged my Mom to help.  But even with her friends help, it's still only about 3/4 quilted.  Poor little quilt will probably never get done!  I think if I fold it just right and put it on my shelf nobody will ever know.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has trouble completing projects.  Judging by the large number of unfinished tops and blocks I find, it's a universal phenomenon!  Sometimes I think there are more tops and blocks around than completed quilts.  Some just aren't deserving of the additional time.  I've seen some tops that wouldn't lie flat no matter how much you quilted them.  And some that used dark Victorian fabrics with pastel 30's that were too ugly to quilt.  Certainly though, even these ugly ducklings deserve some respect.  Anyone who has made (or attempted to make) a completed quilt knows that it takes a lot of time and effort just to get the pieces together.

My next update will be around mid September since next Monday is Labor Day.  Have a great weekend!

Comments

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Trip to Renninger's

Well on Saturday I made a trip up to the Renninger's Flea Market in Mount Dora.  I can usually find something there to purchase but I had no luck with me this weekend.  I saw a beautiful (but overpriced) late 1800's quilt top but no fabrics to speak of.  Every month they have an antique fair and it's hit or miss on antique quilts.  They also have 3 antique extravaganza's each year, in January, February and November and they are spectacular.  I've never left an extravaganza empty handed.  If you haven't been to one, they're worth the effort.  Here's their link if you want more info: http://www.renningers.com/dora/dorahome.htm

On my way to Mount Dora I saw this tall storm cloud and rainbow.  Luckily it went South when I went North!  Unfortunately it was about the most interesting thing I saw all day.

I do have some fabrics to add so I'll get them posted next week.

I Love Feedsacks!

When I think of feedsacks I automatically think of the Great Depression.  It was during that time that feedsacks were most popular.  Printed feedsacks made their debut in the mid 1920's as a way for feed companies to promote their products.  And what a great promotion it was!  I wonder if they knew how popular they would be, causing women to sort through 100lb bags of feed to get their desired pattern?  The "free" fabric became a necessity for families in the making of clothing, curtains and of course, quilts. 

The are only a few people today that have direct memories from the Depression.  The rest of us know it only through their stories which are rich with struggle and survival.  My own grandparents told stories of using horseweeds for toy stick horses (they had NO toys), using wood from apple crates to make a wall and when they were lucky, a new pair of shoes each year.  I have no surviving examples of feedsack clothing or quilts from my own family.  I suspect, as with many, these items were used until they were threadbare and then probably repurposed and used some more.

I love to collect feedsacks.  Not only are the patterns so fabulous (feed companies often hired textile designers for the patterns) but I love the creativity of women who often had very little and took these bags and turned them into pretty quilts, aprons and clothing. 

I've been collecting feedsacks for about 20 years now.  Mine are stacked in piles and displayed around my house.  I haven't been able to bring myself to cut them up for quilts.  Some have started to fade along the fold edges but they're too pretty to hide in the closet!

This "Gone with the Wind" or "Southern Belle" feedsack is my absolute favorite.  It was found in my Grandma's attic room by my Mom.  It can also found with blue and red backgrounds and can occasionally be found on eBay. 

This Lucky Day sack still has its original paper label.  The first sacks were white and had printed labels that were often difficult to completely remove.  These were replaced with paper labels which could be quickly removed with a soak in some water. Because the labels were so easily removed, finding them with the label intact is difficult.

And here are a few of my other favorites starting with a sleeping hombre, mailboxes and a soda fountain girl.  These novelty feedsacks are very collectible and somewhat difficult to find.  The easiest patterns to find are typically floral and/or geometric.  Solid feedsacks can also difficult to locate. 

There are a lot of great resources for learning more about feedsacks.  My favorites box to the left lists some really good resources for more info.

Collecting feedsacks can be quite fun.  They're relatively easy to find and reasonably priced.  If you're real lucky, maybe you can find some in your Grandma's attic.

Welcome!

Hi and thanks for reading my blog. My plans are to update my blog at least once a week, probably on Mondays. I plan to have posts on dating quilts, how to care for your antique textiles, where to find some nice antiques and show some items from my personal collection. Hopefully you can learn a little and have some fun! Please leave feedback, I'd love to hear from you.

If you need a vendor for a quilt show or some quilts for an exhibit in the central Florida area, please email me. I'd really enjoy participating.

Check back next week when I'll post my first in depth blog. I'll discuss feedsacks and post photos of some of my favorites including a Gone With the Wind feedsack!

Hello, is this thing on?

Trying to get my blog setup today. I think I'm making it more difficult than it should be! LOL