3 Antique Quilts

I show you three antique quilts and book review!

[catheyr]

The beds were smaller long ago. The binding and edges wore out faster than the middle. My granny died in 1988 and was a prolific quilter. She would take worn quilts her mother and grandmother made and ‘rework’ them to fit modern beds. She would increase the size by adding borders. She’d copy worn out borders and make them by machine wider than the original. She’d carefully attach them and quilt the new part by machine. They didn’t throw anything away.

[tinakercher]

That bird quilt is amazing. My theory is that the bird quilt was made by hand by an amazing quilter. At a later date, someone found/acquired it and decided it needed to have a spot on a guest room bed, so she took it to someone to add those edges so it would look good on the bed. I absolutely love it!!

[sandrahageman]

I have acquired a similar quilt to your nana’s flower garden. It was made by my MIL in the 50’s. I am going to restore the best I can so future generations can admire.

[beverlyburns]

I loved looking at these old quilts. I was fortunate to get my grandparents home and everything in it back in 1991 and under a bed in boxes were several handmade quilts!! Oh what a treasure and an exciting find. I still have them and will pass them on to my 3 daughters. How exciting that you found the same pattern in that interesting book.

[padmarubiales]

It’s fun to watch you look at old quilts. I enjoy that part of your program. How exciting that you found it in that book! I am no expert, but I would totally guess that the borders were added at a later date. Look how bright that pink is compared to the faded fabric of the middle. Plus why would she use a different background color in the borders? Of course she could’ve run out of that color, but the center is hand-pieced and quilted, much more faded much softer, whereas the borders look like they were added later with brighter, newer and stiffer machine quilted fabric. It could be they wanted a larger quilt, or could be the edges were so deteriorated that they saved it by adding a new border. That’s my guess!
You know, seeing the close-up of the birds, I think a lot of those birds were replaced with newer fabric too! How do you explain how worn and faded the flower vase fabric is as compared to the new and brighter birds? I bet this thing was completely repaired at a later date.
And it’s so great that you have a date on the grandmother’s flower garden. I have my great grandmother’s quilt, and it has the same yellow although more faded, and the same green. So your quilt should be from around 1935, and I would say mine was also from the 1930s then. Good to know!

[kristinquilts]

I think the border on the basket quilt was added on later (probably the 50s or 60s) and the hand quilted part was done in the 30s or 40s.

[kindergartenstitcher]

Thanks for sharing your lovely antique quilts. I agree, antique quilts are treasures that should never be cut up.

[romonaelrod]

The purple flower is a pansy. I think that the 1st quilt you showed was done in 2 different time periods.The muslin on the border looks like a newer fabric, it has less yellowing. I think maybe one person started it and someone else finished it. Like maybe a mother started it and her daughter finished it. I am fine with making quilt coats but I prefer that it is made for the coat. I am fine with using a quilt that is mass produced and also a quilt that doesn't have historic value.

[tinakercher]

LOL quilt coat! I remember that video. I think because of the shredding it might make the coat pretty fragile.

[SewFun]

Is the back of the first quilt just one piece? The purple flower is a maybe petunia? I would just accept the stains on the second one as part of the quilt and recreate one as close as you can to this one. The stains still would exist on the coat. I'm curious as to why the stains are acceptable on a coat.

[carybradley]

Very Nancy Page flowers. I have loved her Magic Vine quilt since seeing it on Alex Anderson’s Simply Quilts TV show in the 1990s, and bought the pattern then. Wish I could post photo of my vine here. Thanks for sharing more info on Nancy Page and your great quilt treasures!

[suzanne]

I have this same quilt (sans birds and border)Garden Bouquet that my paternal Grandma made. We believe it was started for her daughter who died in 1929 at age 8 from an accident. It was just a top, my maternal Grandma eventually added a back to it (70's?) so we used it as a flimsy. A few years ago I had my quilter sister take it and she removed the backing, added batting and a new backing and bound it and had it machine quilted. I love that my family's hands have been all over this quilt. I will look into Nancy Page designs to perhaps get a better date of when it was made.

[brendafrye]

The applicaded quilt is gorgeous
I have so enjoyed your last 2 videos and your explanation of each. Thank you for sharing.

[joantomlin]

Maybe the border was added by someone else years later to make it big enough to suit themselves? The fabrics in the border look much newer

[tamelasimmons]

I hope you never decide to cut it up! That would be heartbreaking. I love all of the quilts. Thank you for sharing!

[dianeg]

Regarding the pink antique quilt, you could consider cutting out the best pieces and framing them. That makes great wall art and preserves the design and fabric. Best to frame without glass; never allow glass to touch the fabric when framed. Love your videos !!

[stellaunger]

Great video Nora. Personally I’d keep the quilts as they are, stains are part of their history. I very much enjoy your channel. Thank you for your time. ❤️😁🌹

[jayneterry]

Oh wow Nora! How exciting ! You have been blessed with the care of these 3 quilts for your lifetime. Going thru family too. Adding some thoughts...the purple flower is a pansy, I thought the one on the left a trilliam. Check your back copies of Quilters Newsletter as I have a visual mind and am picturing it printed in there! Cotton fabric comes from cotton plant ( so natural) could the stain be cotton seed oil? Did anyone suggest laying the quilt out in the snow to clean it? I have always wanted to try this lol . I will see if the library can find me that book, sounds fascinating and right up my lane. You have your video but do you also journal your findings or label info right on quilt ? Tfs

[darlenem]

very beautiful quilt. I wouldn't even care if it was stained, I'd snuggle with it everyday and just enjoy it. lucky you have it

[jayanthirao]

Congratulations on your antique quilt collection, they are really beautiful. As per stains, you could try spraying cleaning vinegar, baking soda and dish liquid, soak it for 15 to 20 mins ) do not allow it to dry) gently scrub the area with baby toothbrush. Air dry, repeat the same after a day or 2, gradually the stain can be removed. Enjoy your beautiful quilts 💕