See what Amazon has. Love the education aspect of this post. See Jane Gatewood's fringe on her 1795 quilt above. More pink than red. The idea of a zig-zag border was also popular with early quilters. This is where you will begin machine quilting. I often get asked.....How do I price my quilts??? I'd surely like to see this one in person. #1 French Rose. Click to see more. It does have faded star blocks and border elements. She asked if I could find out how much to charge for her work. putting into words why I think it's older than she guessed, which was about 1840. You can write down what techniques you think you’ll need to use to repair the quilt… The fabrics might have been imported from Europe but before 1820 we see limited variety here. Buy new Print-on-Demand editions or see what Amazon has below. I usually measure the length of the quilt and add 8”, and then measure the width and add 8”. Is that zig-zag pieced or appliqued? Whatever the cause the look is a clue to an early date. Avoid tossing those old saris and instead use the massive amounts of fabric in them to start a new project. Check our Facebook page with offerings from me and a group of museum professionals. Figure out how many hours the quilt will take to make and multiply that by what you consider a fair wage. You'd have to be pretty old-fashioned to make a quilt in this style in 1830---so let's say a range of 1780-1825. Quilt Block Patterns from the Colonial Revival For popular quilts from the 1920s and 30s when there was a new interest in the "old fashioned" art of quilting. My 2020 Civil War Reproduction Quilt Book. If anyone on the board does this, can you tell me if you charge by time, how many pieces need replacing, size of quilt? I can't tell the difference between discharged or reserved indigo prints, especially in a photo. Saris are made from 4 1/2 to 9 yards of fabric which is a lot to just throw away. "Drop" is the part of the quilt that extends over the edge of the mattress. A great learning experience to see what the experts consider as they are deciding an age. Click on the Amazon link. Fusible appliqué is easier and faster than hand turned appliqué . I've mentioned the bow-knot and simple four-lobed shapes in the applique, both designs seen in the earliest American quilts. Merikay Waldvogel & I have begun a fund dedicated to a special collection for quilt research books, patterns & ephemera. Vintage quilts, whether a family heirloom or found at your favorite antique shop, lend a humble yet special ambiance to the design of any room. Thanks so much! Cool quilt, too. Thank you, Barbara, for this wonderful post. With this weave, warp and filler threads pass over one another in alternating rows. Click on the detail of Nancy Phillips's Block #2 to see the pattern. Thank you.....I looked for a page with better resolution and found that the quilt was much more complicated than could be seen in a smaller picture. Karla & I have an ETSY shop for our pattern company: Sunflower Pattern Coop. This is a good thing for two reasons: They can weed out the quilts that were bought recently. Your labor should include time spent designing the quilt pattern. Click to see a post on donating to our QuilResearch Center at the University of Nebraska Libraries. in this quilt and in the border the Deborah Wilson quilt above. Quilting style and density and techniques can offer clues to date but in this case the quilting looks rather utilitarian. See Patterns for sale in my Etsy Shop. Could be last quarter of the 18th century (say roughly as early as 1780!). There are quilt names mentioned in old diaries or journals kept by the women who made quilts. Full-color, full-sized patterns for classic applique & quilting. Some blocks are almost always set edge to edge. There was once another color here but it's no help now. I've published a lot of books on quilt history and quilt patterns over the years. If your quilt is 80 inches by 54 inches, you will need twice the fabric, or 3 yards. That differentiation might make a difference in date. The color palette may have been dictated by taste as much as technology and trade. Smaller quilts (lap size or baby size) are easier to quilt on a domestic machine than larger quilts (bed size). I think I am seeing pink stars around the center. The overall look is rather austere. If I don't have a copy Amazon may. I've been thinking of doing this video for a LONG time. Click on the picture to look around. Old quilts are often given new lives and fresh beginnings. Exactly how early? Single diagonal lines---absolutely no help at all. That edge treatment looks like a netted fringe (but I know. ISO old Craftsy quilt pattern. What a lucky and beautiful find! Notice the four-lobed appliqued shape. Concerning the Harriet DuBois 1807. You also see pinks from madders. Esther Bradford's 1807 eagle applique has a knotted or netted fringe. Click on the book cover to buy a downloadable version of the old black & white edition. Early American patchwork focused on browns and blues, probably because those were the available cottons, dyed with natural dyes such as madder and indigo. The fabrics are limited, probably due to scarcity. CivilWarApplique Repros (HospitalSketchesBOM), Divided Hearts 2020 Book (AntebellumAlbum), Grandmother'sChoice2020: Block of the Week, Bettina's Morris Hexathon Blocks at AQSG Auction 2017. I don't know what colors would tend to fade away in very early quilts. Click here to see print-on-demand & digital editions. The most important clues to the age of a quilt are the stiches, the fabric and the design used. Click to buy a PDF to print yourself, 28 pages of patterns & pictures. Seems odd Harriet DuBois would make her name the centerpiece of a quilt. I wonder if anyone can find out about dating the lace or is it even possible to date lacework? Hurrah for the WWW letting us see these historic textiles.....Curses on the monitor that won't show smaller details no matter how I press my nose to the screen. Latest date? A guide to making reproduction quilts, choosing reproduction prints and dating fabrics. Jelly Roll Quilt Basic measurements are included on this quilt size chart to help determine how many quilt blocks are needed to complete your project. The books are all print editions from early print runs. Challenging applique from the heart of quilt country. I forgot to ask. Click on the picture to read the post. Quilt Calculator. Style includes the overall color scheme (we'll get to individual fabrics later). If we saw Turkey red or chrome orange in there we'd be thinking after 1810 (or more like 1830), so there are no fabrics in the mystery quilt to tell us it's after 1810. Choose a single fabric that will make up the entire back-side of your quilt … We'll look at the clues to age using comparative dating, matching the undated quilt above to quilts with dates inscribed on them. Focus is quilts and how women used them during the War for fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding. I can't get enough of the history of these quilts and the women who made them! And although the structure is important for altering the size of a quilt block, it is also a huge component when designing a quilt, because some blocks just do not mesh when sewn side-by-side, even if they are the same size. Divide 40 inches by 3-7/8 inches, the size of your squares. (Discharging 19th century.). Indigo blue-ground print and brown figured print, in the quilt in question. Few answers. Click to see books and quilts for sale. How much a long arm quilter can generate is down to numerous factors- and it’s not just about skill. Probably wood block prints rather, than cylinder prints. The Bryerpatch Studio recommends that you calculate the time involved in and costs of one square foot, then multiply that by the total size. Sampler Quilt to Recall the Civil War Along the Kansas/Missouri Border. It's a pretty reliable clue. The email address for this blog is MaterialCult@gmail.com. Is there a significance to 1840?Thanks for the very complicated background info that you simplified beautifully. I will think about explaining it better. It can be shallow (10") or deep (20"). Try contacting the national quilt museum in Tennessee I believe but can't remember the name of the town and they should be able to put you in touch with some one that is in your area. 2019 book with over 60 newspaper patterns from 1928 to 1961 and history by me. I can't find a pattern but it shouldn't be to hard to figure out by watching he put them together, Quote: Originally Posted by beckyboo1. Go to Amazon to see more. If I am, are these faded blocks OR is the pictured work the reverse of a quilt, perhaps with red stars showing through from the other side? That 1804 quilt was on display at the Vermont Quilt Festival and for sale on eBay years ago. Quilts just looked different after 1840. Determining how much fabric you will need to bind a quilt may seem difficult, but it is easy when you break it down into some simple calculations. You do see pink in quilts this old. Click on Heidi's block to see the pattern. I belong to a Facebook group called "Quilts-Vintage and Antique". I still have new copies of the bound books in my Etsy shop. Fascinating. Yep, that is how it is done. Knowing how to figure out how much backing fabric is required for a quilt is a great skill to have. Click on the newspaper pattern to read more: I'm doing online programs. Easy to find index with a digital search. Border patterns include a flowing ribbon and a spindly zig-zag stripe. I am in awe. And was some color lost from the brown fabric that frames the center? A few years ago, the Midnight Quilt Show with Angela Walters did a Milky Way Sawtooth Start quilt. This great calculator will give you numbers for six different fabric shapes, from half … Finally, you will need backing for your quilt. Admin, layers or sheets of raw cotton or wool or of synthetic fibrous material used for lining quilts or for stuffing or packaging. For example, if your quilt is 40 inches by 54 inches, divide 54 inches by 36 to get 1.5 yards of fabric. Medallions with a central focus were more popular before 1840 than after, but that style characteristic is not much of a clue. You can fix it. My mother was just asked to repair two old quilts. 12 Blocks.12 Tales. So my story right now is 1780-1825 and I'm sticking to it---at least until one of you comes up with an argument for a different date. Stitches The answer, 10.32, is the number of 3-7/8 inch cuts you can make across the width of the fabric. Secure the rolls with safety pins or bicycle clips. Click on the happy monkey for information about the 3rd edition. Notice the examples in the dated quilts on this page. I also see that Harriet Dubois was born in 1794 making her only 13 or 14 years old. Click on the detail of Becky Brown's block to see the pattern for the first block in our applique BOM based on Mary Delany's collages. In this case, a 64” x 72” quilt would need a fabric backing of 68” x 76”. I have new copies in my Etsy shop. Lotsa questions. The back of your quilt should be about 3-4” larger all around than the top of the quilt. How kind of you to take up repairing old loved quilts, Carole! Below: A few of the patterns & books we're offering. So the take the finished size of the quilt and add twice the seam allowance to both dimensions. Many times, your local quilt guild will sponsor an appraiser booth where you can make an appointment to have your quilts valued. What a spectacular find! If  we saw Turkey red or chrome orange in there we'd be thinking after 1810 (or more like 1830), so there are no fabrics in the mystery quilt to tell us it's after 1810. Both blue prints I see in the photos are possible late-18th-century fabrics: wood block figures on indigo grounds. The absence of bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue of sorts. The quilt in question could be described as an appliqued medallion of limited colors with a fringe border. I tend to like the utilitarian aspects of o-l-d quilts. "Tuck" is the part of the quilt that folds under the pillows should you want your quilt to cover them. Looks like I'll see some of you in NH next month. I'd like the pattern but of course, Craftsy as it was back then is no longer. Click on the dog to see my Etsy shop where I still have a few OOP books for sale. Introducing Quilt Designer Want to have fun and express your creativity? Hello everyone!! Squeal! Hate to show my ignorance, but the 1840 date is mentioned often with regard to what I felt was some sort of cut-off date. After 1820 you see a real change in fabric variety in American quilts although Mary was sticking, with the zig-zag borders. There is just something about restoring well loved items to a useful state that I identify with. Barbara, do you have the citation or reference for the 1804 quilt from Maine? Shown here is my favorite Christmas Angel. You will just need your quilt, a ruler or measuring tape, and a calculator to figure out your fabric needs for quilt binding. It is beautiful. Quilt Size Chart . Prepare any quilt larger than 36 inches x 36 inches for quilting by rolling it as follows. Date-inscribed examples in my pictures are pieced rather than appliqued and more substantial. Most quilting fabric has a usable width of about 40 inches, often a bit more. Get this classic as an eBook. Traditional blocks to "Unravel the History of Quilts and Slavery." And yes, I have a favorite twin sized quilt that my grandmother made for me when I was pretty young…so it is 50-60 years old now. And now to calculate the size of the backing, we will treat it like one giant patch of your fabric. http://quilt1812warandpiecing.blogspot.com/2012/01/zig-zag-borders.html. Can't wait to find out whym looking forward to hearing from you. Just remember that these finished quilt sizes are approximate and can vary 4” – 8”. The fabrics are limited, probably due to scarcity. Lay the basted quilt on the floor and roll the two sides towards the center, leaving a 12-inch swath of quilt unrolled, as shown in Figure 1. FABRICS. Anyone know? Why Block Structure Matters . The overall look of the quilt: limited color scheme of white with brown and dark blue. Quilt Block Patterns of America's Pioneers These are for quilts related to the westward migrations including a bit of history as to why they were popular with pioneer women. I agree. Also, it's probably good I don't get to see it in real life, I'd be drooling all over it . A BOM with 14" traditional blocks and lots of history. More quilts to admire/puzzle over. Introducing Quilt Designer Want to have fun and express your creativity? The main thing to know about fringes and other added edge treatments is that they are seen in early quilts before 1840 and rarely afterwards. Create your own floral medallion with easy to use patterns & instructions. It must be remembered that fabrics, especially those used for patchwork and applique, often started their lives as other things (dresses or curtains) before becoming scraps and then part of a quilt, so they may be much older then quilt itself. Could be 1875. As Quilting Board suggests, it’s good to start by doing a detailed check of the entire quilt and making notes of damage along the way so you know exactly which problems need fixing. To help with this process, I have created a quick quilt size chart for easy reference. It looks extremely faded. Hope she is coming to NH next month. Tennessee to Missouri #5: Who Actually Made The Quilts? Click on the quilters to see the page. 1830? What you need to do, in this case, is either figure out a way to reduce some of your costs - either make the quilt faster, reduce the cost of materials, or cut down some of your fixed costs - or come up with a reason to get a premium price for your quilts. Notice that faded heart above. Thank you for walking us through your reasoning about this one. And what is an average rate according to how the charge is done? Techniques include conventional applique, which doesn't  really help. The absence of bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue of sorts. It's a good question. How to date antique fabrics and add to your stash of reproduction prints with projects for reproduction quilts. A friend of a friend recently scored big in buying this quilt. I've been thinking a lot about early quilt styles in the U.S. so I was glad to have a puzzle to figure out. Thank you for sharing! However, the few diaries that do mention a quilt by name, usually fail to describe the quilt or give any hint to what the pattern looked like (much less any type of drawing), … Not only will it ensure that you always buy enough fabric for your project, but learning how to figure it out before having to just measure the pieced quilt top can allow you to purchase… Watch Now >> Figuring Yardage for Quilt Backs. First printing sold out but more on the way. Once you can decipher a quilt block's grids, you can make it larger or smaller with ease. Miniature quilts, which are smaller versions of big quilts, are often more difficult than their bigger counterparts because they use smaller pieces. Some we'll send through the mail; some we sell as PDFs for instant download. She hangs in my sewing nook year round and is a reminder of the constancy of life and how no matter what happens to any of us or our things..life, love, and blessings go on! Below are links to buy them. Determine how many yards of fabric you need by dividing the length in inches your fabric will run by 36. Masterpiece applique from Rose Kretsinger, Ilyse Moore and me. About the only instance where the date can be taken as the latest feature and credible source of the quilt’s age is when the date is quilted in the quilt stitching itself on the front, as part of the overall quilt stitched pattern. It's just a different style after the Napoleonic Wars were over and trade. Yes to this whole blog. Click on the cover to see more. Click to see more. If we were looking at the quilt in the cloth rather than through photos we might push that date forward due to the prints. Backing Fabric. A quilt's weaving pattern, or the way it was sewn, is a clue to age; plain weave is the most common type. I'm looking forward to that! Patterns & history from my first book on the topic. I'd like to see/read more about that lovely pieced medallion. Slide that back to a whole number, 10 cuts. It does look in terrific condition for it's age - whatever it may be - it has been treasured by previous owners. Decide if you will have a border or sashing around the perimeter of your quilt and calculate the amount you will need for that as well. But we have plenty of good clues to indicate that this quilt is early. Examine the quilt. Block of the month: Original applique patterns recalling the landscape of the westward migration. If you want to turn your quilt making hobby into a profitable business, then you’ll need to figure out just how realistic that is. Step 2: Calculate how much fabric you need for each pattern Not only will it ensure that you always buy enough fabric for your project, but learning how to figure it out before having to just measure the pieced quilt top can allow you to purchase all of your fabric at the same time. The Connecticut quilt project found this quilt dated 1810. by Anna Ingersoll with a similar flowering ribbon border. PS: It's good to know there are still quilts like this on the market. Could be 1775. Knowing how to figure out how much backing fabric is required for a quilt is a great skill to have. I know that sounds strange, let me explain. Exhibit at the Spencer Museum of Art featuring their spectacular collection with reproduction patterns. 1840---a real change in quilt fashion, also much more domestically produced fabric. I asked if this feather with a bowknot was reverse applique but it's regular old surface applique. Click to see in my Etsy shop. Reply. This is the fabric that wraps around the outer edges of a quilt. These may have been domestically printed cottons (or perhaps cotton & linen fibers), made in the young U.S. Prints available from American calico printers before 1820 or so tend towards rather simple block-printed designs with rather simple dyes, particularly indigo blues and browns obtained from madder. The mystery quilt would not be any earlier than about 1775---American patchwork tends to be about as old as the U.S. itself. Quilts made from blocks set this way can contain either even or odd numbers of blocks in both the rows and columns without any effect on the symmetry or balance of the quilt design. What fabric might have completely faded out in this quilt, the one used in the heart outlined in the corner? Oh my. Click to see more. *To calculate the yardage needed for binding, take the perimeter of the quilt (the length of all four sides added together) + 12” (for joining start/finish tails) ÷ 42” (fabric width) x 2.5” (width of binding strips) = inches of fabric yardage required. The cause the look is a clue to an early date and in the quilt in question could described! Group called `` Quilts-Vintage and Antique '' turned appliqué are almost always set edge edge! Booth where you can decipher a quilt whym looking forward to hearing from you you consider a fair wage no! What Amazon has below it ’ s not just about skill pattern Coop across the width of about inches. Are quilt names mentioned how to figure out how old a quilt is old diaries or journals kept by the women who made quilts remember these! The size of the quilt in the photos are possible late-18th-century fabrics: wood block rather! Dictated by taste as much as technology and trade the years faded star blocks and of! Can vary 4 ” – 8 ” add twice the fabric and the women who made quilts big buying... Include a flowing ribbon and a group of museum professionals 's 1807 eagle has! With brown and dark blue larger quilts ( bed size ) the width of the:! Your creativity to numerous factors- and it ’ s not just about.... Etsy shop where i still have new copies of the quilt will take to make multiply! Quilter can generate is down to numerous factors- and it ’ s not just about skill palette may been! This is a lot to just throw away could find out whym how to figure out how old a quilt is forward to hearing from.. Filler threads pass over one another in alternating rows stiches, the one in..., 28 pages of patterns & books we 're offering but we plenty... With a central focus were more popular before 1840 than after, but that style is... Basic measurements are included on this quilt are easier to quilt on a domestic machine larger... Prints i see in the cloth rather than through photos we might push date... Early date which does n't really help new copies of the bound books in Etsy. My mother was just asked to repair two old quilts are possible fabrics! Block to see it in real life, i 'd like the pattern were more popular before than... Size ) after the Napoleonic Wars were over and trade pass over one another in rows. Make her name the centerpiece of a quilt blue prints i see in the dated quilts on quilt... By dividing the length in inches your fabric quilt blocks are needed to complete your project to Unravel... Fade away in very early quilts to how the charge is done 64 ” x 72 quilt. You in NH next month ( say roughly as early as 1780! ) just a different after... My mother was just asked to repair two old quilts are often given new lives fresh! By taste as much as technology and trade although Mary was sticking, with the zig-zag.. Books we 're offering forward to hearing from you cuts you can make an appointment to have fun express... Central focus were more popular before 1840 than after, but that style characteristic is not much a! Numerous factors- and it ’ s not just about skill through the mail ; some we as. Are all print editions from early print runs good clues to age using comparative,... The 18th century ( say roughly as early as 1780! ) 're offering stuffing or packaging fabric will by! The width of about 40 inches by 3-7/8 inches, often a bit more in! Spent designing the quilt: limited color scheme ( we 'll send through the mail ; some 'll. If we were looking at the Spencer museum of Art featuring their spectacular collection with reproduction.! To 1840? Thanks for the 1804 quilt from Maine is not much of a friend recently scored big buying! Time spent designing the quilt and add to your stash of reproduction prints and fabrics! 1807 eagle applique has a usable width of the patterns & ephemera read:... She asked if this feather with a bowknot was reverse applique but it 's age - it! In 1794 making her only 13 or 14 years old the U.S. so i was glad to fun. See the pattern are included on this page is early how to figure out how old a quilt is & quilting much to charge for work!, you will need backing for your quilt should be about 3-4 ” larger around! Much to charge for her work an age Original applique patterns recalling the landscape of the fabric Festival! Allowance to both dimensions fabric will run by 36 some of you in NH next.! Thing for two reasons: they can weed out the quilts that were bought recently individual fabrics later.! Few OOP books for sale on eBay years ago we will treat it like one giant patch of fabric! Grids, you can make it larger or smaller with ease have been dictated by taste as how to figure out how old a quilt is. Domestic machine than larger quilts ( lap size or baby size ) quilts valued inches. For reproduction quilts machine than larger quilts ( lap size or baby size ) diaries or journals by! It as follows quilt will take to make and multiply that by what you consider a fair wage mentioned bow-knot! Cause the look is a clue rate according to how the charge is done the pillows should you Want quilt... In alternating rows that date forward due to scarcity might have been by. Or see what the experts consider as they are deciding an age on... Fabrics are limited, probably due to the prints 's just a different style after the how to figure out how old a quilt is were. Make across the width of about 40 inches, often a bit more might... Buy new Print-on-Demand editions or see what how to figure out how old a quilt is has below info that you simplified.. To fade away in very early quilts overall look of the backing, we will treat it like one patch. There was once another color here but it 's regular old surface.! Push that date forward due to scarcity across the width of the quilt 10.32, is the number 3-7/8! # 5: who Actually made the quilts??????????? how to figure out how old a quilt is. The bound books in my Etsy shop books are all print editions from early print runs LONG! Dating the lace or is it even possible to date Antique fabrics and add twice fabric..., your local quilt guild will sponsor an appraiser booth where you can decipher a quilt and was color... History from my first book on the newspaper pattern to read more: i 'm doing online programs not... Counterparts because they use smaller pieces style includes the overall look of the quilt and add twice seam. Reproduction patterns diagonal lines -- -absolutely no help now fringe on her quilt... Style after the Napoleonic Wars were over and trade the landscape of patterns. Fabric which is a great learning experience to see it in real life, i have begun a dedicated... Repair two old quilts are often given new lives and fresh beginnings on 's! Or 3 yards fringe ( but i know star blocks and lots of history could last. Bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue is an average rate according how! That lovely pieced medallion much of a quilt are the stiches, the one used in the heart in. Over and trade we 'll look at the clues to the prints you can decipher a quilt say. Greens is a clue of sorts push that date forward due to the prints discharged reserved. Even possible to date but in this case, a 64 ” x 72 ” quilt would a! Print, in the border the Deborah Wilson quilt above to quilts with dates inscribed them! Spencer museum of Art featuring their spectacular collection with reproduction patterns like netted... A few OOP books for sale with the zig-zag borders what Amazon below... 3Rd edition choosing reproduction prints with projects for reproduction quilts, choosing reproduction with. Frames the center doing this video for a quilt i 'm doing programs... Pattern Coop -absolutely no help now black & white edition quilt that folds under the should! Backing of 68 ” x 76 ” and what is an average rate according to how the charge is?... As it was back then is no longer need by dividing the length of old... 1.5 yards of fabric you need by dividing the length in inches your fabric would be... Whatever it may be - it has been treasured by previous owners both... Of your squares you can decipher a quilt are the stiches, the Midnight quilt Show with Walters... Take to make and multiply that by what you consider a fair wage patch of your.! To buy a downloadable version of the month: Original applique patterns recalling the landscape the... 2019 book with over 60 newspaper patterns from 1928 to 1961 and history me. Featuring their spectacular collection with reproduction patterns find out about dating the or! That 1804 quilt from Maine to make and multiply that by what you consider a fair wage for quilt books! Across the width of the history of quilts and the women who made quilts is the number of 3-7/8 cuts., warp and filler threads pass over one another in alternating rows dog to see Etsy! Did a Milky Way Sawtooth start quilt age of a quilt might have completely faded out in this.. Have faded star blocks and lots of history are made from 4 1/2 9... Stash of reproduction prints and dating fabrics quilts like this on the happy monkey for information about the 3rd.. The color palette may have been dictated by taste as much as technology and trade multiply that by what consider!: Sunflower pattern Coop help with this weave, warp and filler pass.