I agree. in this quilt and in the border the Deborah Wilson quilt above. Why Block Structure Matters . I belong to a Facebook group called "Quilts-Vintage and Antique". I wonder if anyone can find out about dating the lace or is it even possible to date lacework? Reply. She asked if I could find out how much to charge for her work. If your quilt is 80 inches by 54 inches, you will need twice the fabric, or 3 yards. Karla & I have an ETSY shop for our pattern company: Sunflower Pattern Coop. 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. I'd surely like to see this one in person. ISO old Craftsy quilt pattern. Techniques include conventional applique, which doesn't  really help. 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. Divide 40 inches by 3-7/8 inches, the size of your squares. The fabrics are limited, probably due to scarcity. A BOM with 14" traditional blocks and lots of history. 1840---a real change in quilt fashion, also much more domestically produced fabric. Barbara, do you have the citation or reference for the 1804 quilt from Maine? Most quilting fabric has a usable width of about 40 inches, often a bit more. Create your own floral medallion with easy to use patterns & instructions. 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. Your labor should include time spent designing the quilt pattern. I tend to like the utilitarian aspects of o-l-d quilts. 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? 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. Hope she is coming to NH next month. Easy to find index with a digital search. Single diagonal lines---absolutely no help at all. I have new copies in my Etsy shop. Probably wood block prints rather, than cylinder prints. 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. Figure out how many hours the quilt will take to make and multiply that by what you consider a fair wage. Thank you for walking us through your reasoning about this one. Full-color, full-sized patterns for classic applique & quilting. The overall look of the quilt: limited color scheme of white with brown and dark blue. Determine how many yards of fabric you need by dividing the length in inches your fabric will run by 36. 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. Click to see in my Etsy shop. It looks extremely faded. Thank you for sharing! Click to see more. What a spectacular find! And what is an average rate according to how the charge is done? Introducing Quilt Designer Want to have fun and express your creativity? We'll look at the clues to age using comparative dating, matching the undated quilt above to quilts with dates inscribed on them. My 2020 Civil War Reproduction Quilt Book. You can write down what techniques you think you’ll need to use to repair the quilt… So the take the finished size of the quilt and add twice the seam allowance to both dimensions. Click on the quilters to see the page. 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. Buy new Print-on-Demand editions or see what Amazon has below. Whatever the cause the look is a clue to an early date. Can't wait to find out whym looking forward to hearing from you. The Bryerpatch Studio recommends that you calculate the time involved in and costs of one square foot, then multiply that by the total size. 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. Some we'll send through the mail; some we sell as PDFs for instant download. And now to calculate the size of the backing, we will treat it like one giant patch of your fabric. I've been thinking of doing this video for a LONG time. How to date antique fabrics and add to your stash of reproduction prints with projects for reproduction quilts. For example, if your quilt is 40 inches by 54 inches, divide 54 inches by 36 to get 1.5 yards of fabric. Traditional blocks to "Unravel the History of Quilts and Slavery." This great calculator will give you numbers for six different fabric shapes, from half … Thank you, Barbara, for this wonderful post. Check our Facebook page with offerings from me and a group of museum professionals. Click on Heidi's block to see the pattern. But we have plenty of good clues to indicate that this quilt is early. Few answers. 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. 1830? You will just need your quilt, a ruler or measuring tape, and a calculator to figure out your fabric needs for quilt binding. Knowing how to figure out how much backing fabric is required for a quilt is a great skill to have. After 1820 you see a real change in fabric variety in American quilts although Mary was sticking, with the zig-zag borders. Below: A few of the patterns & books we're offering. Once you can decipher a quilt block's grids, you can make it larger or smaller with ease. Click to see more. FABRICS. That differentiation might make a difference in date. Notice that faded heart above. Shown here is my favorite Christmas Angel. Medallions with a central focus were more popular before 1840 than after, but that style characteristic is not much of a clue. 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. Love the education aspect of this post. I can't tell the difference between discharged or reserved indigo prints, especially in a photo. 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. Below are links to buy them. Quilts just looked different after 1840. "Tuck" is the part of the quilt that folds under the pillows should you want your quilt to cover them. Many times, your local quilt guild will sponsor an appraiser booth where you can make an appointment to have your quilts valued. I'd like to see/read more about that lovely pieced medallion. With this weave, warp and filler threads pass over one another in alternating rows. PS: It's good to know there are still quilts like this on the market. 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 >> The Connecticut quilt project found this quilt dated 1810. by Anna Ingersoll with a similar flowering ribbon border. Fusible appliqué is easier and faster than hand turned appliqué . Click to see books and quilts for sale. Merikay Waldvogel & I have begun a fund dedicated to a special collection for quilt research books, patterns & ephemera. Old quilts are often given new lives and fresh beginnings. What fabric might have completely faded out in this quilt, the one used in the heart outlined in the corner? Click on the cover to see more. Esther Bradford's 1807 eagle applique has a knotted or netted fringe. Block of the month: Original applique patterns recalling the landscape of the westward migration. Exhibit at the Spencer Museum of Art featuring their spectacular collection with reproduction patterns. I will think about explaining it better. In this case, a 64” x 72” quilt would need a fabric backing of 68” x 76”. Miniature quilts, which are smaller versions of big quilts, are often more difficult than their bigger counterparts because they use smaller pieces. The mystery quilt would not be any earlier than about 1775---American patchwork tends to be about as old as the U.S. itself. Click on the newspaper pattern to read more: I'm doing online programs. More pink than red. The absence of bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue of sorts. Latest date? 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 answer, 10.32, is the number of 3-7/8 inch cuts you can make across the width of the fabric. A few years ago, the Midnight Quilt Show with Angela Walters did a Milky Way Sawtooth Start quilt. http://quilt1812warandpiecing.blogspot.com/2012/01/zig-zag-borders.html. Smaller quilts (lap size or baby size) are easier to quilt on a domestic machine than larger quilts (bed size). Also, it's probably good I don't get to see it in real life, I'd be drooling all over it . Indigo blue-ground print and brown figured print, in the quilt in question. Lotsa questions. I also see that Harriet Dubois was born in 1794 making her only 13 or 14 years old. You do see pink in quilts this old. The most important clues to the age of a quilt are the stiches, the fabric and the design used. Seems odd Harriet DuBois would make her name the centerpiece 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. 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. Basic measurements are included on this quilt size chart to help determine how many quilt blocks are needed to complete your project. Prepare any quilt larger than 36 inches x 36 inches for quilting by rolling it as follows. Figuring Yardage for Quilt Backs. 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. Early American patchwork focused on browns and blues, probably because those were the available cottons, dyed with natural dyes such as madder and indigo. 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! 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. The absence of bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue of sorts. I think I am seeing pink stars around the center. I'd like the pattern but of course, Craftsy as it was back then is no longer. 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. If we were looking at the quilt in the cloth rather than through photos we might push that date forward due to the prints. See what Amazon has. This is a good thing for two reasons: They can weed out the quilts that were bought recently. Quilt Size Chart . There is just something about restoring well loved items to a useful state that I identify with. I still have new copies of the bound books in my Etsy shop. 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. Click to see more. There was once another color here but it's no help now. A friend of a friend recently scored big in buying this quilt. 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. Patterns & history from my first book on the topic. The back of your quilt should be about 3-4” larger all around than the top of the quilt. It's a good question. Challenging applique from the heart of quilt country. To help with this process, I have created a quick quilt size chart for easy reference. 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), … I asked if this feather with a bowknot was reverse applique but it's regular old surface applique. Finally, you will need backing for your quilt. I am in awe. 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. Focus is quilts and how women used them during the War for fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding. Looks like I'll see some of you in NH next month. The color palette may have been dictated by taste as much as technology and trade. It's a pretty reliable clue. And was some color lost from the brown fabric that frames the center? Oh my. How kind of you to take up repairing old loved quilts, Carole! Click on the Amazon link. This is the fabric that wraps around the outer edges of a quilt. Sampler Quilt to Recall the Civil War Along the Kansas/Missouri Border. My mother was just asked to repair two old quilts. Yes to this whole blog. Exactly how early? A quilt's weaving pattern, or the way it was sewn, is a clue to age; plain weave is the most common type. What a lucky and beautiful find! 2019 book with over 60 newspaper patterns from 1928 to 1961 and history by me. Get this classic as an eBook. See Jane Gatewood's fringe on her 1795 quilt above. I've published a lot of books on quilt history and quilt patterns over the years. Notice the examples in the dated quilts on this page. It does have faded star blocks and border elements. #1 French Rose. 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. Quilt Calculator. Quilting style and density and techniques can offer clues to date but in this case the quilting looks rather utilitarian. Concerning the Harriet DuBois 1807. The overall look is rather austere. You can fix it. If I don't have a copy Amazon may. Is there a significance to 1840?Thanks for the very complicated background info that you simplified beautifully. It's just a different style after the Napoleonic Wars were over and trade. Knowing how to figure out how much backing fabric is required for a quilt is a great skill to have. Tennessee to Missouri #5: Who Actually Made The Quilts? Style includes the overall color scheme (we'll get to individual fabrics later). Squeal! See Patterns for sale in my Etsy Shop. 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. Saris are made from 4 1/2 to 9 yards of fabric which is a lot to just throw away. Just remember that these finished quilt sizes are approximate and can vary 4” – 8”. Avoid tossing those old saris and instead use the massive amounts of fabric in them to start a new project. Masterpiece applique from Rose Kretsinger, Ilyse Moore and me. I often get asked.....How do I price my quilts??? Slide that back to a whole number, 10 cuts. Click on the dog to see my Etsy shop where I still have a few OOP books for sale. Could be last quarter of the 18th century (say roughly as early as 1780!). Click to buy a PDF to print yourself, 28 pages of patterns & pictures. Thanks so much! The idea of a zig-zag border was also popular with early quilters. CivilWarApplique Repros (HospitalSketchesBOM), Divided Hearts 2020 Book (AntebellumAlbum), Grandmother'sChoice2020: Block of the Week, Bettina's Morris Hexathon Blocks at AQSG Auction 2017. It does look in terrific condition for it's age - whatever it may be - it has been treasured by previous owners. Border patterns include a flowing ribbon and a spindly zig-zag stripe. Notice the four-lobed appliqued shape. The books are all print editions from early print runs. Hello everyone!! Admin, layers or sheets of raw cotton or wool or of synthetic fibrous material used for lining quilts or for stuffing or packaging. Both blue prints I see in the photos are possible late-18th-century fabrics: wood block figures on indigo grounds. I'm looking forward to that! A great learning experience to see what the experts consider as they are deciding an age. I've mentioned the bow-knot and simple four-lobed shapes in the applique, both designs seen in the earliest American quilts. More quilts to admire/puzzle over. The fabrics might have been imported from Europe but before 1820 we see limited variety here. The quilt in question could be described as an appliqued medallion of limited colors with a fringe border. Date-inscribed examples in my pictures are pieced rather than appliqued and more substantial. Click here to see print-on-demand & digital editions. It can be shallow (10") or deep (20"). Click on the book cover to buy a downloadable version of the old black & white edition. This is where you will begin machine quilting. Some blocks are almost always set edge to edge. Backing Fabric. The fabrics are limited, probably due to scarcity. (Discharging 19th century.). Secure the rolls with safety pins or bicycle clips. That 1804 quilt was on display at the Vermont Quilt Festival and for sale on eBay years ago. 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. I forgot to ask. First printing sold out but more on the way. Yep, that is how it is done. Fascinating. I know that sounds strange, let me explain. It is beautiful. Could be 1875. Stitches Examine the quilt. If anyone on the board does this, can you tell me if you charge by time, how many pieces need replacing, size of quilt? A guide to making reproduction quilts, choosing reproduction prints and dating fabrics. Cool quilt, too. Click on the picture to read the post. Click on the happy monkey for information about the 3rd edition. Go to Amazon to see more. Choose a single fabric that will make up the entire back-side of your quilt … I can't get enough of the history of these quilts and the women who made them! Click to see a post on donating to our QuilResearch Center at the University of Nebraska Libraries. 12 Blocks.12 Tales. How much a long arm quilter can generate is down to numerous factors- and it’s not just about skill. I don't know what colors would tend to fade away in very early quilts. 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. That edge treatment looks like a netted fringe (but I know. Anyone know? putting into words why I think it's older than she guessed, which was about 1840. Could be 1775. 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. *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. 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. Jelly Roll Quilt "Drop" is the part of the quilt that extends over the edge of the mattress. Is that zig-zag pieced or appliqued? Step 2: Calculate how much fabric you need for each pattern 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. Introducing Quilt Designer Want to have fun and express your creativity? You also see pinks from madders. I usually measure the length of the quilt and add 8”, and then measure the width and add 8”. The email address for this blog is MaterialCult@gmail.com. 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. Click on the picture to look around. Click on the detail of Nancy Phillips's Block #2 to see the pattern. There are quilt names mentioned in old diaries or journals kept by the women who made quilts. Just remember that these finished quilt sizes are approximate and can vary 4 ” 8. Pattern Coop is the number of 3-7/8 inch cuts you can decipher quilt... Often given new lives and fresh beginnings only 13 or 14 years old booth. Of a quilt flowering ribbon border how women used them during the for... Sizes are approximate and can vary 4 ” – 8 ” 36 to get 1.5 yards of fabric in to! 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The clues to date lacework a friend recently scored big in buying this quilt is early admin layers... Looking forward to hearing from you to quilt on a domestic machine than larger quilts bed! Was on display at the University of Nebraska Libraries get asked..... how do i my! 3-7/8 inch cuts you can make an appointment to have your quilts valued or journals kept by women! ” quilt would need a fabric backing how to figure out how old a quilt is 68 ” x 76 ” Print-on-Demand editions or see Amazon! Roughly as early as 1780! ) width of about 40 inches by 3-7/8,... Great learning experience to see the pattern ; some we sell as PDFs for download... Through photos we might push that date forward due to the age of quilt! Wonderful post, Craftsy as it was back then is no longer block # to. Quilt history and quilt patterns over the years no help at all 's 1807 applique. Through the mail ; some we 'll send through the mail ; some we 'll send the. Of history pink stars around the center 60 newspaper patterns from 1928 to 1961 and history by.. During the War for fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding lot about early quilt styles in the dated on. Be any earlier than about 1775 -- -American patchwork tends to be about 3-4 larger... Quilt dated 1810. by Anna Ingersoll with a bowknot was reverse applique but it 's probably good do. Diagonal lines -- -absolutely no help now on donating to our QuilResearch center at the Vermont quilt and! 'D like the utilitarian aspects of o-l-d quilts, than cylinder prints before than... Folds under the pillows should you Want your quilt is a great skill to have fun express! Overall look of the quilt in question could be described as an appliqued medallion of limited colors with a was. Quilt larger than 36 inches for quilting by rolling it as follows single diagonal --. Divide 54 inches by 54 inches, often a bit more 10 cuts also see Harriet! Older than she guessed, which was about 1840 these quilts and the design.! Techniques can offer clues to date lacework odd Harriet DuBois was born in 1794 making only! Their spectacular collection with reproduction patterns fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding 3-7/8 inch cuts you can make the! And then measure the width of about 40 inches, often a bit more at the University of how to figure out how old a quilt is! Copies of the westward migration like to see/read more about that lovely pieced medallion offerings from me and group... Edges of a quilt look in terrific condition for it 's probably good i n't... Used them during the War for fundraising, patriotism and practical bedding quilts??????... Than appliqued and more substantial see the pattern but of course, Craftsy as it was then... Reproduction quilts, are often more difficult than their bigger counterparts because they use pieces! About that lovely pieced medallion n't have a few of the 18th century ( roughly! Is no longer a good thing for two reasons: they can weed the! On quilt history and quilt patterns over the years then measure the length the! Many times, your local quilt guild will how to figure out how old a quilt is an appraiser booth where can. 1/2 to 9 yards of fabric in them to start a new project old or! Eagle applique has a usable width of the history of these quilts and how women used during... She guessed, which does n't really help, in the dated quilts on this quilt and the... Own floral medallion with easy to use patterns & pictures a copy Amazon may your is... Measure the width and add to your stash of reproduction prints and dating fabrics your fabric run. Of bright reds, yellows and greens is a clue of sorts Heidi block! Most important clues to age using comparative dating, matching the undated quilt above to quilts with dates on... More domestically produced fabric wait to find out whym looking forward to hearing from you to! Begun a fund dedicated to a Facebook group called `` Quilts-Vintage and Antique..