AROUND THE FRAME
THE HUNT FOR VINTAGE FABRIC
In order to restore a quilt it is best to use appropriate vintage fabric. Many Midwestern women sewed for their families-making dresses, curtains, aprons and quilts. The remnants of these projects can be found today. The best thing to do is let people know what you are looking for. At every garage sale I ask, “Do you have any old fabric, quilts or tops?” You’d be amazed how often someone wanders into the house and brings out a textile, useless to them, but a treasure trove of fabric for you. When I go to an antique mall, I do not seek out the booths with many textiles. These people know the value of what they sell. Instead I go to the booths of dish or fishing tackle, or jewelry collectors, etc. If they happen to have textiles, they generally do not have a clue on how to price them, so their prices tend to be either really inexpensive or very expensive. Remember too, most textiles are not going to be front and center in a booth. You need to either ask or dig.
Last August I was the guest speaker at the Maumee Valley Antique Steam & Gas Association’s quilt show. I did an autopsy table of “dead” quilts and what it would take to bring them back to life. The four-day event included a flea market area. The audience did not believe that on Day 3, I would find anything of value, indicating the market was “a lot of junk”. After the presentation, I strolled through the area. Within 15 minutes, I found an old tattered comforter top made of 1880-1910 fabric and a hand-quilted baby quilt with scalloped border in near perfect condition from 1975-1990. I spent less than $15. The top’s squares were perfect to blend into a quilt undergoing restoration.
Homemade aprons are a great source of vintage fabric. Their store-bought cotton fabrics are the same prints as used in quilts of the day. Often you can go to auctions and pick them up by the boxful. I would never desecrate an apron in great shape. However if the aprons are ripped or stained and no longer fit for the kitchen, they can be cut and sewn into a quilt.
Next time, I’ll discuss when not to use vintage fabric.
Until then, have a Blessed Holiday Season!
Do you have a quilt/quilt restoration question? Contact me at 260-515-9446 or visit my web site at www.bornagainquilts.com.
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