Dating antique quilt fabric
23-Jul-2020 11:31
Vintage quilts were made from the 1930s to 1965, while quilts deemed antique date back to 100 years ago or more.A quilt made in the 1920s or earlier is also considered antique.Antique American quilts of the 17th century were often made by poor Colonists who couldn't afford to make detailed patchwork designs.Instead, they made quilts out of one or two sheets of the same fabric.A quilt's colors may help you identify its general age.For example, Lancaster blue consists of a light-blue print over a dark-blue background.Prices tend to be on the high side but you may find a bargain. Remember, you don’t need yards and yards of fabric; just a small collection of vintage scraps can greatly enrich your stash and add an individual touch to your projects.
The best vintage fabric acts as a window into another era: the design, colours and imagery captures a particular era.The cloth tag tells the name and location of the quilter, as well as the date of completion.Quilts made prior to the 20th century might not have a tag.It can be precious stuff, but just using a few small pieces alongside modern prints can lift a project from the everyday to something special and one of a kind.
Knowing where to find vintage fabric, how to care for it and when to mix it with your stash is easy if you follow some basic principles.
Double pink was commonly seen in quilts from the 1860s to the 1880s as well as the 1920s.