Guide To Quilt Collecting

The years surrounding the American Civil War — roughly 1850 to 1870 — produced some of the most beautiful and historically significant quilts in American history. For collectors today, these pieces offer a direct connection to one of the most turbulent and consequential chapters of American life, stitched into fabric by women who lived through it.

The terms trapunto and stuffed appliqué are often incorrectly used interchangeably. In fact, they are two different techniques. While both require considerable skill, trapunto is the more difficult to execute. Trapunto involves using a looser weave fabric (usually cotton) for the back of the quilt.

The names Star of Bethlehem and Lone Star are used interchangeably for this pattern. Equally fine examples were made with a single star, as well as a central star surrounded by smaller ones. In either instance, the pattern's name does, in fact, refer to a celebration of Texas, the Lone Star State. The first appearance of this pattern in the 1830s slightly predates the fall of the Alamo in 1836, the founding of the Republic of Texas, and the use of the Lone Star as a symbol of the new republic on its flag.

Collectors seek Sampler quilts for their visual interest as well as their rarity. Fewer Sampler quilts than Albums were made, although it is sometimes a subjective call as to which is which. Since Sampler quilts often served as learning tools, a young quilter had the opportunity to try many patterns, and the variety and juxtaposition of patterns in the finished quilt could be quite engaging.

The best-known Lancaster County pattern is the Center Diamond. The Amish did not begin making quilts in this pattern, based on the Center Medallion quilts popular in mid-19th century, until nearly the end of the century. Lancaster Amish quilts share other distinctive features: they are square, have wide borders and bindings, and often include corner blocks. Almost all of the tops were pieced on foot-pedal-powered sewing machines, and the bindings were at least partly applied by machine. The often-lavish quilting was always done by hand.

When a young woman became engaged to marry, she was expected to have 12 quilts. The thirteenth was her bridal quilt. She would make more quilts as her family grew. Crib quilts, though, celebrated the birth of specific children. These works of art, because of their size, rarity, individuality, and loving connotations make them highly desirable to collectors.

The two techniques used to make most quilts are applique and piecework (or patchwork). Applique quilts are made by sewing a fabric over a background material to create a design, while patchwork quilts are created by abutting pieces of fabric next to each other, creating a new surface of material. 

Whether you are looking to buy an antique quilt, or have inherited a collection, you might find yourself asking, "How can I tell if a quilt is valuable?" From pattern to stitching and needlework, a variety of factors can influence the value of a vintage quilt, but there are several key questions that you can ask yourself to get started.

Few quilt patterns carry as much American history as the Log Cabin. Made from the 1860s through the 1890s in cotton, wool, and silk, these quilts remain among the most collectible and visually striking examples of 19th-century American needlework

We are pleased to have sold two quilts made by Harriet and Uriah Carpenter (aka Grandma Carpenter) to The International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. One of the quilts is a map of the United States and the other is...

Quilts that celebrated the simple geometry of the basket first appeared in the second quarter of the 19th century. They were made either by piecing, appliqué, or a combination of the two techniques. The Basket pattern probably developed among women attending agricultural fairs, where quilts were exhibited.

Appliqué Center Medallion quilts are the product of creative resourcefulness. Although considered high-style quilts, their format was developed with cost in mind. Typically, these quilts feature broderie perse chintz appliqué on a white ground. White, unprinted cotton cost less than...

Center Medallion quilts consist of a main panel surrounded by a series of borders. The center may be pieced, appliquéd, or made from a single block of printed fabric. Pieced versions, made mostly between 1820 and 1840, incorporate numerous small...

Most quilts were made as functional objects. Many have survived more than 150 years and will continue to last if handled with a modicum of care and respect. When choosing a quilt, consider the use to which you plan to put it.

The question most frequently asked of an antique "How can I wash my quilt?" The wise advisor offers no single answer. Each quilt must be considered on the basis of age, fabrics, and general condition.