Guide To Quilt Collecting

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.

The Log Cabin pattern became popular in the 1860s, during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. It celebrates a key element of the Lincoln legend–his humble birth in an Illinois log cabin in 1809.

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.