Should I turn an antique quilt top into a quilt?

What Should Be Done With Antique Quilt Tops

What a tricky question…what happens to the value of an antique quilt top (or blocks) when you make a quilt out of it?

A customer sent me an old quilt top. She thinks her grandmother made, but doesn't know any more than that.  It looks like it was made in the late 1930s. She wants me to make it into a quilt. Also, she wants to how much finishing would reduce its value?

 

Quilt completed from vintage blocks

 

I finished this quilt from a bunch of blocks.  Her grandmother made the blocks.  I pieced the blocks, added borders and quilted it.  It has great sentimental value for my Sister in Law

What is a Quilt Top Worth?

A quick search on unfinished quilt tops at eBay and Etsy shows prices ranging between $68 for a beautiful design from the 1940s to triple digits, like a 1930s intricately pieced pattern that's soaring up to $695. The older they are and the better shape they're in, the higher the value.  If you add in the specific history of the top, that can add value as well.

A) Suppose your quilt top is a common pattern from the 1930s. It’s special to you and your family, but there is nothing particularly distinctive about it which would make it “museum-worthy.” Many other quilt tops from the same period are very similar to this one in color, design, and workmanship.

   OR

B) Suppose your quilt top is a one-of-a-kind original. It’s beautifully designed and made. There’s nothing else quite like it.

Now suppose you put new batting and backing on each of these tops, and quilt them. What do you now have? In either case you have turned a 1930s quilt top into a hybrid: an old top with modern backing, batting and quilting. It’s not new, it’s not old; it’s a bit of both.

If your top is not worth a great deal of money in the first place (Scenario A), you have probably not changed the value much. But, if the top is a masterpiece or one-of-a-kind (Scenario B), you have de-valued the top considerably.

Vintage Quilt Top Quilted

 Take the case of the quilt shown below.  My Great-Grandmother Hattie Marsh pieced this quilt back in the early 1940's.  It is a pretty common pattern for the time (Grandmothers Flower Garden), however, EACH 3/4 inch Hexagon was 'fussy cut' and hand pieced.

 

Annie Scarlett 1968

 

See how each of the yellow flower stems point to the center?  That makes this quilt more unique.

 

(sample from internet, not my image)

 

This quilt is a little more unique, because each hexagon (hexie) if 'fussy cut' in the circle that surrounds the solid color, rather than just cutting out the hexies randomly. The problem is, my grandmother (pictured) added a muslin backing (new in the 1960's - but  newer than when it was pieced) and then hand quilted it.  I have had the value evaluated by  quilt experts over the years.   About 25 years ago it was valued at $350, 15 years ago at $1295. Valuation also varies by who does the report.

Unique, Ugly,  And Poorly Pieced Quilt tops

 

Vintage Tie Quilt - Unique

 

The website that I found this image was wanting $395 for this small quilt!

 

Note that Tie quilts and Crazy Quilts should NOT be quilted.

Vintage Quilt Blocks and Partial Tops

 

 

Quilt blocks - not much value

 

Top not quite done.  Will need to get creative and maybe add
some borders to make a nice throw quilt.  Again, the  piecing is
pretty good, there are not straight lines along the
outside edges, adding a degree of difficulty

Actually Quilting The Quilt Top

 The next quilt top is actually pieced pretty well, however the border that was added on is stretched and pretty wavey, probably due to bias edges.  If this quilt top was brought to me, I would probably suggest taking the border off and re-apply it correctly.  Some of the fullness 'could' be taken out with special care by an experienced longarm quilter, but don't count on it.  

 

Poorly added border

 Pretty quilt, won't hurt value to 'finish it up'.  Take care to add backing fabric that is appropriate to the age of the fabrics on the front.  (ie, use a muslin, that yellow fabric, or a reproduction print that mimics the piecing.)

Quilt top that was probably laundered. 

Be sure to check for 'popped' seams. Give a good ironing with lots of spritzing from the water bottle.

Would try to find a 'shirting' reproduction fabric for backing.  No value as is, but finishing will make someone happy.  

My Unfinished Quilts 

As someone who has quilted for over 40 years (I'm 39 years old ha ha)  I have finished many quilts, but I also have a LOT of UFO's (Un-Finished Objects).  There are several reasons why a lot of them are NOT finished!  Boredom, poor pattern, didn't like the colors, didn't like the class, was learning new technique and so on.  Someday my kids will go through my stuff, and end up selling those tops on eBay or Etsy.  No worries though, they have enough quilts that they won't miss them.

I am just hoping that they will all be antiques by then!  :)

Economics 101

Remember, value is ever-changing. It depends entirely on "supply and demand". It’s possible some unsuspecting, or uncaring, buyer might spend more for your finished quilt than they would for your quilt top. It’s possible that someday the quilt will be sold, purchased by someone who does not realize the quilt was quilted in 2010, but the top made in the 1930s. So how the value might change is anyone’s guess.

Fellow quilters often joke, that the way we will handle our UFO's is to put each project (or top) in a box, and label them;  For Aunt Suzie, For 'Future' grandson, best friend, or other family members that may (or may not have ever gotten a quilt).  When they see that something was 'left' for them, they will feel obligated to finish up the project!!! 

Final Note

But if there is any chance the top may be a masterpiece, I would definitely not quilt it. If you have a local quilt store they might be able to tell you more about the top, or guide you to someone who can help you decide.

Note: I grabbed some images of quilt tops currently for sale on eBay and Etsy to use as examples.  I do not have any idea if they are worth anything, well pieced or not.  My opinion and judgement based on photos.  

Shadywood Quilts offers professional quilting.  We can help you complete piecing or quilt your top.   As a longarm quilter for many many years, I am often asked to 'finish' up an antique quilt top or quilt blocks.  Many times this comes up after someone in the family passes, and they run across one or more quilt tops, and probably various quilt blocks in various states of completion.