Vintage Twin Crazy Quilt

This twin-size vintage crazy quilt has wonderful details. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vintage Twin Crazy Quilt

Years ago, a friend gave me a pillow made out of men’s ties with embroidery along the rectangle seams. It wasn’t exactly a traditional crazy quilt pattern but it was a strong nod to the mismatched design, one of the hallmarks of this vintage 1800s craze.

And a craze it was according to historians. On the one hand, it may have been a misplaced recycling trend since the quilters incorporated vestiges of clothing, fabrics and even lace into the odd-shaped fabric designs embellished with embroidery.

On the other hand, it was also a new quilt concept since traditional quilts up until that time were very geometric, repeating pattern blocks in fabrics without any additional features such as embroidery.

So it was with delight that I found this twin-size crazy quilt at a sale. The 68x88 inch size is close to a standard 64x86-inch standard twin size quilt, which is also an excellent size for a quilted wall hanging.

This crazy quilt has lovely embroidery details. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

One of my favorite features of crazy quilts are the embroidery designs. Having been taught embroidery from my very early years, I enjoy seeing the dexterity of the quilter and how they incorporate embroidery floss colors into the fabrics.

That’s not an easy thing to do since some embroidery floss colors can easily get lost.

Another way to see the artwork of the embroidery is to look at the back of the crazy quilt, which will feature the embroidery without the distraction of the fabrics.

The backing of this crazy quilt helps to highlight the embroidery. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This vintage crazy quilt has another wonderful feature, a red heart close to the center with an embroidered horse inside. This detail makes me think this quilt was made for a young girl who had a very special four-legged friend.

This embroidered horse towards the center is so charming. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

As you spend time looking at this crazy quilt, the fabrics also start to tell their story.

How many of these fabrics were originally favorite clothing now repurposed into this crazy quilt. There are some soft cottons and rough solid textiles. If this crazy quilt could talk!

More examples of the crazy quilt embroidery. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Crazy quilts are getting harder to find so this would be an excellent candidate to be used as a quilted wall hanging, installed somewhere away from damaging sun, smoke and cooking fumes.

Charlotte

Heirloom Handmade Quilt Care

A friend's family heirloom crazy quilt, winner of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Heirloom Handmade Quilt Care

A friend recently shared this picture of a crazy quilt made by a relative which won first prize at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, a four year international exhibition showcasing the achievement of nations. Besides being a stunning piece of art, her post was a good reminder that fabric art like this lovely crazy quilt requires not only careful care but documentation as well.

1. Any quilt should be stored in cotton, never in plastic. It is tempting to think that quilts are better off in plastic but that's not true, storing quilts confined in plastic speeds up the deterioration of cotton fibers. All quilts should be stored in cotton such as pillow cases or wrapped in cotton sheets. Heirloom, antique and special quilts like this one should be stored in museum-quality cotton fabric draped over wooden rods to minimize folds.

2. Heirloom quilts should also be appraised by certified quilt appraisers who charge a fee, not a percentage, of the final appraisal.

3.  There is a difference between insurance value and appraised value, make sure you have the appraisal you need for the insurance coverage you need. If in doubt, ask the appraiser to make sure they can provide the appraisal service you need. If not, check with a local quilt guild for a referral.

4. If you have newspaper clippings, family letters, photographs showing the item in the photograph and other items that can show the quilt's provenance, collect the items and keep them with the quilt. The documentation showing this crazy quilt won the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair will add value to the quilt.

5. Is the quilt maker's name anywhere on it? Whether in embroidery anywhere on the quilt, having the quilt maker's name on the quilt also adds value. Remember that the next time you make a quilt or win a ribbon in a quilt contest. Even after the fact, add your name and date you made the quilt so your relatives getting the quilt will know who made the lovely family heirloom.

6. In addition to the detailed piecing, the lovely hand embroidery is part of what makes this crazy quilt unique. If there is any wear to the embroidery in a quilt, have it stabilized by professionals so that the embroidery does not further unravel. You don't want to do it yourself, any work you do to a quilt changes the age of a quilt so all you want done is to ensure that no further deterioration occurs.

7. Keep your heirloom quilts away from sun, smoke and pets. If you want to enjoy your special quilt, consult a museum on how it can be safely displayed so that it can be enjoyed in your home.

Charlotte

Quilts as Collectibles

Like anything else, handmade quilts are collectible but how collectible, or valuable, depends on several factors.

Handmade quilts are collected for a variety of reasons including pattern, color, history, quilt maker, memories. Most private collectors save handmade quilts because of memories. They were made by a grandmother, mother, other special family member. Favorite handmade quilts include fabrics remnants from favorite clothes or each quilt block made by a different friend. Maybe the handmade quilt marked a special event, such as a wedding, anniversary, graduation. Bottom line is, looking at a handmade quilt brings back wonderful memories.

Handmade Quilt Patterns Can Be Collectibles

People also collect handmade quilts based on favorite quilt patterns and designs such as log cabin patchwork quilts and double wedding ring quilts. Some collectors specialize in fabrics. Handmade quilts made by a certain family, or areas of the country, can also be collectibles.

All-time favorite handmade quilt patterns over the years include crazy quilts, Baltimore Album quilts, and double wedding ring quilts followed by applique floral quilts.

Some Quilts Collected for Their History

Some focus on collecting handmade quiltsconnected with a major historic events or historic tie. Civil War era quiltsare highly valued because few survived. Handmade quilts usually associated with a family history are also collectible. When an interesting quilt design is added to the mix, along with who made it, the handmade quilt's value increases.

Feed sack quilts from the 1930s have become collectible because they were utilitarian quilts used every day so few survived. These practical handmade quilts made during the Depression were recycled flour, sugar and other "feed sack" materials made into handmade bedding, clothing and even underwear.

Charlotte