Antique Quilt Top

[Anne B.]

1. Should I add a border to it or leave it as is? If I add a border, do you have a suggestion for what color fabric I should use?
2. It needs mending. Will it make any difference if I hand stitch the mending or machine stitch?
3. When the rows of red blocks were sewn to the bow ties there are several places where pleats/wrinkles were sewn in. Should I take those seams out and remove the wrinkles?
4. Since receiving this quilt top and another from the same person I have become interested in these beautiful tokens from the past but I don’t know much about antique quilts. Is there a resource for more information?

[Helen W.]

debbiehowell, I don't have any expertise in this area, but if you google antique quilt repair and care, a couple experts came up Dartene Zimmerman and Bettina Having, asexperts
in historical quilts. They tend to answer a lot of questions by what you intend to do with it. If it is museum quality they say be conservative in any changes. If it is going to
be something you just keep in the family just use your personal preferences. On whether you or not to put a border on it, you could audition some fabrics and just see how you
like the look. Try different colors and different widths for borders. Also could try a narrow inner border and a wider outer border. Find fabrics that look of the same vintage. If the mending is in the seams, personally, I would use machine. if it is like a hole in the fabric I would do a hand applique or
some kind of patch that is not obvious. When it come to the pleats and winkles, if it draws attention to the area, and you don't like the look of it, change it. If the person
who gave the tops to you is still available for advice you could discuss it with them. If they say they don't care and just wanted someone to finish and enjoy the pieced tops
do what looks best to you. Hope this helps. HelenW

[brenda h.]

Debbie, My grandmother gifted my sisters and I quilt tops for birthdays and Christmas for years. I have about 20 of them that need attention and my sisters have at least that many! These were meant to by USED (not show pieces). They were made from clothing, pajamas, left overs and were quickly hand pieced with many pleats and puckers. My younger sister and I have different approaches. She says she's leaving all the love in the tops when she quilts them and won't add anything or touch a seam. I say the love will always be in the quilt top and have no problem deconstructing one and putting it back together square and without the puckers adding borders as needed to make them fit my bed. I say do what is the most pleasing and least stressful for you. My sister has a look of horror every time I mention I have taken one apart, but she has her own tops to do what she wants! The biggest thing is my grandmother meant for them to be COMPLETED and loved. I don't know if it helps or not, but just know you are not the only one who wonders what to do with these treasures.

[brenda h.]

Brenda,
Thanks so much for your advice. You are so right, quilts, china and fine linens should be used and loved, not left in a closet where no one can see them. I've started quilting this top and did a little of what both you and your sister do. I wanted to be sure the seams didn't come apart so I did some mending but left the pleats. The quilting seems to be going ok even though the blocks aren't square.
Enjoy bringing each of those special gifts to life.
Debbie