Oh, what a treasure!

21 years ago

This morning, I visited a 96 year old relative (distant cousin of my grandmother's) who still lives in her own home which is FILLED!! with treasures. She presented me with this quilt, which at first glance appears to be "just an old quilt". As we opened it up, I noticed embroidered names. We talked for a couple hours about this quilt and it's history. Let me tell you a little about it. Before the turn of the century (1900), this quilt was raffled off as a fundraiser at the local church my grandmother attended. The quilt has the embroidered signatures of 29 young ladies from the church, several of which are my relatives, including my grandmother (Nettie Anderson) and her sister. This was my grandmother's maiden name. In the center, is a square embroidered with "Trinity Pigeforening", which I'm told in Norwegian says "Trinity Ladies Aid Society". The quilt is in extraordinary condition, although I did notice some very light water (?) stains on it. What is the proper way to clean this quilt? Is there any value, other than family/local history? I laid the quilt across the loveseat so you can see it's size and condition.

Here is a link that might be useful: Late 1800s Quilt

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Comments (3)

User
21 years ago
Those are often called "album" quilts. It looks more like "Unity" than "Trinity" to me.

definitely collectible!

As for care, if it were mine I would first record all the names on the quilt, photograph the squares and the whole quilt (spread it on the floor and stand on a stairs or ladder to shoot: do NOT hang it!), then pack it carefully in acid-free tissue paper and an archival storage box. Send photos, history and names to the historical society of whatever state, city, county, or organization might be interested. It's a nice record of who was in the group at a certain date.

They can be washed, but if the fabric is old and fragile, it's quite a process. If it's a heirloom, it's best to use a professional textile cleaner with experience in cleaning quilts.
zeffyrose
21 years ago
What a great treasure and a wonderful family history.

Florence
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pattico_gw
21 years ago
I've just recently been told by a cousin that she will be sending me a quilt that my mother and my grandmother and aunts had made squares with their embroidered signature. I am so anxious...I only have one thing of my mothers..She passed on when I was 7 and I turned 60 this year.

Very anxious...

p.s. I was unable to see your quilt. I guess too much time has gone by since the post. it is not there.

patti