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I’ve had several thrifters to ask me how to tell what their vintage quilt is worth.
It’s a good question. Certainly your vintage quilts have intrinsic value when they’ve been passed down through your family. But, a vintage quilts’ monetary value depends on the craftsmanship of the piece, as well as its age, condition, rarity, and the identity of artist.
Quilts are works of art. For instance, have you heard about the Gees Bend quilters? They're a group of women in rural Alabama who have been celebrated for their quilting skills in film, in books, and in museums. As a result, some of their quilts are worth as much as $20,000!
To have a quilt that's worth money, you have to keep it in mint condition. To learn how to keep yours looking good, read my blog post "Why I Love Heirloom Textiles".
So, how can you tell what your quilt is worth? The first thing you should do is learn how to identify different types of quilts:
Pieced or Patchwork Quilts – Patchwork quilts, which first became popular around the mid-1800s, are probably the ones you’re most familiar with.
The topside of a patchwork quilt consists of colorful scraps of cotton or wool fabric that quilters have cut into blocks or other shapes and stitched together in a pattern. The underside of the quilt is made with fabric that's a single color. Cotton batting is placed in between the top and bottom layers, and then the top and bottom layers are sewn together.
It’s a good question. Certainly your vintage quilts have intrinsic value when they’ve been passed down through your family. But, a vintage quilts’ monetary value depends on the craftsmanship of the piece, as well as its age, condition, rarity, and the identity of artist.
Quilts are works of art. For instance, have you heard about the Gees Bend quilters? They're a group of women in rural Alabama who have been celebrated for their quilting skills in film, in books, and in museums. As a result, some of their quilts are worth as much as $20,000!
To have a quilt that's worth money, you have to keep it in mint condition. To learn how to keep yours looking good, read my blog post "Why I Love Heirloom Textiles".
So, how can you tell what your quilt is worth? The first thing you should do is learn how to identify different types of quilts:
Pieced or Patchwork Quilts – Patchwork quilts, which first became popular around the mid-1800s, are probably the ones you’re most familiar with.
The topside of a patchwork quilt consists of colorful scraps of cotton or wool fabric that quilters have cut into blocks or other shapes and stitched together in a pattern. The underside of the quilt is made with fabric that's a single color. Cotton batting is placed in between the top and bottom layers, and then the top and bottom layers are sewn together.
Some of the most fascinating pieced quilts I’ve ever seen are “Crazy quilts.” (That’s a crazy name, isn’t it?) Crazy quilts are easy to spot because they’re made with scraps of silk and velvet that have been cut into all kinds of shapes. Unlike most patchwork quilts, in a crazy quilt, the fabric scraps are sewn together in a chaotic fashion that looks a little … crazy. These quilts are gorgeous. Take a look at this one.
Another type of patchwork quilt is the log cabin quilt. They’re really easy to identify because they’re made with log-shaped strips of fabric.
Appliqué quilts – Applique quilts are made with pieces of fabric that are sewn together to create a picture or pattern, which is the appliqué. Some appliqué quilts look almost like paintings. Once the individual appliqués are complete, they’re sewn onto a larger piece of fabric to create the quilt.
Wholecloth quilts – Wholecloth quilts are easy to spot because they’re made with a single piece of fabric. Instead of using scraps of cloth, a quilter creates the designs with a needle and thread. Trapunto quilts are a good example of this. In a trapunto quilt, certain sections of the quilt are stuffed with batting. The quilter then stitches around the stuffed section, which helps give the quilt a textured look.
If you want to thrift for quilts like these, especially vintage quilts, the best places to find them are at thrifting stores like Goodwill. You can also find them at estate tag sales, yard sales, flea markets or at auctions.
So, how can you determine what your quilt is worth? Here are some suggestions:
Have you thrifted for vintage quilts lately?
LaCheryl
Want to read some related posts?
Wholecloth quilts – Wholecloth quilts are easy to spot because they’re made with a single piece of fabric. Instead of using scraps of cloth, a quilter creates the designs with a needle and thread. Trapunto quilts are a good example of this. In a trapunto quilt, certain sections of the quilt are stuffed with batting. The quilter then stitches around the stuffed section, which helps give the quilt a textured look.
If you want to thrift for quilts like these, especially vintage quilts, the best places to find them are at thrifting stores like Goodwill. You can also find them at estate tag sales, yard sales, flea markets or at auctions.
So, how can you determine what your quilt is worth? Here are some suggestions:
- Contact a quilting guild in your area.
- Ask an expert at your local historical society or museum.
- Consult a professional appraiser who specializes in quilted textiles.
- Do your own research by reading books about antiques.
- Read price guides.
- See what vintage quilts are selling for on auction sites like eBay.
Have you thrifted for vintage quilts lately?
LaCheryl
Want to read some related posts?
 How to Give Vintage, Retro Fabrics New Life |  Create Fab Rooms With Cheap, Thrifted Oriental Carpets |  Throw Pillows Worth Seeing |
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