If you have followed me for any length of time than you know how much I love collecting vintage quilts. I am no expert but I can share what I do know and of course my collection. Whenever I share my quilts on Instagram I get lots of questions so I thought why not do a blog post about them!
My First Vintage Quilt
My love for vintage quilts all started when I inherited my first tattered quilt that has been in my family for generations. We believe my great grandmother made it and the colors just spoke to my vintage heart. Some people would look at that tattered quilt and wonder why anyone would want to keep it. I treasure that masterpiece and have used it in all of my homes. It is a part of my history and I love the care that was used in making it. Quilts tell a story of history and that too me means more than the actual monetary value.
My Vintage Quilt Collection
I have amassed quite the collection over the years. Quilts can be expensive but I have lucked into most of mine for great prices. I will go over where to find them later. Looking at my collection I have 16 amazing quilts that I love to switch out seasonally depending on the weight and colors. Typically I look for neutral quilts with blues and reds. My second favorite is one that is on my bed currently and it is navy and tan. Those colors are perfect for Fall and Winter plus it is very heavy. It is so much fun to display them on backs of couches or chairs and folded up on an ottoman or bed.
Vintage Quilts Tell a Story
I was at my local antique shop one day and found three quilts that were all similar colors and weight for a steal of a deal so of course I grabbed them up! When I got them home I noticed on two of them they had a number marked inside the hem and wondered if that could have been the date they were made… I am still not sure. That is my favorite part of buying vintage, the history and the stories they tell. I love a good mystery and trying to figure out that number still has me baffled.
Vintage Quilt Care
I get questions all the time about how I wash my quilts. By no means am I an expert and let me say this..IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW FRAGILE YOUR QUILT IS. I have washed mine in the washer on gentle and have dried them on delicate and have only had one time when the quilt may have tattered more. It is probably safer to hand wash them in a bathtub and then hang on a line to dry or drying rack. I usually just use my quilts for display purposes and so they tend to not need much washing at all. I store them in my vintage pie safe folded up or in my French laundry basket when not on display.
Where To Find Vintage Quilts
There are so many places to look for vintage quilts. I have found most of mine at local antique shops or thrift shops. Two quilts I have found online and with that you tend to pay a little bit more but if it is one that speaks to your heart it is worth it.
Look at flea markets, estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, antique shops and of course local thrift shops. These are all great places to find quilts at a good price. I usually always check my local Facebook Marketplace just to see because there is a chance someone just wants to get rid of stuff and they might not realize what they have.
Condition Plays a Part
The condition of the quilt also will play into the price. I don’t mind a few stains and rips or tears. To me that just speaks of the history of the piece. Nothing that is old and was well used would be expected to be in pristine condition. That is why I have been able to find most of mine at such great prices and by that I mean $40 and under.
Don’t be afraid to also look at yard sales because I happened upon one and I spied this cute quilt and it was just sitting in the back of the man’s truck. So of course I asked if it was for sale and he said honey I used it to protect my other things in my truck but he said how much would you ask and I told him a price and he said yes. You just never know unless you ask!
I hope you enjoyed this post all about vintage quilts. Showing you my collections and talking about why I choose to collect certain items will become a regular thing on the blog. I always love to peek inside someone’s vintage collections and figure out why they love to collect them!
I absolutely love old quilts too! I have 3 in my living room that are used year-round. They are getting pretty tattered so I’m thinking I’ll have to be on the lookout for a few “new” ones and retire my “old” ones to my “display only” inventory.
I also sell antiques at a shop in central Indiana called Sugar Creek Antiques. I currently have a small selection of old quilts available.
Thanks for the article! I think old quilts, while beautiful and cozy, get overlooked. It’s nice to bring them to the forefront occasionally!
By the way, the quilt with “1819” embossed on it. I doubt that the “1819” is original to the quilt as it looks like it was stamped onto the piece. I’m guessing that quilt might have once been in a museum collection and that was either the year the curator thought it was made or that was the inventory number of that piece. Either way, it’s a great find!
I also love the quilt you have displayed on your bed. You and I are kindred spirits as reds and blues are my favorites too!
Thank you for all the information! Yes we are I just love them so much!