Skip to content
Q is For Quilter
Menu
  • Quilts
  • Quilt Patterns
  • Embroidery
  • Embroidery Patterns
  • WIPs
  • Children’s Books
  • Aprons
  • Other Needlework
  • Crafts
  • Vintage Finds
Menu

Antique Album Quilt Top

Posted on January 3, 2010January 3, 2010 by Martha

Inspired by the quilt tops from Ann Champion’s cupboard, I decided to collect some antique fabric to make doll quilts. A few weeks ago, I found this top and one other offered together on ebay with a “buy it now” option for $9.95! I was pretty excited because, even though the photos were terrible (the quilt tops were folded), I could see the fabrics looked wonderful.

This pattern is often called Album or Friendship, and the oldest date I’ve found for it is 1896, but it could be older.  The quilter turned her blocks on point and added the fancy striped sashing, which was an interesting idea except that she wasn’t too particular about cutting the strips (or she just didn’t have enough fabric to be fussy cutting these pieces).

1876-8

Overall, the quilt has a really nice look. I love the brown fabrics, and sometimes the quilter even had big enough pieces in her scrap bag to make a whole block with no extra seams.

1876-4

This block doesn’t have extra seams, either, but it’s a totally different pattern — Washington Sidewalk. This was probably just a mistake — I believe the “humility block” is a myth.

1876-7

Often she had to piece the individual pieces,

1876-5

or substitute a different fabric, or both.

1876-6

Right in the center of the quilt is my favorite fabric which appears to be a commemorative print made for the Centennial — isn’t it great?

1876-2

1876-10

The quilt top does not lie flat, so for this and many other reasons I am going to take it apart.  Fortunately it is hand pieced, which makes the deconstruction easier.  I really like the album pattern, though, so I think that’s going to be the pattern for my first quilt with antique fabric, although it probably won’t be a doll quilt since some of these prints are a bit too large for that.

11 thoughts on “Antique Album Quilt Top”

  1. Ann says:
    January 3, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    Wow! That centennial fabric is VERY cool! I wonder if the quilt was made in that time frame or if someone made it at a later date using what they may have called “vintage” fabrics. I am AMAZED that you were able to get it for nine bucks! (bucks sounds cheaper than dollars, don’t you think?)

    Reply
  2. Jan says:
    January 3, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    What a great quilt top! I love the browns and greys with the lighter colors. The odd block is a fun detail!

    Can’t wait to see what you decide to do with it!

    Reply
  3. barbara says:
    January 3, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    What a find! Those old fabrics are wonderful, especially that centennial print. I love when the little pieces are pieced, too.

    Reply
  4. Allie says:
    January 3, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    Oh my. That is fantastic. LOVE the fabrics. That price is unbelievable!

    Reply
  5. kathie says:
    January 4, 2010 at 4:11 am

    what an amazing find!
    I love the idea of taking it apart and making a little quilt with it.
    would be fun just to take 3 blocks and make a table runner
    or one block hand quilt it and have it as a little quilt on the wall!
    consider this one of your best finds ever!
    Kathie

    Reply
  6. Ann Champion says:
    January 4, 2010 at 7:14 am

    Your new quilt is wonderful! Some of my best finds were just like the way you got this one. A bad photo..and no competition. I’ve been “burned” a couple of times..but you never know? Sometimes it’s worth the gamble? You did great! I love those fabrics. 🙂

    Reply
  7. pratima says:
    January 4, 2010 at 10:42 am

    I love the use of various stripes throughout! Great find!!

    Reply
  8. Karen Alexander says:
    January 4, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Dear Martha, I received a link to you blog thru Google News feed. I would very much like to discuss this quilt top with you before you take it apart. Would you be willing to contact me by email?
    You have a real treasure here that needs to be documented for posterity. I LOVE studying old quilts. Especially if they ahve names on them! I hope you will visit the link I gave you when this page asked for a website and see the research I have done on a very similar Album Quilt. Like you, I also recently purchased an Album quilt top on eBay which I am now researching. My blog also has an article and photos about a Doll Quilt lecture I gave to the Western Wasington Quilt Study Group last year. I LOVE doll quilts too because they are so easy to transport when I do lectures. Plus they are just plan TREASURES! So happy to have discovered your blog! Happy New Year! Karen A.

    Reply
  9. Becky says:
    January 5, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Just wow. What a find, and what a task to take on, taking it apart to put it back together. You are some kind of seamstress.

    Reply
  10. mickie says:
    January 6, 2010 at 11:54 am

    Taking it apart? Oh Martha, that centennial fabric was saved because it remained a top and not a quilt. I think it would devalue it if you did that. I agree with Karen on this one! I love these fabrics, it makes a great fabric study of late 19th century quiltmaking!

    Reply
  11. Gisele says:
    January 15, 2010 at 7:49 am

    Super beau, j’adore tes tissus ancien. Bravo pour ta réalisation.
    Amicalement

    Reply

Leave a Comment to Ann Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A small blog about Martha's quilting hobby.

More About Me

Popular Posts

Categories

  • Quilts
  • Quilt Patterns
  • Embroidery
  • Embroidery Patterns
  • WIPs
  • Children’s Books
  • Aprons
  • Other Needlework
  • Crafts
  • Vintage Finds

Archives

  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008

Search

© 2023 Q is For Quilter | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme