History of Fabric draws large crowd to PCM

Love of fabrics and history brought over 30 women to the PC Museum to hear about dating fabric in antique quilts. Presenter, Sandy Barker, brought four quilts dating from 1850 to the early 1900's to demonstrate what clues could be gained to date your quilt. In addition participants brought in their family heirlooms for everyone to enjoy adding 20+ quilts to the display.

Sandy explained about Prussian blue and Dunn prints that were generally seen from 1830-1925, Chrome yellow and orange prints that were found from 1840-1900, Picotage prints from the 1810 to 1840 period, shirting prints from 1880-1890, and many more fabric time lines. Who knew that squiggles, crackles, wavy lines, rainbow colors, shaker grays, and madder patterns could be associated with a certain period in time?

Participants also were given hints as to the cleaning, restoration, or repair of old quilts. If you desire to restore your quilt as closely as possible to its original state Sandy told us there was a company that, for a fee, would make a match of fabric for the restoration of your quilt. If you wish to clean your quilt a simple vacuuming will help. You do not need an expensive vacuum to clean historic textiles. Any vacuum with suction control and a low setting can be used. When vacuuming the textile, be sure to consider its needs. On less stable textiles, be careful not to slide across the textile instead lift the attachment off the surface and replace it on the next area to be vacuumed.

Participants were encouraged to find out the history on your quilts and place that history with the quilt. Sandy gave us a resource list to aid in our search and also to aid in dating fabric in quilts. If you would like any of the material from the lecture please stop by the PC Museum and pick up a copy.