I come from a long line of seamstresses, needle workers and quilters. For as many generations as anyone can remember, the women in my family have been known for their fine needle working skills. Recently, I inherited this wonderful masterpiece from my mother. I know little about it, but given the embroidered date on the piece, I am fairly sure it was sewn by my great-grandmother, Olia Erickson. It has beautiful stitching and lovely fabrics that are for the most part in pretty good condition.
24" x 24" crazy quilt block made in 1899
I love it but it is not a finished piece and I don’t know how to display it in a way that preserves its beauty and keeps its integrity. It has been lying in drawers for years, which may explain its good condition, but I want to celebrate the women in my family by showing it. Should I frame it? Should I back it? I don’t know what is best. Any ideas out there?
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19 Comments
I think I'd frame it! It would make a nice display in place of a headboard or above a bed.
Frame it! What a wonderful treasure! Hang it where people can see it.
See if you can get an address or website on Julie Craig from Kansas. She is teaching a class on Antique Crazy Quilts at the quilt festival in Houston in October. Another source of info is Dixie McBride http://www.dixiemcbride.com. She is teaching a class in restoration of old quilts. Most of these teachers are nice and helpful.
Take it to someone who can fame it with archival quality materials including glass that will protect it from UV rays. Your local museum could reccomend a conservator.
Beautiful piece!
What a wonderful link to your past! I agree ,frame it!
Beautiful!
How about a shadow box frame?
I love this – it’s a beautiful piece of work. If you want to preserve it, I’d frame it behind glass (I think there is glass coated to protect the item from light?). You could make a shadowbox display with your greatgrandmother’s picture and some vintage sewing notions. It would make a lovely wallhanging, but I’d hate to expose it to dust, etc.
The IKEA store has this wonderful hanging frame that would showcase this piece beautifully.
I recently attended a quilt lecture at the New England Quilt Museum. The woman conducting the tour was highlighting her antique quilts. There were two crazy quilts in a glass case that she discussed. The museum is on the web, and I would contact them regarding the preservation of your beautiful quilt. If any of the pieces are silk, they may disintegrate when exposed to air. It is certainly a treasure …
Here is another approach……
I would carefully baste your block to a piece of rich, high quality black fabric that is 4″ larger than the block all the way around, hence, 32″ X 32″.
The basting lines would go through to the foundation cloth of your block, not all the way through the fancy fabric on the front! Basting lines would go horizontally across the block in rows at 2″ intervals from the top of the block to the bottom.
The reason for the basting is to support the weight of the block when you hang it….for the next step is to stretch the black fabric over foam core. You could have a narrow edge of the fabric showing on the front, or none, your choice.
At this point you can hang it…out of direct sunlight of course. Or have it framed behind glass as suggested by the others here…but I don’t know anything about that part!
It’s a beautiful block and deserves to be celebrated!
this reminds me of cozying up in front of an old fireplace so I would put a border of brown fabric and back it properly ready to hang using an old wooden broomstick.
I agree with Mia's comment- it needs to be protected, but in a way you can display it. Too pretty to be kept put away!
You should just enjoy it and do as little to it as possible. If you would like to frame it, you should make sure that there is space between it and the glass and that there is a vent for air to get in or it will rot because moisture will build up in the frame. When CQ’s are that old, doing much to them creates more damage than doing nothing.
If it were mine, I would frame it but as I said before, I would make sure air could get to it. Many people think they should restore these antique CQ’s but the best way to maintain it and pass it on to family is to do as little as possible. Even putting a needle through the fabric does damage.
I am a crazy quilter. I love your piece. Don’t you just love the fact that your family member held it and worked on it. I would frame it and just enjoy. Don’t forget to add all the details of the person and its journey to you. I have pieces I wish I knew who in the family made.
What a lucky lady you are.
Enjoy
Debra
How beautiful. There used to be a professional framer on Joaquin Miller. She did a beautiful job on my bridal items for my 25th anniversary. Photo, rosary, my mother’s hanky, and the invitation. You should stop by and see if she is still around. Your beautiful piece deserves her professional attention.
My in laws had framed the sheets of an original King James Bible from the 1600s. The leaves were framed by a professional archivist and are hanging in the entry way to their home.
It was not an inexpensive process but they have been hanging there for a few years now and seem to be faring well. It is important, with such treasures, that you have the appropriate professional work on them. Especially if you want them preserved for future generations.
Specific things I recall from my MIL’s description of the mounting process: acid free paper backing, special glass, and AS LITTLE HANDLING AS POSSIBLE of the artifact. Air, hand oils, and modern chemicals are it’s enemy.
Good luck with your treasure!
Frame it with pictures and maybe old family sewing things. A real memory box.