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Quilt Care for the Twenty-First Century
Page 4
 I
have some old quilt tops. Should Ifinish them?
Again, they are your tops, and it is up to you whether
to finish them, though very old tops or those with
historic significance should be left as they are. If you want to do something
to stabilize these tops, you can simply add a backing fabric, tack this
to the top and turn it over the edges. This also works well if your top
is a loose weave or if it is fragile.
You can also add cotton batting
and binding and quilt your top it the top is sturdy enough and you would
enjoy it more with quilting to enhance its design. It is important when
you quilt an antique top not to use polyester batting. Cotton batting
will give the quilt the look that it would have had if it had been quilted
when the top was made. Whatever you choose to do with your top, we like
to think that the maker intended it to be used and enjoyed.
Perhaps I should have my quilt appraised ...
As a service to the quilt world, the AmericanQuilter's
Society has developed a program to certify appraisers
who are qualified to give insurance and fair market value to quilts and
to quilted textiles. Certified appraisers have been tested on their knowledge
of dating fabric and quilts, construction techniques, recognizing patterns
and regional influences, and their awareness of the dollar value of quilts.
They have also agreed to a Code of Ethical Practices.
There are several types of quilt appraisals.
Are you going to enter your quilt in a quilt show or send it to a relative
as a gift? Do you have a collection of quilts? Are you a quilt teacher?
If so, you would probably want an insurance appraisal. An insurance
appraisal is based on what it would cost you to replace your quilt with
like and kind. After getting an insurance appraisal, you talk with
your insurance company, so that you know you are covered for your quilts.
If you are trying to sell your quilt,
you might want a fair market appraisal. This type of appraisal
is good for professional quiltmakers or to help substantiate the price
of a quilt that you may want to sell. There is no guarantee, implied or
otherwise, that having a fair market appraisal will help you sell your
quilt. This is up to you. To sell a quilt, you need a willing seller and
a willing buyer, and it often takes time to locate the right buyer for
a quilt. Your appraiser cannot be involved in the selling of your quilt.
Are you planning on donating your quilt
to a museum or favorite charity? A donation appraisal provides
a record that can be used for a tax deduction. The laws governing this
are set up by the IRS, and you need to contact your appraiser for current
status of the law or information.
If your are not certain which type of
appraisal to get, a verbal evaluation is an inexpensive way to
help determine whether to have a written appraisal. Condition is the first
factor to consider. When a quilt is in poor condition, it usually has
very little, if any, dollar value. That doesn't mean that it is not valuable
to your family or to you. The quilt should still be taken care of as well
as possible. Verbal evaluations are also used for dating quilts and giving
suggestions for their care and repair.
For an appraiser near you, contact The
American Quilter's Society at 502-898-7903 or visit American
Quilter's Society On-Line
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