Vintage Quilt Inside a Quilt || Let's Save These Quilts!

[@SewtheDistance]

Here is the Lessons from an Old Quilt Video on this beauty! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGrLk314hLiJZ7c

[@jayneterry8701]

I've heard about these quilts but hadn't seen one. 3 beauties in 1! Looking past the dirt and stains lol. You were ripping it a part pretty fast it was making me a bit anxious 😮 Get out your Barbara Brackman books 😊 tfs

[@gloriastrelow9822]

I love you enthusiasm to these old quilts . I love them too

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! I really love sharing these, too!

[@greenyonder]

THREE QUILTS!!!!!! What a treasure for $2. So much effort for you, but what a history. You are a quilt archeologist.

[@SewtheDistance]

I never thought of it that way! 😄 It did feel like I was digging and digging. So much fun and so rewarding! Thank you for watching!

[@glynisreynolds446]

Oh Kris thank you so much for letting us see this AMAZING quilt 🤩 or quilts 🤩🤩🤩 What a treasure 😊 and all for 2 dollars!!! 👏👏🇬🇧

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and sharing this experience with me! ❤️

[@judylitton4198]

wow this is a wild quilt.thank you for sharing God Bless everyone ❤🙏

[@SewtheDistance]

It is my pleasure! Blessings to you and yours, too! ❤️

[@helenpeddycord2241]

3 quilts in one! How cool!🎉🎉🎉

[@chrislittebrant5235]

Wow Kris, That is so interesting, isn’t it. What a cool quilt to find! Great video. I hope you have a good week, 🥰 ❣️Chris

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you, Chris, for sharing this experience with me! I hope you have a great week, too! ❤️

[@cjtheisen5124]

Wow, that was quite a job! Obviously those quilt were all loved and used and laundered many times. The maker(s) definitely were believers in "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"!

[@SewtheDistance]

So true! We have so much to learn from the makers who when before us! Thanks so much for watching! ❤️

[@suekelly840]

This is clearly a labor of love!

[@SewtheDistance]

Yes! It was fun, too, but dusty! 😂

[@TheSewingChannel]

Wow Kris! You were on a treasure hunt with this one!!! 1860 and 1900s?!?!....Oh my word!!! Fun video🎉 I hope you frame at least one block from the early quilt❤

[@SewtheDistance]

Thanks, Tracy! Love the idea! I hope I can save at least some of it! Thanks, as always, for watching and loving these quilts as much as I do! ❤️❤️❤️

[@DottyKupsky]

What a surprise! And so fascinating! Thanks for sharing your adventures with old quilts. It's so fun!

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! I love sharing them and love that you love hearing about them. ❤️

[@tammyb.9836]

This was the coolest thing to watch!! Just to think that the first quilt is either from just before or during the Civil War is crazy to comprehend. Thank you for trying to uncover the history of this treasure and sharing it with us! I always enjoy your videos.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! It is so interesting to unearth these and imagine their history! Thank you so much for watching! ❤️

[@annettegraff8323]

Hey ! Now thats a treat ! A third one ! At least it wasn't given to the dog . Grandma did that and so did the family.Grandmama always had piecing starts in large shoe boxes . So when a quilt was needing a new top She'd just use one with blocks closest to size of original blocks. If new backing shed match to new blocks. The family never wasted cash . They made new quilts but anything serviceable was repaired. Quilts were considered personal as a pillow or toothbrush would be. She aired quilts but didn't wash unless needed as soap was harsh on dyed goods. That could cause fading and dye migration of certain older fabrics. High humidity in warmer climate of south also. When I take these oldies apart its messy and takes a little time. I find that a soak in tap water that doesn't smell of clorine is best way to start .I change the water a couple times Amazing how much dust comes out . I have used Antique fabric wash in a soak to clean Spots can sometimes be removed by making a paste of orvus ( used by farmers available at Tractor Supply ) . The rule is less is more . I roll in a towel then spread to dry in a shady area like a porch or laundry room . Its possible to hang dry but drape or clip so no marks left . At this point assess for damage . The biggest problem is rotten thread and some fabrics especially those with black dye that has iron mordant. Ive done sets of blocks this way with minimal loss . Cant wait to see what is salvaged.😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Thanks for the tips, Annette, and for sharing some of your family history with quilts! A few people have suggested Orvus. I am going to try this! I make my own wash for all my antique quilts (I have over 100 in my collection now!), but am always looking for new ideas to add to my wash "recipes." I agree--always start with the basics! Great tips! Thanks again!

[@crystalheart9]

You are the Indiana Jones of quilts! It was a very interesting video.

[@SewtheDistance]

LOL! I guess I am! 😀

[@crystalheart9]

@@SewtheDistance 💖

[@glendacrouch1877]

That is so cool! Can you imagine the stories in those three quilts! The families warmed by them.

[@SewtheDistance]

It is so much fun to think about! Love them all. ❤️

[@abigaildolinger2754]

Having a three in one quilt is so interesting! Thanks for sharing this incredible find!

[@SewtheDistance]

Such a great discovery! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@padmarubiales5184]

So glad to see the second half of this secret quilt that has more quilts inside!! How exciting! I love your show, especially the lessons from old quilts. I just adore watching you show these and comment on them, and take them apart. Thank you for saving old quilts! Keep it up! Now you’ve got me doing it! 😊

[@SewtheDistance]

YAY! It is so much fun and rewarding! Thank you so much for your kind words! ❤️

[@katrinahough290]

It's amazing! You have your hands full. I can't wait to see what you end up doing with them.

[@SewtheDistance]

I am so happy you enjoyed it! I can't wait to save as much as I can. ❤️

[@margm4]

Thanks so much for the update Kris! It seems a shame to throw them out. I like your idea of framing a small portion of quilt 3. Photos of the others, if you really can’t save them. Have fun! 😍🇦🇺

[@SewtheDistance]

Aren't they great!? I am hoping to save the other two, in some way, at least. I am concerned the most about the shoo fly quilt (the top one). It is so dry rotted. I may only be able to save a portion of it, if any. The second (middle) one is promising! Stay tuned!

[@judyontheridge7523]

That is so amazing! Beautifully done taking them apart.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you very much! ❤️

[@TheKcderf]

Wow. What a surprise for the 3rd layer. Tell ur dad to keep buying. Thanks for sharing.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! I will tell him! He always has my back. ❤️

[@michelleswistak1389]

You have lots of patience, who could have guessed, amazing. Love your owl pic.

[@SewtheDistance]

It is a labor of love! LOL! My owl quilt is so special to me. I made it while my mom was getting radiation treatment for cancer last year. I would applique those sweet owls while I waited in the waiting room. After I pieced them together, my mom hand quilted it. Thank. you for noticing it! It is a favorite!

[@dianehuntley2493]

I truly love all the history you uncover!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! It is a labor of love! ❤️

[@mwolkonsky]

What a way to use an old quilt as batting because it's a money saver and times were hard and often. Very interesting thanks for sharing

[@SewtheDistance]

YES! Isn't it? Love it so much!

[@sharonbower6446]

What a beautiful surprise.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you for sharing this experience with me! ❤️

[@shannoneaster9311]

You’re a quilt archeologist! Love it! ❤

[@SewtheDistance]

😂😂😂 I guess I am!

[@destrygraves]

I’m speechless. Wow.

[@SewtheDistance]

I was, too! I almost fell over! LOL! ❤️

[@maryl9601]

Wow! I didn’t realize they added one quilt to the next to utilize everything. Love it . Awesome ❤

[@SewtheDistance]

Yes! Isn’t it amazing? It was pretty common but it is so much fun to find one in real life.

[@justme-tz2yj]

I have one that my mother made, probably around 1940. Now I know what to do with it.

[@dianelouise3944]

Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing these pieces of history

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@karin0963]

This was so cool to watch. It gave me chills when I saw the third quilt. Amazing!!

[@SewtheDistance]

Ohhhh! ME TOO! I was so excited I could hardly talk! Especially since I then realized I wasn't working with a scary material! LOL!

[@Loridye3605]

So amazing Chris. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thanks for sharing!❤😊

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you so watching! They are so cool! ❤️

[@abeullah03]

That’s what you call a hidden treasure

[@SewtheDistance]

It is, isn't it? I am so thrilled! ❤

[@MimiSew-Sew]

That is so amazing ... 3 quilts in one! Have fun with whatever you decide to do with them. I would have ideas churning in my head for weeks!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thanks so much! I am anxious to watch them, but I know it is best to wait until we have a nice day to do so. Once they are clean, I can start planning! LOL! Can't wait! ❤️

[@gailg129]

What a fascinating story! Can't you just imagine each quilt getting repurposed in a newer quilt, with all the lumps, bumps, and smells of the older one? Then yet another quilt using the first two. I wonder if the maker of the 3rd quilt knew there was an older quilt inside the one she was going to use inside her quilt? I can imagine the makers of the 2nd and 3rd quilts were probably fairly hard up to keep reusing quilts as batting. They may also not have washed any of the quilts much, if at all. I could keel going and write an imaginary story about that quilt. I just so fascinated. Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey with us!

[@SewtheDistance]

I didn't even think of that! Maybe they did, though. I was a common practice to this, but who knows! I love thinking about this stuff. I weave stories upon stories in my head when I am examining them and trying to figure out what the maker was thinking, doing, etc. We are the same! LOL! It is so much fun and such a rewarding experience looking at and loving these old beauties. Thank you so sharing this! ❤️

[@cherylcurlee3279]

Very interesting reveal. Thanks for sharing

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Kris, That is so interesting! Wow!!! I never considered an old quilt would have more than one quilt (used as batting) in the inside!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you, Michelle! It was common practice, but this is the first one I have in my collection (that I know of). It is fun to give these beauties new life! ❤️

[@ransomdaniels8395]

I was so glad to see your presentation! Like you, i have found quilts within quilts, and i have always picked them apart, so at least i could evaluate whether or not i could use BOTH quilts, and i often can. I enjoy finding these! Just always reminds me how frugal the makers of tnese were, not to consider throwing anything out until i had been used completely. Excellent work... i look forward to seeking out more of your episodes! 😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SewtheDistance]

The biggest surprise is there are THREE quilts in this one! Amazing! Such a find!

[@silverpromidi]

Oh my gosh! WOW! That is history for sure. It would be wonderful to be able to get the stories behind these quilts, but that will never happen. I like the idea of the shadow box, that way the maker of that original quilt will never be forgotten even though you don't know who she was.

[@SewtheDistance]

I would love to know the stories, too! I am going to have to do something with some of the original quilt. Thank so so much for sharing this experience with me! ❤️

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance thank you for taking us on this journey with you, it has been amazing. Maybe see how much of the first quilt can be salvaged and find a way to set it in resin? That would make for one heck of a talking point 😊 and that way the material will be kept for a lot longer than in a shadow box. Just a thought, not sure how practical though.

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh! I haven't thought about resin! What a great idea! Now I am really thinking! Thank you so much!

[@silverpromidi]

@@SewtheDistance happy to be of some help 😊

[@sewbeitquilts]

This is absolutely fascinating! Wow wow wow! What a history! I love the shadow box idea for the oldest quilt! Even having this video is a great way to preserve the quilt in some way!

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh! That's true! The video is honoring these, isn't it? Thank you for this! It breaks my heart to discard any of this, but this makes me feel better. Thanks, Fallon! ❤️

[@lindahuffman2453]

What a cool adventure!

[@tracyrichmond-pshyk8863]

Oh my gosh, 3 for the price of 1. So amazing. Love the history behind it all. Glad you are going to be preserving as much as you can. Too bad we didn’t know the whole story behind them, but very fun watching your journey in trying to find out. Thanks for sharing.

[@SewtheDistance]

Isn't it incredible? Thank you so much for watching and going on this journey with me! ❤

[@donnahoefler2748]

If only those quilts could talk. It would be so neat to hear where they started from, and why, and where they ended up. I applaud you for taking this on yourself, don't know if I could take them apart like you did but am glad you did. Framing a section of the original and even the second quilt would be neat, and the last if it cannot be saved. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you so much! The history these quilts hold. Can you imagine what they have "seen"? I love doing this so much! I am honored to be able to share these experiences on this platform. Thank you for sharing this with me. ❤️

[@barbarasinopoli7690]

Great quilt story!! The maker probably had a pile of shoofly blocks laying around for a while. And when it was clearly time to put a new top on, the existing blocks were an easy and fast(er) solution

[@SewtheDistance]

So true! I would love to know what happened with that top quilt. This is a great theory! Thank you for sharing this and for watching this video! ❤️

[@lynnessewimperfect825]

Hi Kris. That old quilt is amazing. I hope you can save and frame enough of the original layer as possible. Civil War era quilts are so very rare. I'm quite intrigued by them. Take care and stay safe and warm. ~~ Lynne

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! I have a pre-civil war quilt in my collection and did a video on it a few years ago. They are so amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[@robinaruzza2128]

This is so fascinating to me….thank you!

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

[@marywise2014]

Thank you for sharing.❤

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@barbarasinopoli7690]

Third quilt !!!

[@SewtheDistance]

I about fell over when I realized it! No wonder I was questioning the fabric! LOL!

[@maryannboyd5007]

So glad you shared this. This was truly a treasure!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

That was neat to see

[@SewtheDistance]

So happy I could share them with you! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@ChristineKrannich]

That was so awesome! A quilty friend told me her family has a multi-generational quilt where every other generation uses the quilt as batting. I wonder how many quilts are hidden inside!

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh, I love that so much! What a wonderful tradition! Thank you for sharing!

[@debcobb9739]

Oh wow...what a find. I have been trying to repair an old quilt for a friend that is very special to them but when I first started to repair it I noticed that it is a quilt made over another quilt...I would love to see all of the older one but it isn't mine. Then I saw your first video and it was a thrill to see how excited you were. I just wish people wouldn't wait until the quilt is almost beyond repair because this bowtie quilt has to be done completely by hand stitching...

[@SewtheDistance]

That's a labor of love, for sure! Kudos to you for taking on the project! I would let the owner know there is a quilt inside and see what they want to do. I would also encourage them to record whatever history they have on the quilt and put a label on it. Thank you for sharing this story! ❤️

[@rebeccamaccallum9239]

Man cool, I would frame a piece of the third quilt

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh, that's a great idea! Thank you! I may do that!

[@marilynbook4211]

How amazing.

[@SewtheDistance]

I just love them all! Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@charlavaught2681]

Very interesting!!!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thanks! Love all of these! ❤

[@suzanne529]

That is a true "Crazy" quilt, haha. Maybe wear a mask next time you're tearing apart a dirty quilt? Thanks for sharing, that was an incredible find for $2!

[@SewtheDistance]

I probably should have wore a mask. 😬 That would have been smart. LOL! I get too excited and just dig in! 😄 Thank you so much for watching and sharing this experience with me! 😍

[@pamelapruitt2558]

Back in the 70s I had a quilt that was made by my first husband's grandmother. It had started to wear in spots and I attempted to repair it knowing very little about quilts. I was a fair seamstress, so I felt pretty confident. I was able to patch it fairly inconspicuously, but the really odd thing is that she had used an old dark green wool army blanket as the batting. It was a very warm quilt.

[@SewtheDistance]

That is so interesting! I have a few in my collection where the maker did that! I love them all. Thank you so sharing your story and for watching this video. I love that you repaired it! ❤️

[@noreenreasor6093]

Take the bottom layers fabric and put it on top of another lid looking fabric. I got a few blocks at a yard sale and after washing the edges were frayed. I took a old stripe curtain and used it for the background. I sewed around the star with black fabric. I then put that into picture frame. I made one large and two small pictures. I have had them hanging in my sewing room for 27 years.

[@SewtheDistance]

Great idea! Thank you so much for sharing this and for watching! ❤️

[@kerrylynntrazzera664]

So interesting Thankyou

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! ❤️ Thanks for watching!

[@pbar8439]

Pretty cool!

[@SewtheDistance]

Isn't it? Thank you for watching! ❤️

[@letscleanhouse]

Here in the south women used cotton that they hand scrapped to use as batting. The batting gets kind of lumpy and they are so comfortable. That might be what that original quilt was quilted with❤😮

[@SewtheDistance]

Oh, that could be it! I wonder if it is! Thank you!

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@SewtheDistance]

You are so welcome! ❤️

[@MichellesCraftsandMore]

I had bought a quilt at Goodwill years ago for $10 and it was a quilt in a quilt. Not sure how many times it had been recovered as I only had to do some minor repairs to the "most recent" quilt top. It is such a heavy quilt, too. It doesn't fit any of our beds, but I adore it.

[@SewtheDistance]

Wow! That's amazing! So happy it is being loved. Thank you for sharing!

[@deborah1555]

Interesting

[@SewtheDistance]

Glad you enjoyed it! ❤

[@jshipard54]

Amazing! Thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning about this quilt. Wouldn’t it be great to know the full history?

[@SewtheDistance]

It's is amazing? I love sharing these! I would LOVE to know its history! What a treasure! ❤️

[@sewquilty]

Such an Amazing Find! There is a lot of !930s all through the top 2 but is the oldest Chintz? If so it would be interesting to date the fabrics. This Quilt Was WELL LOVED!!

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! I don't see any chintz, but I will have to double check that one! Thanks for the tip! It certainly was! I think it was kept in a garage and maybe even used in a garage in the end. It has a strong smell of motor oil, unfortunately. I hope I can get the terrible smells out and restore as much as possible!

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

This is really fascinating. The bubble gum pink was a surprise - the quilt must have looked so different before it faded to that innocuous almost white. The impression I get is that this quilt was used and preserved through generations of poverty. The patchwork was probably made from scraps left over from making clothes, or from the best bits of clothing too worn out to repair. Definitely not an artistic project of someone with money and leisure, but an effort by someone with almost no resources to express herself by making something pretty as best she could. If it really originally dates to the 1860s, the batting could have been grown and harvested by enslaved people, who perhaps made the batting by hand. It's too bad the quilt ended up being knocked down for $2 without any of its history known. How many generations slept under it, preserved it as a memento of dead relatives and passed their stories on to new generations with the quilt itself. How they struggled to keep it functional by putting a new top on it as the older layers became worn beyond use. All those stories of so many people's lives lost after all that effort. I'm glad you've rescued it, and I hope you can do something with it to honour the people who owned it before you!

[@SewtheDistance]

Well-said! Thank you for this. I feel the same way. It breaks my heart to think this would have ended up in a landfill had my dad not been there. The starting bid was $2.00. The fate of this quilt really was up to him. I am so happy to own it and to honor the makers before me in the best way I know how--preserving as much as possible. Thank you so much for this. ❤️

[@judisewnsew6514]

❤️

[@SewtheDistance]

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@gisellejones1139]

Soooo interesting and a bit scary 😮 l think l would wear gloves when handling something like that!

[@SewtheDistance]

I probably should have. I guess I have done it so many times that I am immune, but it is probably smart to take some precautions. So glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

[@shannonbrown7488]

I have a vintage quilt (very old) with some worn patches and inside you can see that there is another quilt. I can't remove the old quilt because I get the impression that it is not in good condition and the outer quilt has a lot of wear as well. It's fascinating that they recycled the old quilt and batting this way. My guess is the extra layers of fabric also served to make the entire thing thicker and ultimately warmer.

[@SewtheDistance]

So true! And they didn't waste anything, either! I love the rich history quilts bring, especially the everyday quilts like this. I am so honored to be able to restore at least some of it and give these quilts a new life. Thank you so for watching and enjoying this process with me. ❤️

[@suestutzle2779]

That was interesting. Wow, another layer. The windmill square has been around for a long time. Was the batting a cotton type? I found the history very interesting.

[@SewtheDistance]

Isn't this a great one? I am so excited to find these quilts in here! Yes, the batting is cotton roving, I believe. There may have been some wool in there too, but I believe the majority is cotton. Great find and so much fun!

[@virginiagrenier8572]

You might want to flip your seam ripper over. The red dot is there to keep from accidentally poking/ripping something you don't want to poke/rip.

[@SewtheDistance]

I use it both ways depending on the situation. 😊 For this situation, I needed the point and with the stitches this tight, there wasn’t room for the red ball anyway. Trust me, I’m a seam-ripping expert! 😂

[@virginiagrenier8572]

@@SewtheDistance At the very start, where you are removing the binding is where I thought flipping the seam ripper might be useful. Yes, those seams, you had no choice when they are that tight.

[@SewtheDistance]

@@virginiagrenier8572 I tried it a few different ways. It was a tricky one! I do love it when you put the ball down and just zip right through. So satisfying! I wish I could have made that work. ❤️

[@photoladyluck123]

I was asked to repair an old quilt that was tied with yellow ties. It was in pretty decent shape other than 8-10 ripped, tattered blocks. As I was replacing the blocks, I noticed there was another quilt inside the quilt that had a light blanket on the back. I presume the quilt inside was used rather than batting.. I chose not to take the quilts apart and only replaced the blocks. I told the lady who had no idea there was another quilt inside. I removed the damaged blocks and replaced them with material that was as similar as I could find. I learned later that I should have left the damaged blocks and just covered them with similar fabric.

[@SewtheDistance]

There are so many ways to approach these quilts. I love that you did what you believed to be best and also told the owner of the quilt inside! This quilt would have definitely been tossed out, in my opinion, so any way it can be saved is a good way. I hope I can save the top two tops! Thank you for sharing your experience. As for leaving the damaged blocks, it really is a person preference. You didn't do anything "wrong" in my opinion. So many of these old quilts get thrown out. ❤️ Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@perfectseams]

Would have been wonderful if the older quilts had been labelled with any information.

[@SewtheDistance]

That would have been great!

[@mayselboatfield2821]

8:29 what was the size on the quilt? Im wondering if it was a baby or childs quilt that was upcycled for the next child. The middle one appeared more boyish and the top one girlish (pinks). It would be logical if a child out grew it and there was a newborn, easy peasy...just make a new top not a whole other quilt!

[@SewtheDistance]

Great point! It is quite large, however, but I love the thought of that! It is 60" x 70", but it still could be a quilt that someone outgrew. Thank you for this!

[@annolsen8276]

You are a special lady, I couldn't do it, especially with a smell.

[@SewtheDistance]

You don't notice the smell after a bit--lol! The smell usually gets really bad when I get them wet. Then I struggle. LOL! Thanks so much for watching!

[@marygem]

200 years of dirt??

[@SewtheDistance]

Pretty much! LOL! ❤️