I bought this lovely quilt earlier today at an auction. It is handstitched and in excellent condition. I was wondering if anyone knew the pattern as well as giving me some tips on selling it. Thanks a bunch!
rarrifle: It was indoor and it was a benefit for a local antique dealer who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Interesting story about the quilt. It sold once and the buyer paid for it and then asked the auctioneer to re-auction the item. I was already kicking myself because I had not bid just $5 more the first time. I must be living right and got another chance to bid. I figure if I paid too much for it, my son's girlfriend just got a new quilt in that purple color she is so fond of.
posted on February 16, 2002 02:48:23 PM
The closeup pics. it seems I see the tumbling block pattern. But it has the circles in the overall picture. I have a tumbling block pattern quilt is why I know that pattern. Mine is tumbling block all over but I do see that pattern in the closeups. Maybe someone knows more than me. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!
posted on February 17, 2002 01:13:01 AM
I looked it up in the best reference book: Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns (shows 4,000 pieced blocks in line drawings so they are easier to pick out.
The category is easy, it is an 8 pointed star pattern with 45 degree diamonds. It does not exactly match any named blocks as far as I can see, not too suprising since it has kind of an odd setting. Probably the closest thing is Broken Star. If I were listing it, I'd call it either that or Star in a Star, or better yet, 8 pointed Broken star.
Tips for listing: I have never sold a quilt on eBay, but I know what I would look for as a buyer. Do a close-up of the stitches with a ruler there so you can see the stitch length. An overall shot, good close-ups of any damage, be sure to photograph the back.
Condition is really important with vintage quilts, so be sure to give as much info on that as you can. Fading, tears, holes, missing stitches, bearding (where the batting fibers migrate through to the front of the quilt) all should be mentioned if present.
One thing I am really weak on is fabric age. I didn't start quilting until about ten years ago, so I am not good at guessing how old the fabric is. There may be people here who are good at that, I don't know.
posted on February 17, 2002 05:29:02 AM
What a Beauty!! It appears to be the quilt-makers OWN version of,
l. an 8 pointed star
2. 7 sisters
3. and Snowball (the lay out with the hexagon secondary design).
And, whenver you sell,...I'd LOVE to know about it, this is a wonderful quilt. IF the fabrics aren't a reproduction print (doesn't look like they are), and are original, it looks like mid-l930's-l940's...? kb
Karen Bush- http://www.karenbushquilts.com
posted on February 17, 2002 07:31:19 AM
Here's the description I am thinking of using:
Lovely Old Handstitched 8 Pointed Star Quilt I have been advised that this is probably the quilter-maker's own version of an 8 Pointed Star, Seven Sisters and Snowball -- a combination of three beautiful quilt patterns all in one quilt! I believe that the fabrics are original which would date the quilt from 1930-1940. There are a couple of small spots (see picture) and a repaired area (see picture) on the corners. The spots may not be stains and may come out when the quilt is cleaned. I did not launder this quilt as I felt the buyer would know more about how to do that without damaging it.
I purchased this 69x83 inch quilt at a fundraising auction in the Mennonite area of Kentucky. There are approximately 5 stitches per inch.
As I do not claim to be an expert on quilting or quilts, I am offering a money back guarantee. After you receive the quilt, if it does not meet your expectations, please contact me no more than five days after receipt and we will make the appropriate arrangements for you to return it. A refund (including return shipping and insurance costs) will be issued to you once I have the quilt returned to me in the same condition as it was shipped.
I was thinking of listing in the following two categories:
Collectibles:Housewares & Kitchenware:Textiles:Quilts
Antiques & Art:Antiques:Textiles, Linens:Quilts
I would like to put a reserve on it. Do you think there is a downside to stating the reserve (which will probably be $75) in the auction?
I would like to list it this evening. If not, I will list it next Sunday.
Opinions?
[ edited by dixiebee on Feb 17, 2002 07:32 AM ]
posted on February 17, 2002 11:30:02 AM
Dixiebee...I don't know anything about quilts
but I do know auctions and I would guess that you would realize between 150.00 and 250.00 for that size quilt. I would start your auction at $75.00 and don't worry about any reserve. Start it too cheap and the bidders wonder what is wrong.
"I purchased this 69x83 inch quilt at a fundraising auction in the Mennonite area of Kentucky. There are approximately 5 stitches per inch."
Change to "I purchased this 69x83 inch quilt in the Mennonite area of Kentucky. There are approximately 5 stitches per inch.
posted on February 17, 2002 11:51:46 AMdixiebee If you go to eBay search & type in hcquilts & then click on her "About Me Page" you will find her email address.
HCQ used to post here all the time, but now posts at OTWA, but I haven't seen her there for quite awhile.
Why don't you email her & ask her to look at your pictures on AW. She is an absolute expert on antique fabric & quilting. She is nice as can be & I'm sure she would be able to add even more information to what you already have. I'll bet she could even date the material in your quilt.
posted on February 17, 2002 12:18:43 PM
dixiebee, mcjane has given some excellent advice here. HCQ is a real whiz at quilts and textiles. I really miss her posts here at AW.
posted on February 17, 2002 12:19:37 PM
>What a Beauty!! It appears to be the quilt-makers OWN version of,
>l. an 8 pointed star
>2. 7 sisters
>3. and Snowball (the lay out with the hexagon secondary design).
The 8-pointed star in that sort of wreath isn't an original design--I have one my great-grandmother made and I've seen a number of others, though I'm drawing a blank on the name of the block. The snowball illusion comes from the different background colors used, but it's not snowball--it's just the way the pieced squares are connected; had the maker used the same green for the small squares that she used for the big squares you wouldn't see snowballs at all.
I'd describe it as an "8 pointed star in wreath" and leave out mention of the other patterns.
posted on February 17, 2002 03:04:22 PM
KarenMx, I disagree about not mentioning the other patterns. the more patterns mentioned the more lookers it will draw. The more keywords that can be added to a description, the better.
Everybody's grandma made quilts and everybody's grandma had their own names for patterns.
It doesn't make your grandma right or mine, just different.
posted on February 17, 2002 03:48:19 PM
On a quilters bulletin board that I found, someone saw my posting and said the large squares are Carpenter's Wheels. Does that ring a bell to anyone?
posted on February 17, 2002 07:51:48 PM
Hi Dixiebee! I am not an expert but I spend my coffee time almost everyday looking at quilts on ebay.(my calm down time after getting everybody off for the day) You have a very nice one that should go for alot more than 75.00!! I saw your post earlier today and the pics got me excited. I wish you luck and hope I find it to bid! You seem to be in good hands as far as the info.Very nice, Cindy
posted on February 19, 2002 01:42:34 PM
Quilt block names are kinda problematic...plus many blocks have waaay more than one name. Yeah, it resembles Carpenter's Wheel, but it also looks like several others previously mentioned. You could make a case that it was one of several different 8 pointed stars, but I agree that it is the maker's unusual setting with the secondary corner design that makes it impossible to know.
Carpenter's Wheel is also known by many other names:
Black Diamond (Clara Stone)
Diadem Star (Hearth and Home 1928)
Double Star (Hearth and Home, KC Star 1929
Star of Bethlehem (Comfort)
Lone Star of Paradise (KC Star 1933)
Twinkling Stars (Nancy Page)
Sunflower (Nancy Page)
the Knikerbocker Star (Workbasket 1935)
Star Within a Star (Hall)
I have been staring at the block for a while now, and it appears to have been constructed as a hexagonal block, rather than a square one. Then it was a simple matter to just tack on a couple trianges on each side to get to that weird setting. If you look at the green "squares" that are right inbetween any two of the blocks on the last picture, you can see that they are actually triangles in two different shades of green (you can see the seams mis-aligned pretty clearly in some of them). What pattern it is or isn't kinda hinges on what the corners would have looked like if it were a square block, that's why I don't think you are going to come up with a definitive answer.
Yeah, sometimes these things are not that easy to identify. But I think you can use this to your advantage if you word it correctly - it does make the quilt special in that regard.
Argh
edited because I prefer to write in complete sentences - go figure.
posted on February 19, 2002 08:56:51 PM
Just another thought -- two things that I might like to know as a bidder: What's on the back? And is it machine pieced or hand pieced?
posted on February 28, 2002 06:23:54 AM
ok,...I'm anxious to find out. Did you list this quilt for auction yet, and if so, what's your seller name?? I DO see the Carpenter's wheel as the main center of the block, but, that's one of the Many names that design could have.
I just name it "the BEAUTY"!!!!! I LOVE that quilt! kb
http://www.karenbushquilts.com
posted on March 3, 2002 07:28:57 PM
Hi Dixie! You go girl, the quilt did good! It got over my price range (snif) but I'm glad for you, hope you find a ton of them out there! I enjoyed being high bidder for awhile anyway. Just wanted to say good job! Cindy
posted on March 4, 2002 04:02:32 AM
rodmama: That was the most fun I've had in a while on eBay! Sorry you missed out but I've decided that I should sell quilts all the time! Next time I may find one for you.
Seriously, I pass on quilts all of the time because I don't know much about them. They have them all the time at my regular auction but not normally in this good condition.
If there are others on this board who bid and I didn't recognize your buying ID, I say a great big THANKS!
kb