Does anyone know about hand basted antique quilt tops from the early 1900's. Is there any value in the old quilt top? Should we finish it with new batting and backing or would that ruin it? My 87 year old mom also has some from the '20s and '30s that are sunbonnet sue hand embroidered. Are these of antique value?..help please!

So glad you asked before you did anything!! I almost had heart failure when I read your post, hee hee hee. Hundred year old quilt tops in the process of being made: priceless!! Even the 20's and 30's ones are valuable if they're in good condition. I don't know the actual dollar value, that's what an appraiser is for: make sure you get several opinions! Price also sometimes depends on the area of the country they're from, and the area you're trying to sell them in. Like, a collector in New York City is likely to pay far more for them than say, oh, somebody like me in Nowhere, Pennslyvania, drool drool. Truly, these belong in the hands of a conservator/collector, the oldest ones possibly in a museum exhibition, if you don't choose to keep them as family heirlooms. Please show us pictures if you can, like in Projects maybe, so I can drool on my computer some more, hee hee hee. Best of luck, hugs, Marji

You said that it was hand basted. Does it have a backing and batting already attached? If so, I would definitely use that. Is the quilt machine stitched or hand stitched? If you use the original materials, then it would retain more value as hand stitched with cotton thread than machine stitched. Do you want to keep it, or are you inquiring in order to sell it? There are lots of folks out there who would gladly buy up your antique tops. You should post a picture here so we can all check it out. :)

I'm sure they are valuable. Although they may not quite be antiques yet, if nothing else, they are a family treasure and should be documented.

This group is awesome! I will take your advice and find a guild or an appraiser from those sites. Thank you!

Anything handquilted has more value than machine quilted. I would say it has some value now, but to altar it might change that. You could go to the Fons and Porter website and write them. I know they have had shows about antique quilts and might be able to give you more info.

This is a list of registered appraisers from the American Quilter's Society. They probably charge for the service, but they are professionals and that is to expected. I'm sure what you have is of some value. I wouldn't finish anything until I spoke with someone who knows.

I suggest you look for a local quilt guild that would be better able to answer. Or use google and find someone that appraises quilts to ask.