Today the quilt I’m showing hasn’t made it to the quilt top cupboard yet. I bought it at a town wide sale in Metamora Michigan this past Saturday.
The quilt is a wholecloth tied quilt, meaning it’s made from large whole pieces of fabric which isn’t pieced into a quilt pattern. The print on the cloth looks like a pieced quilt pattern though.
The quilt has the same fabric on both front and back, contains a thin cotton batting, and the layers have been tied together using a variegated crochet cotton.
The quilt has a piece of fabric applied at the top on both sides stitched down with the same variegated crochet cotton. It appears to have been added at about the same time the quilt was made?
I have read that women used to add beard protectors to the top edges of their quilts, and I’m assuming that’s why the fabric was added here?
I decided to remove the fabric and see what the quilt looked like underneath. The protective cover did it’s job. The quilt was perfect underneath.
The edges of the quilt have been turned under and the top and bottom joined with a knife edge finish. They’re held in place by an embroidered feather stitch done with the same variegated crochet cotton used throughout the quilt, instead of having binding.
I was delighted to find that the edges were finished the same as the rest under that protective fabric.
I would date this quilt to around 1950, due to the colors in the print, the width of the fabric, and the crochet thread that was used.
The fabric is a beautiful quality percale which feels soft, smooth, and cool to the touch.
The lengths of fabric used to make this quilt are 36″ wide. They’re seamed together so that the seam runs down the length of the quilt.
The quilt measures 71″x 87″. It’s clean and odor free.
The price I paid for this quilt is pretty unbelievable.
The man selling this quilt had sheets spread out on his lawn which were loaded with all sorts of things for sale. As I approached to see what he had he called out that everything was 3/$1. I saw the quilt folded up and asked..”are you sure? Everything?” He assured me he meant everything..he just wanted it gone! I looked through what he had and found a clean looking plump down pillow, which I thought might be a nice insert for a decorative pillow and my husband found a hard fishing pole case to make an even 3 items.
I can’t imagine getting rid of something so nice and still useful for so little..but we all felt we had made a good deal. 
Tags: tied quilt, vintage fabric, wholecloth quilt
I love purple and yellow. Imagine the work if that was pieced? That is a great story. I have not yet tried a knife edge finish but Ihave it on my wish list. What a great find.
Metamora? I can’t believe it! I live about 15 minutes from there! Did you happen to stop into Elaine’s Quilt shop near there? What a great find that quilt is. Enjoy it!
This is such great vintage cheater quilt (and what a deal at 33¢) — I love the colors and pattern and the condition is amazing. My sister has a pieced quilt made by her husband’s grandmother that has a feedsack cover on it just like yours. Maybe I should try this myself, because the quilts on my bed tend to get dirty along the top edge.
Wow, what a find for a whopping $1! What a great idea to finish a quilt with a feather stitch around the edge. Talk about adding charm.
That is very pretty fabric! I can’t believe the price – wow! What do you plan to do with it?
wow I wish I lived near you to go to tag sales with!
Kathie who dreams of having a cupboard like this one day!
Great find!
I love the funny little “cheater” print. Or is it more polite to call it “opportunity” fabric? Interesting about the beard protector. Do you plan to use it? It looks nice!
I’d say it was a real steal!!!
that was a fantastic deal… and what a lovely quilt… you are so informative, Ann…
I’d say you found a bargain! It is unbelievable sometimes what you can find. The maker did a good job of lining up the pattern in the seam….I remember 36″ wide fabric…42″ is much nicer, not only for quilting but especially for patterns. I do like the colors in this pretty quilt.
33 cents!!!!!?????