Antique Quilt Buying Guide
Fabric type and hand-stitching are the fastest way to date a quilt before you buy.
Check the fabric
Cotton feed-sack prints are common in quilts from the 1920s–40s; earlier quilts often use finer, hand-woven cotton. Synthetic blends indicate a later piece.
Hand vs. machine stitching
Hand quilting has small, slightly irregular stitches; machine quilting is uniform and often faster to spot on the back of the piece.
Condition and use
Decide whether you want a quilt to display or to actually use — heavily worn quilts are often priced lower but may not hold up to regular use.
Antique Quilt Buying Guide FAQ
How can I tell if a quilt is hand-stitched?
Look at the back of the quilt — hand stitches are small and slightly irregular in spacing, while machine stitching is very uniform.
Are feed-sack fabric quilts valuable?
They're common from the 1920s-40s and collectible, though value depends heavily on pattern, condition, and stitching quality.