Anyone interested in reproduction Civil War Quilts?

[Historic Quilt Co.]

Hi, I'm a quiltmaker and pay extensive attention to detail. I make reproduction Civil War era quilts, using reproduction fabric from the period, as documented in various historic fabric books.

I'm trying to see if there is perhaps an interest for my quilts, here? I'm in the process of setting up a website, but do have individual photos I can email of my work.

The rates for a quilt would depend on the pattern selected, and how heavily quilted, but mostly would range between $600 - $900.

Any opinions if there would be any interest on this site?

Thanks!
Jill
Historic Quilt Company

[MBond057]

Jill,

Hello!

I would be interested in your quilts. Please send me photos to my email address.

Thanks,

[E. J. Thomas Mercantile]

Jill,

I think there would be interest in your quilts and they sound great especially with your attention to detail and historical accuracy.

Just curious, do you plan on making a 'low-end' model as well? I always love to see the good stuff, but I think a lot of people may cringe at the thought of spending $600-$900 for a quilt they would be taking into a field and exposed to all types of elements. That's typically more than guys spend on firearms (I guess the ladies have some leverage though if they were to want one of these quilts;-)).

I've never made a quilt so I don't know if there is anyway to scale down the price while preserving the historical integrity of it.

Anyway, best of luck to you!!!
-Bill Lomas

[Brian DesRochers]

The need for such an item is definately there. Good luck.

Brian DesRochers

[CtznBonnieBlue61]

Jill,

I think there would be interest in your quilts and they sound great especially with your attention to detail and historical accuracy.

Just curious, do you plan on making a 'low-end' model as well? I always love to see the good stuff, but I think a lot of people may cringe at the thought of spending $600-$900 for a quilt they would be taking into a field and exposed to all types of elements. That's typically more than guys spend on firearms (I guess the ladies have some leverage though if they were to want one of these quilts;-)).

I've never made a quilt so I don't know if there is anyway to scale down the price while preserving the historical integrity of it.

Anyway, best of luck to you!!!
-Bill Lomas

I have such an item that I am making. I am making my quilts according to specs for the "soldier's comforts" listed in period newspaper requests. I have 2 that I have ready. The measurements are 4 1/2' x 7'. The discription is listed under the items for sale area. Also I am currently working on 2 with Sanitary Commission in mind. These have been pieced with Reproduction Fabrics. The cost of these 2 quilts will be $230.00. These are machine pieced but will be hand finished (meaning anything that can be seen with the eye will be hand sewn). If you are interested in such an item please contact me at Butlersldy1861@aol.com
Thanks!
Shelly Langley
Citzens of the Bonnie Blue

[Euphemia]

Jill,

I think there would be interest in your quilts and they sound great especially with your attention to detail and historical accuracy.

Just curious, do you plan on making a 'low-end' model as well? I always love to see the good stuff, but I think a lot of people may cringe at the thought of spending $600-$900 for a quilt they would be taking into a field and exposed to all types of elements. That's typically more than guys spend on firearms (I guess the ladies have some leverage though if they were to want one of these quilts;-)).

I've never made a quilt so I don't know if there is anyway to scale down the price while preserving the historical integrity of it.

Anyway, best of luck to you!!!
-Bill Lomas

I am the dressmaker in the family, but my mom does quilting. Speaking from what I've learned through her, the biggest cost in quilting is the labor. The minute you start scaling back on labor you start losing in either authenticity or appearance. If you want a quilt that's thrown together quickly with a modern machine and filled with poly they can be had cheaply, but anyone who knows quilts from that period can spot it even from a distance. The closer it is to an historical correct quilt the more it will and should cost. When you figure an hourly wage in that her quilts if they are what she describes are a bargain assuming she is using the correct batting. Another factor to consider is that a good quilt will last a lot longer than a cheap one. I've worked with the actual historical reproduction fabrics quilters use and it's a very good fabric.
Just a thought.

E.

Btw, there is a lot more hours of labor in making that quilt then that rifle. :p

[tenfed1861]

They sound like a great deal.Just from what you've said,it sounds like you will have an eye for detail.If I had $750 to spend,I would order.But that is going to a new 1842 musket,Fed. frock,a French pack,a Kibbler pack,a Short pack,a SA jacket...as you can see,I have a large shopping list.

[E. J. Thomas Mercantile]

If you want a quilt that's thrown together quickly with a modern machine and filled with poly they can be had cheaply, but anyone who knows quilts from that period can spot it even from a distance. The closer it is to an historical correct quilt the more it will and should cost.
Me personally, I would go for the most authentic one they had if I was in the market for a quilt be it $600 or $900!!! It sounded like the original post was looking for some feedback in a business sense. I make $200 cartridge boxes and sell $175 shirts so believe me I'm not complaining about the price one bit. I was just trying to offer some advice as far as breaking into the hobby. It's the smaller less expensive items (belts, haversacks, cravats, housewives, candles, buttons, braces, etc.) that keep my business going so I can still offer my higher priced goods that don't fly off the shelves.

I hate to see people get discouraged when they make half a dozen or so $900 items and only 1, or sometimes none, sell. Then you never see that person or business again. It's happened countless times in this hobby, makers come and go as fast as the seasons.

Just some thoughts!
-Bill Lomas

[Craig L Barry]

Bill Lomas is right. There can be a gap between great dedication to one's art and what the market will bear in terms of pricing. What I would add to Bill's comments is the concept of preceived value. Personally, I am amazed that so many talented craftsmen as the hobby attracts, so few can actually formulate a successful business plan and make a living at it. The profit margins between what it costs to make and what the market will bear is just razor thin. You really have to just love what you are doing because nobody is getting rich

Because of the labor component, and the time associated with something like a quilt, it is not hard to imagine $600-$900 to make one in a period correct fashion.

[Historic Quilt Co.]

Hi, thanks for all of your replies! I appreciate it very much.

I was just trying to get a general business sense to see if there was a market here for my quilts. I make them anyway as a personal artistic/aesthetic interest (as well as repair authentic "real" antique civil war era quilts, which I sell from time to time under my screen name "Historic Quilt Co" on ebay).

A friend just mentioned that this website might be the perfect niche for appreciating my particular craft and I had never thought of marketing to reenactors before, but it does seem like a perfect fit!

The quilts are very labor intensive to make, which is the reason for the high prices. Usually hand-quilted quilts sell for a lot more ($1000 - $1800+ is not uncommon). I knew if I went too high though, I'd probably price-out the market so I'm still trying to keep it in a range people could afford.

If I was to do a lower-end quilt, and I absolutely could, it would just have less intensive stitching. The fabrics and pattern though would still be authentically reproduced. I could probably sell something like that for $400. That's probably as low as I could go, unless it was just a quilt top (which is the top part of the quilt alone, with no inner batting or underside). I never use a machine, so everything I do is always by hand. That's the historic craft part of the quilting that really appeals to me.

I'm going to put together a website in the next couple of weeks. I'll put pictures up and everything, and post back here with a link when it's done so people here can check it out. Obviously, it would be so great to make some money doing what I love to do, but I've been making these quilts for years anyway! I just love the fabric and period.

Thanks again for everyone's input. The feedback helps a lot!

Jill
Historic Quilt Co.

[E. J. Thomas Mercantile]

You really have to just love what you are doing because nobody is getting rich
Right on Craig!!! I have yet to see a CW sutler on MTV Cribs (although that would be quite interesting).

Jill, I'm sure your quilts are awesome. Don't listen to me as I know nothing about quilts or quilting. I do know that if I am in the market for a quilt I will certainly look you up. Until then, I will spread the word!!!

All the Best!
-Bill Lomas

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

As some one who handsews extensively, I can appreciate the tremendous amount of labor that goes into a quilt. I've been making one on and off for about two years now, working an hour here and an hour there. Its about 3/4 finished and will eventually be tolerable. There is indeed a select market for your product, as there is always someone out there looking for the absolute best item that they can get, be that accoutrements, clothing, weaponry, or in this case bedding. There won't be big market for sure, but I'm also sure that quilts are one of those items that you won't have the ability to overstock due to the incredible amount of time invested in them. Even though the good Mr. Lomas says he doesn't know much, he's a little modest, since his works in considered part of the upper tier of current repros, and he offers some good advice. We both, I am sure, look forward to any of your offerings and I wish you the best of luck. There will surely be a hardy few who will want to jump on an authentic quilt , as there are so few on the market today.

[M.Metz]

I am very interested in making my own quilt. I would like to make one that is authentic and some what easy ( as in I'm a beginner so take it easy on me). I have a little knowledge in sewing. My mom has made a few quilts and many other dresses and such. I want to keep under the radar from her, so one day at a reenactment I could surprise everyone with a quilt I made from hand.

My question is where do I start? Is there patterns out there I should buy? Where can I find the period fabric? Am I in way over my head?

Mods feel free to move this post to another thread if you seem fit. I figured this would be the best place to post.

I am very eager to learn how to quilt.

[Euphemia]

If I was to do a lower-end quilt, and I absolutely could, it would just have less intensive stitching. The fabrics and pattern though would still be authentically reproduced. I could probably sell something like that for $400. That's probably as low as I could go, unless it was just a quilt top (which is the top part of the quilt alone, with no inner batting or underside). I never use a machine, so everything I do is always by hand. That's the historic craft part of the quilting that really appeals to me.



Just selling the quilt top sounds like a good idea. That way someone could have historic fabric already sewed into a historic pattern. It would be up to them how much labor they want to put into the quilting itself. Some reenactors are hands on type people and would enjoy putting it together. Others want things ready to use. If I were going to do this I would offer both.

Good luck!
E.

[Historic Quilt Co.]

That's a great idea. I appreciate it. Offering just a quilt top would certainly lower the price, and give those who want a hands-on approach to create.

For the person who asked about patterns, etc., there are no authentic pre-made patterns out there that I know of. There are a couple of Civil War quilt books with patterns, but the patterns are modern designs of the author's in the "style" of old quilts.

To a trained eye though, these look VERY modern and it annoys me everytime I see one of these books because they're so far off base as to what a real Civil War quilt looks like.

I make my own patterns based on Civil War era quilts that are in current museum collections. It's just a skill I've learned. So, what I do is actually reproduce an authentic museum quilt. In terms of fabric, there's a book called "Dating Historic Fabric" or something like that, that's a great reference for learning what Civil War fabrics looked like, and then you can go out and try to match them. There are one or two fabric lines out there that sell "historic" fabric, and most speciality quilting shops would know how to order them.

I'm still working on putting together a website, to sell some of these beauties! I'll post a link when I have it all together.

Thanks!
Jill
Historic Quilt Co.

[Elaine Kessinger]

The Book she's referencing is: Dating Fabrics: A Color Guide http://www.amazon.com/Dating-Fabrics-Color-Guide-1800-1960/dp/0891458840
What's good about this book is the chapter beginings which give information on what patterns, colors, and technologies were most prevelant. please notice our time period is covered in volume 1: 1830-1960

One sorce online of reproduction fabrics is: http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/
They have their fabrics sorted by period, then by the quilt that inspired them.

Miz Jill, I have a friend wanting to get back into quilting, and we've been joking around about having her make an historical repro quilt. I think it's a great idea you have and a much needed niche. ...and feeling secure that your purchase is right historically is worth a great deal to re-enactors... as many have already expressed, give please give us some time to gather our pennies. :)

[Historic Quilt Co.]

One more business oriented question if maybe one or two people could answer:

There are major differences in both patterns and fabric used, regarding Union versus Confederate quilts. This was due to the fact that the South stopped selling cotton to the Northern mills (which greatly curtailed the mill's production) and, subsequently, was also cut off from receiving goods from the North (such as printed fabric) leaving Southerns, as the war marched on, to resort to using natural dyes, homespun, and wool to make their textiles.

In terms of the reenactor market -- is it pretty equal in terms of Confederate versus Union participants on these forums?

I'm going to make both Union and Confederate quilts eventually, and identify them as such, just trying to figure out if one is a better place to start than the other.

Can one or two people maybe answer?

Thanks!
Jill
Historic Quilt Co.

[2nd_mi_johnny]

It's the smaller less expensive items (belts, haversacks, cravats, housewives, candles, buttons, braces, etc.) that keep my business going so I can still offer my higher priced goods that don't fly off the shelves.
-Bill Lomas

One thing I would suggest is that as a side item that I know from personal experiance sells like hot cakes, is that she also produce a couple of types of 'stuffable matress's' that can accurately be done in sail cloth or matress ticking. ITs a reletively easy thing to make, you can sell them for between 40 and 80 dollars when done properly and reenactors will often not even bat an eyelash when they see them, as they buy them up at that price. This is a really good investment return, when taken into account that your initial investment is maybe between 10 and 20 dollars on the Cloth for the matress, about 90 cents for the three buttons at the top, and 2 dollars for a spool of waxed cotton thread. In selling those two item Quilts and matresses would put you in a very coasy place to start a Niece sutlery that specializes in bedding and soldier comforts.

[hanktrent]

There are major differences in both patterns and fabric used, regarding Union versus Confederate quilts. This was due to the fact that the South stopped selling cotton to the Northern mills (which greatly curtailed the mill's production) and, subsequently, was also cut off from receiving goods from the North (such as printed fabric) leaving Southerns, as the war marched on, to resort to using natural dyes, homespun, and wool to make their textiles.

In terms of the reenactor market -- is it pretty equal in terms of Confederate versus Union participants on these forums?

I'd say that yes, though there might be a slight geographical difference.

But it also occurs to me that quilts from pre-1861 didn't just disappear when the war began. So a brand new quilt made in, say, 1864 might differ north and south, but what about the differences in a 10-year-old quilt being used on a bed in 1862?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[MD_Independent26]

Ms. Jill,
If you restore and sell CW-era quilts, you could always test the waters within the reenacting community by trying to sell one here. I would certainly be interested in purchasing one.
Bill Birney

[Historic Quilt Co.]

Great question about the Northern/Southern difference regarding a 10 year old quilt, in 1862. It's true that while quilts made DURING the actual war (especially as the war went on) diverted in style, pattern and fabric, a lot of the quilts sent to the soliders, obviously were made and used old clothing made before that period.

The patterns still differed though, as 19th century quilts are often (though not always) region-specific.

And thanks 2nd_mi_johney for the stuffed mattress suggestion! I think that's a GREAT way to keep a business going while I'm waiting for the higher priced quilts to move.

Does anyone on the site have a photo of one of these stuffed mattresses that they could email me? I'll try researching it on the web, but a photo would be worth a thousand words. My direct email is HistoricQuiltCo@aol.com

I really like the stuffed mattress idea.

And I think I will post my first quilt here on the site, or link it to an ebay auction, but regardless I will post it here. At the moment I don't have any authentic "real" 19th century quilts, but I get them in from time to time.

Thanks so much all,
Jill
Historic Quilt Company

[2nd_mi_johnny]

And thanks 2nd_mi_johney for the stuffed mattress suggestion! I think that's a GREAT way to keep a business going while I'm waiting for the higher priced quilts to move.

Does anyone on the site have a photo of one of these stuffed mattresses that they could email me? I'll try researching it on the web, but a photo would be worth a thousand words. My direct email is HistoricQuiltCo@aol.com

I'm not sure if I can find I picture of one but I'll sure do my darnest. To give you an idea of the diamaters though, I used to go to walmarts when they sold Blue Tick Bed Sheets Red Ticking works to but I like to use Red Tick for shirts and Blue for matress its a thing The blue matches my pillow and its like a set. At any rate when Walmart sold the Blue tick unfitted sheets I'd by two of the single (You can get away with a couple of twins) and then I'd double stitch them closed all but the top. I'd then cut between three and seven button holes and stitch them unioformed. Then Add the buttons. Another thing you can do alot of reenactors appreaciate it... If you sew some form of plastic into the inside.. this keeps seepage from occuring from wet straw. But personally I avoid that probelme by first of all putting it on a cot (Or rope bed) so its elivated, and bringing my own straw from home so that I know that It was filled with dry materials. IT also keeps me from adding to the constant problem at reenactments of one reenactor taking 2 or 3 bails of straw bedding for his personal comfort from the comunity pile that is often provide and that which I don't use I share with my camp neighbors. But any rate. I'll struggle to find a picture but I'm guessing that because they were allmost completely unique to a barracks situation, photos may be hard to find. Also The regimental Quartermaster sells them for 22 dollars. On adverage a yard of 42 inch Blue, red, black or any other collored ticking (The budget stuff) runs between 3.50 a yard and 4.99. you can make get away with about 2 yards of fabric you'll wind up with a narrow matress (About a foot across) That will fit in most cots, hammocks, what have you. Hope this helps.

your humble assistant

John W. Knecht

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Here is at least a documented mattress reproduction recently offered on another forum, using the specifications of the U.S. Sanitary Commision:
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14809&highlight=Mattress+ticking. Some may say "a bag is a bag", but there are plenty of us out there who would prefer something with a reasonable amount of documentation rather than conjecture or what is already offered from the average sutler.

[2nd_mi_johnny]

Here is at least a documented mattress reproduction recently offered on another forum, using the specifications of the U.S. Sanitary Commision:
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14809&highlight=Mattress+ticking. Some may say "a bag is a bag", but there are plenty of us out there who would prefer something with a reasonable amount of documentation rather than conjecture or what is already offered from the average sutler.

If you look at the description you'll note that is exactly what I described in my previous post. And Inexpencive does not mean cheap or what is the norm.. It just means one knows where to shop

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I wasn't trying to call you out, John, just helping Jill find a source for the correct research for the dimensions of a documented mattress. I know all too well that price has nothing to do with correctness, nor does where one buys material. I would however caution that we could probably do away with the plastic inside one of them, since that is what a gum blanket, ground cloth, or bed is used for, if the mattress is for field use or garrison use.

[2nd_mi_johnny]

I wasn't trying to call you out, John, just helping Jill find a source for the correct research for the dimensions of a documented mattress. I know all too well that price has nothing to do with correctness, nor does where one buys material. I would however caution that we could probably do away with the plastic inside one of them, since that is what a gum blanket, ground cloth, or bed is used for, if the mattress is for field use or garrison use.

I agree with you. I was just saying that I did so on the request. but I didn't like doing it because it makes noises... Forgive my defensivness.

[Drygoods]

One thing that I would like to mention is that today you can find two different types of mattress ticking. Often quilt shops and chain stores have the "printed" stripe cotton ticking which is far too thin for mattress use. You really have to have the sturdy heavyweight woven ticking for mattresses otherwise the thin cotton stuff is just too uncomfortable, as well as incorrect.

This information is very timely for me, as I, too, have thought to make some new mattress ticks. I wonder would it be better to have a rubber stamp made of the USSC pattern, or would an iron-on work? Frankly I have little confidence in something that I would iron on, because the ticking isn't a smooth cloth, it's well woven. But what would one expect to spend on a rubber stamp? I think that Mr. Woodburn should be flattered that he does such a fine job with his work that people wish to replicate his efforts. I know it would be better to buy direct from him, but I've got 40 yards of ticking that I need to use up. Most important of all things is that these things look period correct.