How can I tell how old a quilt is?

Fabrics are the best clue. Look closely at the prints and colors. Turkey red, indigo blue, double pink and brown prints are typical of the 1800s. Bright pastels, novelty prints and feed sack fabrics with small florals point to the 1930s and 1940s. Polyester blends and bright synthetic colors usually mean the 1960s or later.

Check the stitching. Hand quilting shows small, slightly irregular stitches, often eight or more per inch on fine work. Machine piecing doesn't always mean a quilt is new, because sewing machines were used on quilts from the mid-1800s on, but machine quilting over the whole surface, with long perfectly even lines, usually points to a later quilt.

Look at the batting and backing too. Cotton batting with seeds or lumps is a sign of age. Polyester batting is light and springy and generally later.

Hold the quilt up to light to see thin spots and the batting, and look for names or dates stitched or inked in a corner. A textile appraiser can confirm the date range if the quilt seems important.