The Professional Association of Appraisers – Quilted Textiles is an international organization established in 1992 to promote and guide professional certified quilt appraisers.  Members have a wealth of information to share about quilt values, history and construction of quilts.

“Maker unknown” appears too many times on quilt appraisal forms.  There is little we can do to change that with vintage and antique quilt but there is plenty we can do with the quilts we are making today to make sure that our work can be identified.  Today we usually attach a label by sewing machine or hand.  The label can have very little information or it can be packed with a variety of possibilities.  The very minimum I recommend is the Makers name, the completion date and the location where it was made.

Other items that can appear on a quilt label are:  the title of the quilt, the name of the quilter if different from the maker.  Many women add their maiden name to quilts they make for family members. Wedding wishes are frequently found on quilts made for a wedding and sometimes the invitation to the wedding is reproduced on the label.  A graduation quilt can list the institution the graduate attended.  Use your imagination when making a label.  Your quilt is not finished until your label is affixed.

The quilt appraiser does make note of the label and a label depending on how elaborate it is does add to the value of your quilt.

Gail  Van Horsen

PAAQT President

AQS Certified Appraiser of Quilted Textiles.

Wichita, KS  gvhmail@aol.com

Appraisals of Vintage, Antique and newly made quilted textiles.

Lectures and Trunk Shows for quilt groups.