Where to Find

• Antique and vintage quilts continually show up at estate sales and regional auctions, according to TheCozyQuiltPatch. Antique shops and regional quilt shows should be a frequent stop for serious collectors. Local yard sales are an option along with resale shops. However, they may not be a reliable or steady source, as the interest in vintage quilts has increased greatly in past years.
  
  

What to Look For

• It takes a careful eye to spot an antique or vintage quilt. Some quilt makers may have embroidered the date into the corner of the quilt, but that's not a reliable method of identification. Study information by quilt historians, such as Kimberly Wulfert at AntiqueQuiltDatingGuides, to learn how to identify quilts by their style, patterns and fabrics.
  
  

Preservation Techniques

• Protecting a valuable find is as important as knowing how to identify vintage quilts. The Smithsonian provides a number of valuable tips to care for silk quilts that apply to other fabrics. Keep in mind that many quilts are made with a number of fabrics including patches from silk. Vintage quilts should never be stored in plastic or allowed to touch wood or paper, unless it is a special acid free paper. They should remain in a cool, dry and dark environment.