Fall officially begins September 22. Why not do some autumn antiquing and hunt for a vintage or antique quilt? It can keep you warm, decorate a guest room bed or hang on a wall.

Quilts have been made since the seventeenth century. Textiles were precious and every scrap was saved to reuse.

Patchwork and appliquéd quilts were made in traditional patterns that have been handed down through the ages. These are the most popular quilts today and usually sell for a lot of money. Amish quilts are known for their geometric designs and solid colors. They were made from cotton and wool. Victorian “crazy” quilts were made in the 1890s. Silks, satins, velvets, chenille, ribbons and embroidery were used to make quilts of unique patterns that included names, dates, pictures and lots of different symbols. From the 1920s through the 1950s, printed feedsacks were a source of fabric for quilts. The feedsacks originally held feed, grain and flour, were printed in a variety of colors and patterns, and were also used for household items like dish cloths, diapers and clothing. A lesser known type of quilt is the Hawaiian quilt—two layers of fabric, with appliquéd floral designs in bold colors, usually on white background.

This quilt was made about 1925. It is an appliquéd quilt—that is, it has small pieces stitched to the top of a large piece of background fabric—in a pattern called coxcomb, with a sawtooth border. The 79-inch square quilt is made of cotton with a muslin backing. It sold for $470 at Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers in Delaware, Ohio.

Find prices and more information about quilts in the free online price guide at Kovels.com.