Quilt Care for Today
by: Deborah Roberts
Have you ever given thought to what will happen in the years of the 21st century? In the realm of quilts and quilt making, the care given these textiles today, will greatly affect how they will stand the test of time in the next century. Will future generations look at the quilts we have made, and those of our ancestors in the same way we do? Will they attempt to learn something about the age of the quilts and the people who made them? Will the quilts have value? Will the quilts withstand the next century?
As an appraiser certified by the American Quilter's Society, I am frequently asked questions regarding quilt care. Here, I have attempted to answer some of the more frequent questions. Proper care of your quilt is important whether they are works of art, or everyday quilts. It is important to remember that the quilts left to us and those that we pass on are pieces of men's and women's lives.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A QUILT LABEL
Your quilt history will survive to the end of the next century if is labeled and documented as thoroughly as possible. Take a
photograph of it and keep the photo with your documentation, in a separate area from your quilt. Place a label on your quilt. Your label should contain at the very least, the following information: Your name, (or maker's name) the city and state where the quilt was made, or where it came from if it is an antique quilt. Also include the date it was made, or a circa date if unknown. It would also be nice to include quilt care instructions, as those who will have the quilt after you may not know how to care for it.
It is also nice to include special stories or information such as who the quilt was made for and the occasion, or any shows entered and prizes won as well as the name of the quilt. If it is a family quilt, you might want to have a photo transfer of the maker placed with the label. This information is also useful to quilt historians and researchers.
Remember, our quilts of today, are part of our heritage. We should want those who see them in the future, to know about our lives today. Not only do we record the information for others, it is a great way to take credit for a wonderful accomplishment.
PROPER QUILT DISPLAY AND STORAGE
To display your quilt on a wooden quilt rack, you need to be sure that the wood has at least one coat of polyurethane varnish, or is covered with a soft light colored cloth or towel. This prevents the quilt from coming into contact with the acids in the wood, which can cause damage. If you choose to hang a quilt on the wall, you need to have a full-length sleeve at one end of the quilt. If your quilt has an overall pattern and can be hung in any direction, you may want to place a sleeve on another end as well so it may be rotated. You should not display a quilt in direct sunlight, and all fluorescent lighting should be filtered. Incandescent lights should be at least 10-12 feet from the quilt. It is not a good idea to hang a quilt in a kitchen or near a bathroom where they are exposed to harmful moisture.
If you wish to store your quilt, the best way is out flat in a moisture free, low-light environment. If you need to fold your quilt, put rolls of batting, or acid-free tissue paper in to fold areas. Remember that acid-free paper needs to be replaced yearly.
Another way you can store your quilt is to roll it. You may get a cardboard roll from a carpet store and cover it with an old cotton sheet or a piece of washed muslin. Lay another sheet or piece of muslin over the front of the quilt, rolling the inside up onto the cardboard roll very carefully, taking care to keep the quilt from folding or wrinkling. Cover the entire roll with clean muslin or an old cotton sheet and tie approximately every 12 inches with soft cloth strips.
If you choose to store your quilt in a chest or trunk, be sure it is in a cotton bag, and that it does not come into contact with the wood. To protect it from bugs, buy an herb called Artemisia, place it in a cloth bag, and hang it in the chest. Do not allow the herb bag to come into direct contact with the quilt. It is not a good idea to use mothballs, they can interact with some of the dyes in the quilt and cause damage.
HOW SHOULD A QUILT BE CLEANED?
An antique quilt that has never been washed is rare, and when one exists without other problems, it is considered to be in
pristine condition. Cleaning or washing of a quilt should be kept to a minimum. The old adage, "if it's dirty, wash it", is a bad idea
when it comes to an antique quilt or textile. Following are recommendations for different situations and types of quilt cleaning:
"Dusting" - To freshen up and get the surface dirt off of a quilt, spread a sheet out on your floor. Put your quilt on the
sheet and use something to weight it down. Cover the upholstery attachment on your vacuum with an piece from an old pair of
nylons, and secure it with a rubber band. Vacuum your quilt on a low setting, with this modified attachment, one-quarter at a time.
When you have finished the top, repeat the procedure to the bottom.
"Dry-Cleaning" - I have seen quilts that have been ruined beyond repair through the dry-cleaning process and I would not
recommend it. If you do want to have a quilt dry cleaned, talk to a local museum and get the name of a dry cleaner who specializes
in quilt cleaning.
"Wet Cleaning" - There are several commercial products available that claim to be safe for wet cleaning (washing)
quilts. However, disasters have occurred using these products and therefore I do not recommend home wet washing of quilts. Wet
washing should always be kept to a minimum, and again, I would recommend using a professional quilt cleaner. If you insist on
washing your own quilt, be sure to use a non-ionic detergent, and give yourself plenty of time as this is a slow process. YOU
SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO WET WASH A QUILT UNLESS THE FABRIC IS STRONG, AND IT IS COLOR FAST.
Dye test all fabrics before doing anything else. To do this use a soft, clean cloth or cotton swab. Wet the cloth or swab and press it
against the fabric to determine if the dye is fast, if not, stop. Repeat this process using a solution with detergent. If the fabric starts
to bleed, stop. If the colors are fast, follow the directions on the detergent container to wash your quilt. Again, this is a process I
personally do not recommend, although there are those who do, and who get satisfactory results from this method.**If you need a
recommendation for a professional quilt cleaner, the AQS Certified Appraiser in your area should know of one. To contact the
appraiser in your area, call AQS at 502 898-7903 or e-mail the author.
HAVE YOUR QUILT OR QUILTED GARMENT APPRAISED
Why should your quilt or garment be appraised? In addition to the damage a quilt or wearable art garment might sustain during its lifetime, these items have become the targets of theft and victims of natural disasters as witnessed by several art quilters in flood areas lately. Many quilts have disappeared while being shipped to shows across the country. Many quilt and wearable art show organizers, gallery owners, shippers, and even some local quilt store owners are now requiring appraisals for quilts or wearable art on display that will meet their insurance requirements while the item is in their care. If you are a quilt owner, collector, dealer, quilt maker, wearable art maker or dealer, one thing you should do is to seek an appraisal from a certified quilt appraiser.
Deborah Roberts is a quilt historian and appraiser certified by the Americal Quilter's Society. She specializes in the appraisal of antique quilts, new traditional quilts, innovative art quilts, as well as related textiles, for insurance, fair market, and donation appraisal.
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