Preserving Antique Quilts
American quilts, often made with colorful fabrics and intricate stitching, capture the attention of many collectors. These wonderful examples of heirloom quality handiwork combine two ancient traditions, quilting and patchwork.
Whether you buy an antique quilt to display in your home or have the good fortune to inherit a family treasure, there are some steps you can take to ensure that they are around for years to come.
Most people want to display their quilts. After all, having them and not enjoying them seems rather futile. The main concern, however, is light damage. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum offers quite a bit of information on preserving quilts and emphasizes that all light damage is irreversible.
"Both sunlight and artificial light will cause fading," according to RMQM. Light levels should be low in rooms where quilts reside and any bulbs that might damage the fibers with heat should be avoided.
The best way to display or store quilts comes in a traditional form ... spreading it on an unused bed. The Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives also suggests that you cover quilts with an everyday coverlet when storing them in this manner.
Should you decide hanging a quilt in your home is the best route to take, plan to only leave it up for six months at a time. If you have more than one quilt, rotating them could be the answer. And, remember to never use nails, pins or staples to hold a quilt on the wall. The best measures distribute the weight over the entire width of the quilt to avoid damage.
A good method is sewing a four inch wide tube or sleeve of fabric along the top back edge and then stitching every inch or so taking care to sew through all layers of the quilt. Then it can be attached to a wall or other display area easily without harming the fabric.
If you decide that you need to fold the quilt for storage, there are some steps to take that will help to keep it looking good, according to Museum Conservator Barb van Vierzen of the Peterborough facility.
To fold a quilt, spread it face down on a clean, well worn white cotton sheet. Cover the back with the same type of sheet to prevent the folds from tearing. Then, fold the quilt in an accordion pleated fashion. It takes extra time, but provides the best protection for the stiching and fabric.
Limited space may dictate storing the textile under a bed. This can be accomplished using a Rubbermaid or similar container. Materials used in manufacturing plastic bags, cardboard boxes and wooden trunks can all react with quilting fabrics, and should be avoided. If reactions occur, they can cause quilts to become fragile, prone to tearing or even stain them.
Another important step in preservation is airing quilts. Van Vierzen recommends letting them air once or twice a year by spreading them flat in an area with low light, rather than hanging them on a clothesline or similar apparatus. This also serves as a cleaning method, since it helps eliminate odors naturally.
Cleaning quilts should be done sparingly and never with harsh dry-cleaning chemicals. Most of the time, a good dusting will do the trick, although this should never be accomplished by shaking or beating the textiles.
Instead, place a nylon stocking over the nozzle of a canister vacuum and then gently vacuum in two directions.
Between dusting, airing and proper storage methods, most quilts should stay in good, clean condition for future generations to enjoy. However, if more work is needed to clean and freshen a soiled quilt, it's best to contact a professional quilt conservator for assistance.
For more information on antique quilts, including Amish and other American examples, check out Quilts and Textiles links in the subjects bar.
Additional resources:
Bookmark these quick references on displaying and storing antique quilts.
