Patchwork quilts have been around for decades. They are one of the oldest styles of quilt and have been popular for many generations.
Because they've been around such a long while, it's not unusual that you'll come across an antique patchwork quilt.
If you need to hang on to one of those quilts and preserve its condition, there are a couple of straightforward things you must do.
Your overall objective in this exercise is to clean it carefully and store it safely.
When cleaning an old patchwork quilt, you shouldn't put it in the washing machine. This could really cause more damage to the quilt.
You will need to hand wash the quilt in warm water. Softly rub and scrub the quilt with a bush and once washed, hang it to drip dry.
Do not wring out the quilt to dispose of excess water as this can stretch or tear the fabric or stitching and all you'll be doing is saving a couple of hours of drying time.
Once it's been cleaned, start to fold it up. While folding, get some acid-free tissue paper and place it into the folds. When fully folded, place it in an acid-free storage container.
Don't place the box in a location that's subject to shifting temperatures. If at all possible, find a place where the temperature is the same and ideally around twenty degrees Celsius.
If you are going to put it into a cupboard, check that there aren't any hot water systems or heating vents nearby as this may also raise the internal temperature of the storage environment.
Also avoid storing the box in bright sunlight. Sunlight can naturally warm and trap the heat inside the box, taking it well above ideal storage temperatures.
Daylight also has the nasty properties of degrading color from fabrics over time.
If you follow this advice, you'll discover that your quilt will be kept in good condition for many years to come. So save that quilt for future generations and store it sensibly!
Because they've been around such a long while, it's not unusual that you'll come across an antique patchwork quilt.
If you need to hang on to one of those quilts and preserve its condition, there are a couple of straightforward things you must do.
Your overall objective in this exercise is to clean it carefully and store it safely.
When cleaning an old patchwork quilt, you shouldn't put it in the washing machine. This could really cause more damage to the quilt.
You will need to hand wash the quilt in warm water. Softly rub and scrub the quilt with a bush and once washed, hang it to drip dry.
Do not wring out the quilt to dispose of excess water as this can stretch or tear the fabric or stitching and all you'll be doing is saving a couple of hours of drying time.
Once it's been cleaned, start to fold it up. While folding, get some acid-free tissue paper and place it into the folds. When fully folded, place it in an acid-free storage container.
Don't place the box in a location that's subject to shifting temperatures. If at all possible, find a place where the temperature is the same and ideally around twenty degrees Celsius.
If you are going to put it into a cupboard, check that there aren't any hot water systems or heating vents nearby as this may also raise the internal temperature of the storage environment.
Also avoid storing the box in bright sunlight. Sunlight can naturally warm and trap the heat inside the box, taking it well above ideal storage temperatures.
Daylight also has the nasty properties of degrading color from fabrics over time.
If you follow this advice, you'll discover that your quilt will be kept in good condition for many years to come. So save that quilt for future generations and store it sensibly!
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To get more great tips about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green's how to make a patchwork quilt website now!
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