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Caring for and Storing Your Quilts

Last week, I covered preserving your quilt history with labeling. I also chatted about displaying those quilts, including how to attach a hanging sleeve. This week, I will talk about caring for your quilts, which also helps with preserving them, and how I store them. If you missed last week’s post, you can find it here: Preserving the History and Life of Your Quilts. So, let’s set started on this week’s topics.

Caring for Your Quilts

Here are some tips to keep displayed quilts in good shape.

  • Display them out of direct sunlight to prevent fading
  • If the quilt is folded or rolled for the display, unfold or unroll them periodically and refold them another way. This will prevent creasing the quilts in one place.
  • Rotate quilts you have displayed so quilts that are precious to you are not exposed to the everyday household elements all the time.

Since I can’t have all my quilts out at time, some of them have to be stored. If you are storing quilts folded, be sure to also unfold and re-fold those periodically so crease lines do not form those quilts.

Removing Creases: Here’s a trick I have used to remove some deep creases. I lay the quilt out completely unfolded on a bed, I lightly spray some Best Press on the portions of the quilt that are creased and carefully smooth out the creases with my hands. Do not soak the area. I then leave the quilt on the bed and the creases appear to work themselves out.

Light (not washing) Cleaning: For wall quilts that can collect dust or cobwebs, use the soft brush attachment (like pictured below) for your vacuum cleaner and, on the low suction setting, brush across the surface of the quilt.

Do not use any kind of attachment that has moving parts like a pet hair attachment. Those moving parts can possibly catch on the fabric or the seams and cause damage. If the wall quilt has picked up a musty smell or another smell from the room it is in, it can be aired out by placing it outside (in a shady area) on a clean sheet.  For cleaning large quilts, lay it out on a flat surface and vacuum with the soft brush attachment. They can also be aired out using the same method as a wall quilt.

Do not shake quilts like you do for rugs since that can weaken seams.

For cat or dog hair, I use the lint rollers made for clothes. Gently rolling these across the surface of the quilt will pick up the stray hairs without damaging seams.

Washing a Quilt: If you must wash a quilt, be sure to use a gentle soap.  Wash on gentle and I throw in a few Shout Color Catcher sheets in case I’m worried about a fabric that might bleed. Be cautious of this if you are not a pre-washer of fabric. If you do not pre-wash and you are unsure of a fabric in the quilt, I would advise against washing.

If you do wash it and need to dry, it’s best to air dry it. You can put it in the dryer for 10 minutes or so on “air fluff” setting to get the dampness out. Then lay the quilt out on a clean sheet on a flat surface to finish. Never hang a quilt on a clothesline which can put stress on the seams. Also, do not wring out a quilt.

Storing Quilts

Since I can’t display all my quilts at once, I have to store many of them. A lot of my smaller quilts are seasonal, so they are stored during the other seasons. I also have to store larger ones that are not displayed, even if they’re not seasonal, because I don’t have unlimited display space! So here’s how I store my quilts not on display.

For my smaller quilts, like table runners, table toppers, and wall hangings I use the hangers made for pants or skirts to hang them in a storage closet.

I wouldn’t hang larger quilts like this since they are heavy and that could put too much stress on seams. Since smaller quilts are not heavy, hanging them this way is OK as long as the clips on the hangers are padded.

For my larger quilts, I fold them and store them on shelves covered with clean white sheets. My favorite way to fold them is on the bias, which you can find instructions for all over the internet. Here’s photos (with descriptions) of my bias folding steps.

First, lay the quilt out flat and make a first fold on the bias:

The next 3 photos show the next 3 folds to make so your quilt ends up in a square with the design side protected:

Folding on the bias puts less stress on the fabric fibers so any creases that happen while it’s folded this way will smooth out easier. Straight folds create heavier creases that could be permanent if the quilt is folded for too long.

Another way I fold quilts is in thirds. The following photos will show how that is done.

However, unlike the bias folding, this folding has more of a chance of causing creases if the quilt remains folded for long periods of time. Just like with repositioning displayed quilts to prevent creases, it’s a good idea to re-fold a large quilt that has been stored for over 4 to 6 months if you are not taking it out to display. The important thing to take away from this is to keep checking on your stored quilts to make sure they are in good shape.

Some dos and don’ts for Storing:

  • Do not store them in the basement or attic (if you can avoid it) of your home where the temperature and humidity is not at ideal levels. If you can’t avoid it, I think a finished basement is better than an attic.
  • Do not stack too many folded quilts on top of one another. This is another way to cause heavy creases.
  • Do not store quilts in plastic containers or bags. Plastic can trap moisture which could develop mold that will cause stains.
  • Do use clean white sheets to cover a stack of quilts for protection.

So, that’s it for this week. Share with me your quilt caring and storage tips in the comments below. We all can learn from each other! I will enter your name into a drawing for my new Christmas pattern, Christmas Time:

The drawing will be on Monday, September 1st.

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Spring Cleaning Time for the Quilter Too!

Even though spring supposedly started a month ago, it’s still cold and windy here in north Iowa. I am anxiously awaiting temperatures in the 70s with sunny skies. Maybe someday. So since spring is here, that usually means time to clean and organize. In this post I’ll share some tips for spring cleaning your sewing space and quilts, including storage. Let’s get started!

Spring Cleaning Fabrics & Tools

This is a good time to organize and clean the space you sew in. But it’s also a good time to organize your fabric. This will help you to know what you have and what you need so your next trip to the quilt shop is a happy shopping experience.

TIP #1: Organize your fabric stash by size and color. This is key if you are a scrap quilter like me. Here is how I do it. If I find a piece of fabric I really like, I will buy a yard of that fabric. Then I will cut that yard in half and have two half yards. I fold up one of those half yards and store it in a tub with others of the same color:

Next, I take the remaining half yard and cut it in half along the fold to make two fat quarters. I take one of those, fold it up and store in a fat quarter/quarter yard tub.

Then I take the remaining fat quarter and cut that in half (photo below) into two fat eights. I roll the fat eighths instead of folding them for easier storage. 

If there is any yardage left, I cut that into strips. I like 2 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ strips. Or if you only want one fat eighth in that particular color, you can cut the remaining fat eighth into strips for your stash. So when I am done with a yard of fabric, this is what I can end up with:

I now have that color print in every size in my fabric stash so it’s ready to be used in my next scrap quilt! Here’s my mini video tutorial on this topic:

TIP #2 Put strips and scraps into organized containers. I like to have those organized just like I do with the fabric I cut up in tip #1. I organize my strips by size and color and store them in shallow tubs.

As you can see, these tubs are easy to stack in my storage cupboard. The labeling makes it easier for me to pick out the tub that has the size and color strips I need for my current project.

Now for the random scraps of fabric that are smaller than fat eighths and not the right shape to cut into strips, I also have those stored in tubs sorted by color. I use these scraps for my fabric appliqué and for making test blocks, like the one on the right. A test block is where I audition fabrics to see what colors I want to use for a pattern without cutting into my good fabric.

Doing these things with your fabric scraps will keep your sewing space and cutting table clean so you can work.

TIP #3 Tool Storage. It’s a good idea to store your tools in a way that makes them easy to reach or find when you are needing them. I shared a few tips over the last few weeks, but here’s a few more. This is what I do with important cutting tools and my rulers:

The cutting tool storage is actually a used coffee mug holder I found at a garage sale. The ruler storage is a metal peg board made for tool storage in a garage. It’s hung on the wall by my sewing table. If you do not have a permanent sewing space, you can hang your rulers in a closet using jump rings and a hanger made for hanging ties.

Cleaning and Storing Quilts

Next it’s time to focus on the quilts in your collection and to give them some TLC. If you like to display quilts around your house like I do, you will need to do a few things to keep them clean. Here are some tips on what I do. Please note: these tips are not recommended for antique or family heirloom type quilts. For those types of quilts, it’s best to look for advice from textile preservation professionals.

TIP#1:  Light Cleaning: For wall quilts that can collect dust or cobwebs, use the soft brush attachment (like pictured below) of your vacuum cleaner and, on the lowest suction setting, brush gently across the surface of the quilt. Keep the tool moving constantly and do not to stop to avoid having suction concentrated on an area of your quilt. Never use any type of attachment that has moving parts.

Carefully test on a corner of the quilt on the back to make sure it will not do any damage.

If the wall quilt has picked up a musty smell or another smell from the room it is in, it can be aired out by placing it outside (in a shady area) on a clean sheet. I would cover it with another clean sheet to keep it from getting any dirt, leaves, etc on it. For cleaning a large quilt, lay it out on a flat surface and vacuum with the soft brush attachment, lowest suction setting again. It can also be aired out using the same method as a wall quilt.

Do not shake quilts like you do for rugs since that can weaken seams.

For cat or dog hair, I use the lint rollers made for clothes. Gently rolling these across the surface of the quilt will pick up the stray hairs without damaging seams.

TIP #2: Washing. If you must wash a quilt, be sure to use a gentle soap.  I wash on gentle and I throw in a few Shout Color Catcher sheets in case I’m worried about a fabric that might bleed. Be cautious of this if your fabric was not pre-washed. If you do not pre-wash and you are unsure of a fabric in the quilt, I would advise against washing and just stick with tip #1 above.

If you do wash it and need to dry, it’s best to air dry it. You can put it in the dryer for 10 minutes or so on “air fluff” setting to get the dampness out. Then lay the quilt out on a clean sheet on a flat surface to finish. Never hang a quilt on a clothesline which can put stress on the seams. Also, do not wring out a quilt, which can damage and distort seams.

TIP #3 Storage. First, it’s a good idea to learn how to fold a quilt in a way that is the least damaging to the seams and fabric fibers. This is for large quilts. To begin, lay the quilt out flat and make a first fold on the bias:

The next 3 photos show the next 3 folds you need to make to end up with your quilt folded and protected:

Even though the bias option is the best, the other way I fold quilts is in thirds. The following photos will show how that is done. Here are the first 3 folds:

And the final folds:

When you have quilts folded and stored, be sure to refold them periodically. It’s recommended that refolding every 3 to 4 months is a good timeframe. This keeps the fabrics from breaking down in the folds or developing permanent creases. It’s also a good idea to refold large quilts that you have displayed on beds, ladders or draped over sofas or chairs.

For smaller quilts like wall hangings or table toppers, I hang them on skirt or pant hangers to store in a closet when I am not using them.

Here are some random do’s and don’ts for storing quilts:

Do not store them in the basement or attic of your home where the temperature and humidity is not at ideal levels.

Do not stack too many folded quilts on top of one another.

Do not store quilts in plastic containers or bags. Plastic can trap moisture which could develop mold that will stain quilts.

Do use clean white sheets to cover a stack of quilts for protection. You can also store single folded quilts in large pillow cases or make a case for the quilt out of an old white sheet.

Two other ways to store quilts is to roll them or to drape them over extra beds. Rolling large quilts may be difficult for storage since there would need to be a large space to store those rolls. But rolling them is a good way to avoid any creases from folding, so if you have the storage space, consider doing this.

If you drape them over guest beds, be sure they are not in direct sunlight that could fade a quilt. If there is direct sunlight into that room, you can cover the stack of quilts with a clean, white sheet to protect them.

So that’s it for this week. I hope these tips get you started on your spring cleaning in your sewing space and cleaning & storing your quilts. Leave a comment or ask questions below and I will enter you into a drawing for my quilt pattern for Strips & Stars.

The drawing will be on Monday, May 1st. Good luck! **We have a winner! Congrats, Pat W.!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Storing Quilts – My Favorite Tips


We all need to store quilts at one time or another if we own a lot of them. Unless you have several bedrooms with guest beds where you can layer them, you’ll need to fold them for storage. I’ll give you tips on folding the quilt and then some on the best way and place to store them. Leave a comment and be entered in a drawing for a free pattern!

Folding Quilts

Let’s begin by laying out the quilt you want to fold on a large flat surface:

Make the first fold on the bias:

Next fold:

Finally the last two folds:

Folding on the bias puts less stress on the fabric fibers so any creases that happen while it’s folded this way will smooth out easier. Straight folds create heavier creases that could be permanent if the quilt is folded for too long.

The other way I fold quilts is in thirds. The following photos will show how that is done.

First fold:

Next fold:

Next two folds:

If you need the folded quilt to be smaller, you can now fold it over two more times.

Now, I did not have any for this demonstration, but I usually use acid free, colorless tissue paper stuffed in the folds to soften them.

Some dos and don’ts for Storing:

  • Do not store them in the basement or attic of your home where the temperature and humidity is not at ideal levels.
  • Do not stack too many folded quilts on top of one another.
  • Do not store quilts in plastic containers or bags. Plastic can trap moisture which could develop mold that will stain quilts.
  • Do use clean white sheets to cover a stack of quilts for protection.

Other Storage Options

Another way to store quilts is to roll them. Rolling large quilts may be difficult for storage since there would need to be a large space to store those rolls. But rolling them is a good way to avoid any creases from folding, so if you have the storage space, consider doing this.

You can also drape quilts over an extra bed. If you drape them over guest beds, be sure they are not in direct sunlight that could fade a quilt. If there is direct sunlight into that room, you can cover the stack of quilts with a clean, white sheet to protect them.

For smaller quilts like table runners and wall hangings, I use clip hangers meant for skirts and pants and I hang them in a closet.

Finally, when I have quilts that have been stored for longer than 6 months, I like to pull them out and refold them or switch them out with ones that are displayed.

Hopefully, this quilt storage tutorial gives you some ideas on how to protect your quilts when they are not on display throughout your home. Let me know if you use any of these methods or if you have another way you store quilts. With your comment, you will be entered into a drawing for my pattern Rail Fence Blooms!

The drawing will be held on Monday, September 21st. ***We have a winner! Congrats, Brenda in Iowa!***

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Displaying and Storing Your Quilts – Here’s Some Tips!

I like to display quilt on tables, walls, over furniture… you get the drift! I like to display them everywhere in my  house. From big to small, there are some unique ways to display them. When they are not in use, you also need to have a good storage plan. If you are like me, you have seasonal wall hangings and other quilted items in your collection that you do not display year round. 

Making a Hanging Sleeve

First you need to plan if your quilt will need a sleeve on the back. This step is of course for wall hangings or bigger quilts you may want to display on a wall space. An easy way to put a sleeve on a quilt is to do it at the same time as when you attach the binding like I did on this quilt below:

First, I cut a strip of fabric 2 1/2″ wide and 2″ shorter than the width of the wall hanging. This quilt is 24″ wide, so I cut the strip 2 1/2 x 22″.

Next, hem the short ends of the strip.

Now, lay the strip on the back of the quilted item aligning it with the edge and pin in place. So, when you attach the binding to the front, the top of the sleeve will be attached.

Finally, you turn under the bottom edge of the strip and pin in place so you can hand stitch this while hand stitching your binding to the back.

How to Hang that Quilt

My favorite way to hang a quilt once I have the sleeve on the back is to use a curtain rod. I pick up the cafe style rods from a store like Target. They come in many different lengths and thicknesses.

If I am hanging the quilt on a wall where I think I will always display a quilt, I use the brackets that come with the rod so there is a way to mount the quilt.

Here’s a few of my quilts hung this way:

Try to hang the quilts where they will not be in direct sunlight. Another good reason to change your display periodically is to protect a quilt from exposure all year round. 

Here are some other display ideas for quilt, big and small. Clipped to an old clipboard, on a dowel inside an old drawer, draped over a chair or ladder… the possibilities are endless!

For quilts that are folded on beds, over ladders, chairs or racks, periodically open them up and refold them in a different way so they don’t develop permanent creases.

Storing the Quilt

So, when you’re not displaying the quilt, how do you store it? I like to fold my quilts and store them wrapped in white sheets to protect them. Here’s a how I fold them:

For a step by step folding instructions, you can read my blog post from last year: My Tips for Storing Quilts.

Here’s some do’s and don’ts from that blog:

Do not store them in the basement or attic of your home where the temperature and humidity is not at ideal levels.

Do not stack too many folded quilts on top of one another.

Do not store quilts in plastic containers or bags. Plastic can trap moisture which could develop mold that will stain quilts.

Do use clean white sheets to cover a stack of quilts for protection.

Two other ways to store quilts is to roll them or to drape them over extra beds. Rolling large quilts may be difficult for storage since there would need to be a large space to store those rolls. But rolling them is a good way to avoid any creases from folding, so if you have the storage space, consider doing this.

For smaller quilts like table runners and wall hangings, I use clip hangers meant for skirts and pants and I hang them in a closet.

So now you know my tips for displaying and storing my quilts. Do you have any you’d like to share? Comment below to be entered into a drawing for my newest quilt pattern: Season of Joy!

Drawing will be on Monday, February 10th.

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Spring Cleaning for Quilters!

Well, it is still spring, even though it’s 90 degrees here. You spring clean your house, your closets, the garage and the attic. How about your sewing room and your quilts? They are also in need of freshening up.

If you’re in the north like me, you probably spent a lot of time indoors working in your sewing area while it snowed. For me … it snowed well into April.

Tip#1

Go through your fabric stash. I know, I know ….. we all love our fabric stashes. But, if you really look closely, there are probably pieces of “what was I thinking” fabric. You know you’ll never use them! Gather your sewing friends together and do an exchange. Someone in your group will love what you don’t anymore. Another option is to donate fabric to your guild or church for making community comfort quilts. This way, you will know the fabric goes to a good use.

Tip#2 Notions and threads. Organize your notions and threads so they are easier to get to and you know where everything is. Seems like a simple thing to do, but many times I have ended up with a drawer or two that was a jumble of threads, needle packs and extra scissors and rotary cutters. One thing I like to do is use everyday items for organization. Like this $1.00 mug holder found at a garage sale. Perfect for my scissors and cutters!

Once you have those organized, then it’s on to the rulers.

Tip#3 Use a pegboard to hang rulers next to your cutting table! I found this at my local home improvement store.

Now onto caring for your quilts. If you are like me, you like to display some quilts around the house. But they will get dirty. Here are some tips I have found and have used with good results. The methods you use to clean your quilts will be a personal choice based on how important the quilt it to you. These tips are NOT for antique or family heirloom quilts. It’s best to consult a textile preservation expert for those quilts that are very old with weaker seams and fibers.

The main thing is to be careful with any type of cleaning.

Tip#1 Cleaning and Airing:

For wall quilts that can collect dust or cobwebs, use the soft brush attachment for your vacuum cleaner and, on the low suction setting, brush across the surface of the quilt.

Do not use any kind of attachment that has moving parts like a pet hair attachment. Those moving parts can possibly catch on the fabric or the seams and cause damage. If the wall quilt has picked up a musty smell or another smell from the room it is in, it can be aired out by placing it outside (in a shady area) on a clean sheet.  For cleaning large quilts, lay it out on a flat surface and vacuum with the soft brush attachment. They can also be aired out using the same method as a wall quilt.

Do not shake quilts like you do for rugs since that can weaken seams.

For cat or dog hair, I use the lint rollers made for clothes. Gently rolling these across the surface of the quilt will pick up the stray hairs without damaging seams.

Tip#2 Washing a Quilt:

If you pre-washed your fabric before making your quilt, washing it should be a less stressful experience. Hand-washing is best, but if you wish to machine wash, pick the gentlest cycle (usually “delicate”) and use a gentle detergent such as Orvus Quilt Soap.


A quilt should be air dried so no more stress is put on the seams or stitching. I have put quilts in the dryer for about 10 minutes on “air” dry (no heat) to get some of the dampness out. Once that is done, I lay it out on a flat surface to air dry. Never hang a quilt from a clothes line. That will cause additional stress to seams and stitching. Also, do not ring it out! Be very careful moving the quilt from the washer to the dryer (or the area where it will be air dried).  If I am unsure of a quilt’s colorfastness, like if I did not pre-wash fabrics, I throw in a couple of Shout Color Catchers. I have washed several quilts with these and have had no color bleeding. This is just from my experience though … if you are worried about your quilt, you may want to do a color-fast test. A quilt that is just displayed and not used very often only should need washing once a year. It’s best not to wash quilts too often, even though they are not antiques.

Tip#3 Storing:

If you want to store quilts that you are not using or displaying, the best way to do this is to fold them with acid-free paper between the folds to help prevent creasing and wrapped in a clean white sheet.

Try to find a storage area that is not in the basement or the attic where there could be extreme dampness or temperatures. Placing wrapped quilts under a bed will work well. If you want to store a quilt flat, a bed in an unused bedroom is the best. Lay the quilt flat on the bed and cover with a sheet. You can store several quilts this way.

So, I hope these tips have helped! Let’s get started on that spring cleaning!

Happy cleaning!
Deanne