I have been lurking here for a little while and I have learned so much. You all have so much knowledge and experience to share. I have two quilts started but have yet to finish them. I am expecting my first child on Sept.
25th, so one of my quilts is a baby quilt. Hopefully I can finish it before the little one decides to come.
My questions:
My mother-in-law gave me a quilt that was made for my husband by his great-grandmother. It is not in the best of shape so I don't want it to be used, I would like to hang it on the wall. I need advice on the best way to do that. Should I attach one long sleeve on the back, several small ribbon loops, etc?
I would also like to wash it as it has been in storage for many years. Do you suggest that I hand wash it and hang it to dry, use the washing machine on gentle, etc.?
Regarding the quilt your MIlL gave you, I would wash it by hand in the tub, cold water, gentle soap (Orvis). Agitate gently by hand, and do not wring after rinsing. Press the water out instead. Put a sheet in the bottom of the tub, so you can use it to lift the quilt out after you have washed it. Dry it flat on lawn, with sheets under and over it. Do not hang the quilt to dry.
All of that said, I have washed older quilts (from the 1930) in the machine, gentle cycle, then machine dried them and they turned out fine. The difference is that, I knew these quilts were in good shape and could withstand machine washing. You said the quilt isn't in the best of shape, so I wouldn't risk machine washing it. It would also be a good idea to do any necessary repairs before washing it.
Hello Jennifer! Glad you are un-lurking here. How wonderful to have such an aged quilt! I personally would not do a thing with it until I contacted a professional that can evaluate the condition of the quilt and what would be the best way to clean and mount it.
Hi, Jennifer, and Welcome! Where are you? (I'll leave the rest of the "initiation ceremony" to the others)
Jennifer Fr> Hello,
Congratulations, and GET TO WORK! :-)
what do you MEAN by "not in the best of shape"? Even OLD quilts can be USED (can you tell I'm not in the "hang on the wall" camp? (the others can tell ya -- both about my "hang" phobia, WUH's, and just-plain USING)!
And yes, it IS a matter of preference... and yes, it IS now YOUR quilt (or is it really HIS????) ... sigh ...
About this, I AM kinda a "purist" -- about the OLD ones. First, check it out for places that should/could be repaired (and decide whether you want to repair them -- it's not hard to do). If you want to repair it, then do that first. Also check to see what the batting is made of. That can make a difference. If it's wool, check with someone else -- I have no clue.
NO! Do NOT put this quilt in the washing machine! MY quilts are MADE for the machine (and by machine, and using MODERN materials) -- this one was NOT! (and what's the pattern? Describe it! We LOVE old quilts!!!)
MY method (by no means the only one): Lay a sheet out in the bathtub, with the ends flopping over the sides of the tub. Sprinkle Ivory Flakes (what my grandmother used, probably close in age to your husband's GGM, I suspect) around, run some water (cold) into the tub, swish it around ("Orvus" soap works just as well, if not better). Put the quilt into the water, add more Ivory (or Orvus), run more COLD water, until it's all about a foot deep.
And then, you (or a light-fotted kid) just get IN there, and TROMP that quilt, marching (but gently) ... my grandmother sang "Onward, Christian So-o-o-oldiers" at the top of her lungs, as *I* tromped (and she made good-tasting-and-smelling things in the kitchen), but you don't have to do that.
If the water comes out mostly black/brown (as did on one of the old ones I picked up in a junkstore), then let the water out, fill the tub again, and "tromp" some more, until the rinse-water is clear.
This is where the SHEET comes in handy! SQUEEZE (do NOT WRING) the water out of the quilt -- but it will still be HEAVY! Use the sheet to haul the quilt out of the tub ... and then unroll the sheet, unroll the quilt (automatically on top of the sheet) in the backyard. Lay another sheet on top, and let the quilt kinda drip/air dry.
DO NOT hang this quilt on the line (or on the wall? :-) ).
Keep a sheet on top, for two reasons: direct sun isn't good for quilts (even though a LITTLE isn't gonna cause it to turn to dust) ... and, well, the birds (you don't want to have to do this again for a while).
When it's dry (I turn mine, once or twice, during this process), bring it in, and put it on a BED, if it's a bed-quilt!!!!! Even if it's just folded on the foot of the bed ...
Never an "humble" opinion, here, but mine ARE just opinions :-)
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