About

Art Quilts ---- Quilt Gallery---- Quilt Process
Home
Site Map
Links
Contact
marbled quilt cotton fabric header
Quilts
Spirit
Store
quilts > quilt process > care of quiltscess > care of quilts
<<<
Care of Quilts
gwen on cat quilt, care of quilts
Gwendolyn on her cat quilt
While these are guidelines for my quilts, the points I make are general concerns when caring for any quilt. Your quilt should last many years with the proper care. Here are some of the issues concerning preservation of fiber art.
Direct sunlight will fade and rot a quilt in a few years. Protect your piece during times of direct light by drawing the curtains or shades. If the quilt is in indirect light it will fade much slower and from the direction of the light. Do not place any light source close to the quilt.

Marble fabric is a contact print so the acrylic paint sits on the surface of the cloth. The fabric is colorfast and holds up well. If the fabric is rubbed a great deal through use than the colors can fade. I recommend my pieces be hung to avoid this problem.
Wall quilts only need to be cleaned every 4 or 5 years depending on location. Gentle shaking and gently vacuuming with a soft brush to remove dust is all that is needed during this time. The more a quilt is washed, the quicker it will age. On the other hand don’t be afraid to clean your piece. Dirt is damaging if left on a quilt over a long period of time.
Bed quilts need to be cleaned more often if used especially with pets around (my cats loved my quilts). If you fold the quilt back at night then it will not need to be cleaned as often.

The quilt needs to be cleaned first before storage. After cleaning roll the quilt, if possible and wrap in an old sheet. If you must fold the quilt then every four months refold along different areas to avoid creasing the quilt. Old sheets and pillowcases are ideal for storage. You can wrap the quilt in an old sheet and place it in a cardboard box. Quilts need to breathe so never use plastic and try to store in a cool dry place. Never store your quilt in the attic or basement unless climate controlled.

percy on log cabin quilt

Percy guarding an early log cabin quilt.

Quilts
Spirit
Store
marbled quilt cotton footer
© 2003 - 2009 Martha Borders - All Rights Reserved
Sun, May 17, 2009