 | Peggy Engel is the owner of Hen Feathers Quilt Shop, located at 150 N. Rock Road in Wichita. Peggy, a lifelong seamstress, switched her focus a few years ago from clothing to quilt making. She and her daughter, Christie Welch, make up the creative team of Two Chicks Designs, a line of quilting patterns that focus on the fabric rather than difficult designs. You can contact Peggy at (316-652-9599. |
Arts & Crafts
2005-11-01 16:19:00
How do I store my antique quilt?
: I've recently inherited a beautiful quilt from my Grandma. Since I only have sons, I don't have a use for it now but would like to preserve it for the future. How should my quilt be stored?
ANSWER: If your quilt has sentimental value, why store it at all? Consider displaying your beautiful quilt so that you may enjoy it every day. A quilt can make a great wall display adding color and warmth to any room. If you do decide to display, keep these simple tips in mind: Keep your quilt out of direct sunlight as UV rays are lethal to a quilt and can cause permanent damage. A good way to show off your quilt is to drape it over a fixed object, such as a quilt rack, railing, or curtain rod, but be careful of stained wood, which can harm a quilt.Many quilters will sew a sleeve onto the back of the quilt and then slip the rod through, being careful only to sew into the backing of the quilt. Quilt stores carry quilt hangers, which allows only portions of the quilt to be displayed. One last tip on displaying: If you don't want to stress the fibers in the quilt, don't leave them in the same place for too long. If you decide to store your quilt, the golden rule is: All fabrics need to breathe. Your quilt is no exception. Whatever you do, do not store it in a plastic bag! The best way to store a quilt is to roll it around a cardboard tube. It helps if the tube is covered with an acid-free paper and a cotton sheet. The tube will make for easier storage and the quilt will not have any of the nasty creases that folds create. If you must fold your quilt, take it out every now and then and re-fold it in different directions. Remember that folding will cause the fibers to stretch, which could result in tears later (yours and your quilts').
