Antique Quilts Make Cozy Collectibles

By Teresa Ambord

There's not much that's cozier than a quilt. Better, still, an antique quilt handed down from prior generations of your family. If you're fortunate enough to have such a quilt, be sure you know how to care for it in order to preserve it for your own grandchildren.

Quilt Care

Bugs and mold love antique quilts. If you see scattered spots on your quilt, called "foxing," this may be from mold damage. According to Quilthistory.com, if your antique quilt looks like it has old blood stains, chances are, these are actually the remains of dead bugs. Unfortunately, these spots are almost impossible to remove.

Wet Washing?

Quilts from the late 19th century were often made with unstable dyes; so wet washing could cause serious problems. The colors may bleed together or disappear. Be sure to test it by wiping with a damp white cloth before you do anything else. Don't assume that because one area doesn't bleed, the others won't. Test each print separately. And keep in mind that even if the colors don't bleed when tested, they might do so when saturated with water. Regardless, the fibers in an antique quilt are delicate and may be damaged, so proceed with great care.

Sally Ambrose, a professional appraiser of antique quilts, suggests that you avoid dry cleaning. Unless a quilt is made of wool, dry cleaning can cause irreparable damage.

Vacuuming the Dirt Away

The better way to clean an antique quilt is to give it a gentle vacuuming to remove dirt and bugs. Lay the quilt out flat and use a hand held vacuum to give the quilt a thorough going over, but keep the nozzle a half-inch above the fabric. You might consider laying a thin screen over the quilt to keep from snagging any lose threads.

Fresh Air Yes, Sunshine No!

According to the Antiques Roadshow (AR), where quilts are concerned, "less is more." They recommend that if your quilt is somewhat smelly but not really dirty, a good airing will help. But don't hang it on a clothesline. Instead, spread a sheet flat on the ground and place the quilt on top, then put another sheet over it. The sun's rays are too hard on the fibers to let the sun hit it directly. In fact, AR recommends that you beware of sun coming through windows and hitting your quilt, whether it is on your bed or hanging on a wall.

Don't Fold!

If old quilts are folded and put away for years, they can develop brown stains that probably cannot be removed. This happens when the quilt is subject to temperature changes that cause the dye to migrate.

It's better to not fold quilts at all, but if you must, AR recommends that you fold it a different way each time. Or, stuff the creases with scrunched up acid-free paper to prevent color migration and broken fibers.

Before You Begin... Read On

Here are some longer articles you can check out to get more detailed instructions on cleaning or caring for your antique quilt. Whether your old quilt is a family heirloom or a prized purchase, the last thing you want to do is cause irreversible damage, so arm yourself with good advice.

Need To Have a Quilt Appraised?

Here's one excellent option:

SALLY AMBROSE
Ambrose Appraisal Service
P.O. Box 536
Leavenworth, WA 98826-0536
(509) 548-7472 (phone)
(509) 548-0240 (fax)
sally@televar.com

Want to Know More?

Here are some books recommended by Sally Ambrose to help you care for your antique quilts:

  • Considerations for the Care of Textiles and Costumes Maitland, Harold F. , Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN, 1980.
  • First Aid for Family Quilts Puentes, Nancy O'Bryant, Leman Publications, Golden, CO, 1986.
  • Protecting Your Quilts American Quilters Society, PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY, 42002-3290.
  • Quilts in America Orlofsky, Patsy and Myron, Abbeville Press, NY, NY, 1994.

Some Places to Find Catalogs of Antique Quilts:





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