| Quilterella's CUSTOM QUILT SHOP | ||
It's so good to see you !!! I am Quilterella! Welcome to my online home. I am here to assist you in deciding what you would like on your Custom Quilt. I have helpful tips and important things to tell you so be sure to click on me! |
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| Quilt Care As with many other collectibles, quilts often serve a dual function: as bed coverings and as decorative art. Every quilt is unique, whether it is sewn by hand or by machine. The unfortunate side to this is that enjoying our quilts means using them up. The following is a guide to caring for your quilts. | ||
| Causes of Damage: The most common cause of deterioration is use. if your quilt is in daily use, it is inevitable that, over time it will show signs of wear and tear. Another common problem is putting a quilt through a washing machine and dryer. When wet, a quilt is heavy and the mechanical actions of the washer and dryer place stress on the stitching and fabrics. Detergents are also unkind to quilts. The heat and tumbling action from the dryer, even on a delicate cycle, can create additional problems. Exposure to strong light (both natural and artificial) hastens the deterioration of your quilt. It will cause colours to fade as well as thread and fabric to weaken. It is important to remember that such damage is both cumulative and irreversible. Severe or rapid changes in temperature and humidity cause fibres to either swell or shrink as they adjust to the environment. The result of this is that material loses its natural properties of resiliency, elasticity and strength. When this occurs, your quilts are more vulnerable to mould and insects. Mould is obstinate and difficult to remove. Dust, dirt and air pollution, cigarette smoke, perfumes and cosmetics are all harmful to your quilts. All of these impregnate the fabric and soil it, speeding up deterioration. Insect pests are attracted to textiles, especially wool quilts or those with wool batting. Signs of insect festation on a quilt include small, round holes in the fabric, excreta, webbing or cases. If you have a quilt with insect problems, isolate it in a plastic bag and sealing it with tape. Even though we don't like to place our quilt in extreme temperature changes, the best place for the sealed plastic bag is in the freezer for 48hrs. And then wash. | ||
| Handling,
Storage and
Display
The desire to preserve a quilt must sometimes be balanced with its use.
Try to keep your quilt away from strong light. When making the bed,
watch the quilt does not catch on sharp mattress edges or bed frames.
Fragile quilts, when displayed, should not hang over the edges of the
bed, because they may not support their own weight. It is best to avoid
stacking and folding quilts. The creases may damage the quilt.
Quilts can be stored by rolling them onto an acid-free cardboard tube
slightly longer than the quilt. Because quilts are multi-layered
construction, it is best to use a large diameter tube (15cm or more) to
lessen compression of the layers. For very heavy quilts, PVC tubing may
be required.
If you must fold a quilt for storage, pad the folds well with rolled
acid-free tissue paper, muslin or polyester batting. Remember to
re-fold regularly to avoid creases and dirt lines.
If you plan on storing your quilt for more than six months, lay it out
fully on a white cotton sheet. Lay the same the of sheet on top and
fold quilt in accordion pleated fashion. Avoid folding on any existing
fold lines and pad the folds with acid free tissue paper. DO NOT store your quilt is a plastic bag, wooden trunk or cardboard box. Store your quilts individually in a large cardboard tube, a sturdy plastic container or an acid free box. Don't pack it too firmly. There should be air circulation around the quilt. The best way to display a quilt is on a bed. Hanging quilts on a wall can lead to problems. Because they are generally large, a quilt hung on the wall puts major stress on both the fabric and the stitching. If a quilt is to be hung, it is important to distribute the weight evenly. On way is to hand stitch a fabric sleeve to its top edge. Then, insert an enameled metal extension curtain rod through it and suspend from the wall brackets. Another method is to drape your quilt over 2 large dowels that have been sealed and padded. It is important to remember that in order to maximize the preservation of your quilt, alternate their display with periods in storage. |
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| Cleaning your Quilt Start by lightly vacuuming your quilt on low power using a brush attachment through a screen. Damaged quilts, samplers, painted and embroidered pictures and beaded work should not be vacuumed. If your quilt is just smelly, try airing it out by draping it over a padded railing on a breezy day. NEVER hang your quilt on the clothesline, as it will cause damage. You could also lay it out on your lawn or deck, placing it on a clean white sheet and then covering it with another clean white sheet. Do Not wet wash your quilt unless absolutely necessary. NEVER, EVER have your quilt dry cleaned! If you must wash your quilt, avoid washing machines with agitators. A quilt can be washed on gentle with an extremely mild detergent, and if you have access to "Colour Catchers", two or three in the wash would prevent bleeding. It is not necessary to wash the whole quilt sometimes. If it just needs a spot cleaning, mix gentle detergent with cold water and spritz onto the spots. Rinse with cold water in the same manner. Again, do not hang on the clothesline, but, rather flat out on the lawn or draped over a padded rail |