How to Preserve & Hang an Antique Quilt

Preserve and display your antique quilts the right way.

Many people own and display antique quilts. If you own antique quilts, there are several important things you should know about preserving and displaying them. Cleaning, repairing, and displaying antique quilts can either show them off beautifully or destroy them.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-soft scrub brush
• Small hand vacuum
• Washing machine
• Large table
• Wood slab, 2-inch x 4-inch x width of quilt
• Hook-and-loop tape
• Staple gun
• Staples
• 2 picture hangers
• Nails
• Hammer
• Acid-free paper
• Acid-free storage box

Instructions

1. Clean your quilt if necessary. The best methods for cleaning antique quilts are brushing, vacuuming, and washing in cold water without any soap or chemicals. Start by gently brushing your quilt with a medium-soft brush to remove dirt and debris. Next, carefully vacuum the quilt. If your quilt still looks or feels dirty, place it in the washing machine with cold water and wash it on the gentle cycle. Lay the quilt flat on a large table to dry.

2. Repairs to quilts should always be done by an expert. Do not make repairs to your antique quilt unless you are an expert quilter, because improper repairs can ruin your quilt and depreciate its value.

3. Quilts that are in excellent condition are easier to display. Stitch pieces of hook-and-loop tape to the top edge of the quilt. Pull the hook-and-loop tape around the slab of wood, and staple the hook-and-loop tape to the wood. Place a picture hanger on each end of the wide part of the slab. Nail the picture hangers in place. Hang your quilt in a place that will not receive strong sunlight or fluorescent light, which will cause the fabric to fade and wear.

4. Take your quilt down from display periodically and store it. First, brush off any dust or dirt, and then fold the quilt, wrap it in acid-free paper, and store it in an acid-free storage box in a dark closet away from light and heat.

Tips & Warnings

• Only quilts that are in good shape should be washed in a washing machine. If your quilt has torn or badly frayed cloth, don't wash it.

• Never put an antique quilt into a clothes dryer or hang it on a clothesline to dry. The heat from your dryer will shrink the quilt's threads. If you hang your quilt on a clothesline, the weight of the wet fabric and batting could cause threads and fabric to tear.

References

• Canadian Conservation Institute: How to Care for Quilts