During my Thanksgiving travels, I picked up a magazine called "Living With Quilts 2005", from
the publishers of American Patchwork and Quilting. Now, I really did not need a another
quilting "how-to" magazine, but this one, I noticed was different... this magazine's focus is how
to decorate, collect, store and enjoy quilts.

I was impressed with the ideas and tips presented in the articles about taking care of your quilts.  And decided to share a few with you.

-Roll your quilts for the best storage!

"Quilts cleaned and ready for storage are best stored rolled onto rigid tubes, which prevents
folds or creases." says the magazine. Cardboard tubes from carpet and upholstery outlets are
usable if they don't touch the quilt directly. (Wood acids in paper can leach into a quilt causing
fabric to turn brown and brittle–See my "quilting word of the week" at the end of my post!)

Wrap the tube in aluminum foil or freezer paper topped with cotton sheeting, lay the quilt on
another cotton sheet and roll the two together onto the covered tube. Tag the contents and store
horizontally.

Wow, sounds like a lot of work! But, really it is quite easy to do and your quilts are worth it!

-Simpler Storage

Simply fold your quilts in clean cotton sheets or pillowcases. But, you must remember to
periodically open and re-fold your quilt along different lines. Make sure and label each quilt
package.

-Acid Free Tissue sheets/archival storage boxes

Folded quilts may be stored on closet or cupboard shelves lined with acid-free shelf paper.
Don't forget to re-fold your quilt periodically. Quilts can also be stored in archival storage
boxes. Boxes make it easy to stack and store...but you do not get to see your quilts.
(Many quilt shops carry the acid-free tissue and and storage boxes or they can order them for
you.)

-Hanging your quilts on the wall

Other advice given in the magazine suggests not using pushpins, tacks or nails to poke through
the quilt's fabric and secure it to the wall. Instead baste a sleeve to each side of the quilt large
enough for a curtain rod or hanger to slip through.

There are a lot of quilters that do use the sleeve method to hang their quilts, but most only put a
sleeve on one end of their quilt. It is suggested that you put a sleeve on both the top and the
bottom and on each side of the quilt and then rotate your quilt every 4 to 6 months to eliminate the
stress that occurs when the quilt always hangs from the same edge.

Now, this system will not work if your quilt is directional...because you do not want your "flower
baskets" hanging upside down or sideways!

-Sunlight Damage

And don't forget that sunlight can damage a quilt, dimming its colors and weakening the fabrics.
And no one wants weak fabric! Make sure that the quilts you display are not in direct sunlight!

This magazine provided a wealth of information about ways to use, display and take care of
the quilts you love.

Quilting word of the week: "Foxing" –"Foxing is the brown stains on the fold lines of a quilt.
The stains are caused by a chemical reactions between the wood and the fabric".  

Peace as you piece.

Gina