Quilt Storage

I have been selling my quilts at the craft shows. There is always limited space, and with a bed size quilts its hard to demonstrate your project. My tip is to make a digital picture of the quilt the way it is on the bed and attach to your quilt. This way people can see how your finished project looks.

For those of you out there that have a caring case for your sewing machine, you can use it for your scrap fabric and threads when you go on a retreat or a quilting class.  Just turn it upside down beside you on the floor and there it is, your trash can.

Lynn, Pembroke

I save the plastic envelopes that magazines and other items come in through the mail.  I put small quilt patterns in these.  I can see through them to see what pattern it is.

 If you are looking for a way to store your projects, contact your local school and see if they bought new computers for the classrooms this year. The boxes that computer keyboards come in are perfect for storing quilts-in-the-making (also known as WIPs and UFOs) .  The boxes are about 15 inches by 20 inches by 2 inches deep, so you can store almost every size block without folding and you can even store your templates and patterns in the same box with the fabric.  They stack neatly and can be easily labeled by writing on the side.  You can then identify the exact project you want to work on instead of wasting time trying to find all the pieces!.

Quick, inexpensive way to hang a quilt.  Use 3M Command medium hooks and ½” dowel.  The Command adhesive holds great but comes off easily.  Even though this can be temporary, I have had a quilt hanging this way for almost 5 years.

I subscribe to several very good quilting publications.  I love to refer back to them for ideas and tips.  It became a problem after a few years because I was running out of storage space and my magazines were getting torn from being stacked on a shelf.  My solution was to buy some 3 ring binders and some clear plastic storage envelopes.  I arranged them from Jan to Dec issues of the same magazine.  I can now find the issue I'm looking for with ease and they are protected for years to come. 

To store my quilts I don't fold them and lay them on a shelf, instead I roll them on plastic tubes (plumbers pipe). This way there are no fold lines ever in the quilt and I can store a lot more when they are standing up in a closet. It also makes it easier to tag the quilt. A sticky label at the top of the tube lets me know in an instant what quilt it is.

Thank You

Jean Kwiatkowski

The best way to display a quilt is laid out on an unused bed. Make sure the quilt is not in the sun, as UV rays can be detrimental to the quilt. Whenever possible, a quilt should not be hung, as the weight of the quilt puts stress on the seams and fabric. This extra weight may cause seams to come apart and fabric to rip. If you do decide to hang a quilt, sew a tube of fabric wide enough to accommodate a rod to the top of the quilt. Sew through all layers of the quilt.

Quilts should be stored in acid-free boxes and wrapped in acid-free tissue or a clean, washed white cotton pillowcase. Using museum-quality storage items may be a more expensive, but they will ensure the fabric or dyes in your quilt are not harmed by any usually found in boxes. Quilts should never be stored in plastic bags or boxes, as moisture can be trapped, causing mold or mildew. A quilt can also be rolled on a fabric-covered cardboard tube and covered with clean, white fabric. Rolling the quilt will prevent the fibers from becoming weaken at the folds.

Regardless what you may believe, storing quilts in any wooden container (including a cedar chest) is detrimental to their preservation. The moths may be kept at bay, but the natural oils found in wood can cause irreversible damage. Additionally, the wood's natural acids can harm the fibers in the fabric of your quilt. If you still want to use your cedar chest for storage, consider lining all exposed wood surfaces with Tyvek. Tyvek is water resistant, fabric-like material than have no pH factor.