Quilt Storage

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.