Heirloom Quilt Care

Cloning quilts
To make a clone or duplicate of a quilt, take precise measurements of the original. Use a photograph to get a clear sense of the light, dark and medium values in the original so your copy can follow this original pattern.

Select fabrics in the spirit of the original, either reproductions of the orignial period, or contemporary fabrics you think that quilter would have chosen were she quilting today.

To make a miniature, it is easiest to go to a quarter of the size. To do this, measure the size of the original patch, reduce it in half in each directior, then add a half-inch for seam allowances. So a four-inch patch on the original quilt, becomes a two-inch block plus a half inch or 2-1/2-inch if unfinished.

Storage, cleaning and display

Storage
It is important to store quilts in an acid-free environment, which means to avoid wood products (cedar chests, drawers, boxes) and paper products (regular tissue, cardboard) unless they are specially treated to be acid-free. There are many sources for acid-free storage products.

Cleaning
"How do I clean my quilt?" There is a two-word answer for this question which is right for every quilt--IT DEPENDS. It depends on the age, condition, fabrics, dyes, batting and stitching of the quilt. Generally, most 19th century quilts should not be wet-cleaned (which includes dry cleaning, actually a wet process).

Almost any quilt will benefit from vacuuming as demonstrated on the show. Here's how:

1. Buy some fiberglass screen at a hardware or home improvement store (usually less than $5 for a large roll). Buy a new upholstery attachment for your vacuum (usually less than $5).

2. Stretch the screen in a large embroidery hoop, or cut a rectangle the width of your shoulders and about 15 inches deep (figure A). Sew seam binding around the outside edges so the screen won't catch in the stitches.

3. This step is easier with two people--one holds the screen while the other vacuums (figure B). Vacuum using an up-and-down motion, not drawing the brush over the surface. Start by vacuuming the back of the quilt, to pull most of the dirt out through the back. The turn the quilt over and vacuum the front. This is a four to five hour process when done properly. As the quilt owner, it's only fair that you buy lunch!