Thread: old quilt needs washing

My friend has an old quilt probably made in early 1900's. It may have vegetable dyes in it for coloring. How should she wash it? The dry cleaners would not touch it because of the possible vegetable dyes. Thank you for any suggestions.

it would probably be best for her to contact a quilt appraiser first and find out if doing anything to it would diminish its'

value :)

value :)

Originally Posted by Shibori

it would probably be best for her to contact a quilt appraiser first and find out if doing anything to it would diminish its'

I so totally agree. Some things are just best left alone. A quilt that aged would be used only for display I think. The appraiser might have suggestions on the best way to display the quilt while preserving it at the same time. What an heirloom.
Would she let us see pictures? If she will, will you get as many close-up shots as you can. I would love to see it. Thank-you for sharing.

How dirty is it? Many of the old ones were "cleaned" by hanging outside and beating the dust out of them with rug beaters. Our modern notion of cleanliness is quite different than 100 years ago.

wow, what an awesome quilt, I would be afraid to wash it

I hope we get to see it.
Did you see this post? I thought of your post when I read it.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-45226-1.htm

You may not want to wash it. I was told by an quilt apraiser that sometimes "we just love them as they are." The fibers and the dyes are so old that the quilt will disintigrate when wet so I don't think I would wash it. You could ruin the quilt and thus ruin the value.

I would suggest that she contact the curator of a museum that deals with textiles. Often, they aren't washed at all but merely gently vacuumed with something like a panty hose at the end of the vacuum.