Originally Posted by MsEithne

I'm not sure what is in the batting of my Mennonite quilts from the 60s, so the few times I've ironed them, I've used the "synthetic" setting on the iron (warm but not hot enough to create steam) or used steam only without touching the soleplate of the iron to the quilt. I've only done it a few times for special occasions.

My reasoning is that since I use polyfil stuffing to rest rounded polymer clay shapes on for baking, I know it can withstand some heat. The baking is done at 275 degrees F and the stuffing comes out of the oven looking like new.

It is clear that these quilts did not go through shrinkage of the batting after they were quilted. The quilting makes little dimples all over the surface of the fabric but no crinkles or puckers.

The way I iron them is slow, so I set the ironing board so I can sit rather than stand. I put a clean sheet on the floor on either side of the ironing board because at times the quilt will rest on the floor on either side.

I get a section of quilt smoothed out on the ironing board, then I gently run a warm (not hot or steaming) iron over it. Or I use a steam setting on the iron and sort of wave it close to the surface of the quilt so that the steam touches the top of the quilt but doesn't soak in.

Then I wait until the surface of the quilt is lukewarm to the touch before moving the quilt. Then I shift the quilt on the board and repeat.

Takes an hour and a half (or so) to do a queen sized quilt.

Afterwards, the quilt looks brand new. The quilting really pops because the surface of the quilt is smooth and the stitches are tiny lines of dimples all over.

Then the quilt goes on the display rack and all the cats are informed that if they mess with them, there will be no more sardinies. So far, this most dire of threats has kept them off the quilts until after the special event. Either that or the fact that I keep the doors closed.