Snow?
I was recently looking for something else in the attic, when I noticed a piece of an old quilt sticking out of a stack of old sheets, etc.--quality for throwing over to shield from dust etc. There was a bit of embroidered handwriting in evidence so retrieved the quilt, thinking perhaps it was a friendship quilt from my mother's era. Remember some of those were used between mattress and springs when they became worn? That's what I figured from the way this had been separated from other family quilts . Imagine my amazement to discover the "handwriting" revealed that the quilt was a wedding present to my grandmother and dated 1891! What was just an old, worn, junk quilt is now a treasure and will now have a better method of storing.
There are no stains but some holes, general deterioration of fabrics, and old smell. I'd like to freshen the quilt before giving it more respectful storage with other quilts but laundry is certainly out of the question. A friend told me she remembered her mother taking hand braided rugs outside at the first snow, spreading them out, then bringing the rugs back inside to dry, much cleaner. Has anyone tried this with old quilts? Does it work? I realize our snows of today are not as pristine as those of a generation ago. Would appreciate opinions.
i wish I knew who made the quilt but am so glad for what is on it. I wonder if any of my quilts will be around in 124 yrs. This is why labeling is so important.