Help! Ideas needed for "don't touch the quilts" signs
10-05-2013, 08:32 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
i love touching quilts - there is something about the texture of them, looking at the stitches, esp of hand quilted quilts that seeing them up close is cool! Granted, i make sure that my hands are clean, i haven't eaten a bag of chips while walking around or just finished a messy chocolate brownie.
If you don't want people to touch the quilts, place them far enough back w/ a rope in front of them that people can't get up close enough to touch them, but can only admire from a distance. Quilts have lasted for centuries being touched, loved on and admired by many.
If you don't want people to touch the quilts, place them far enough back w/ a rope in front of them that people can't get up close enough to touch them, but can only admire from a distance. Quilts have lasted for centuries being touched, loved on and admired by many.
10-05-2013, 03:06 PM
#32
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 53 degrees North
Posts: 1,679
It's a good question. Most of us understand that we mustn't touch, but some don't.
Now maybe this is a cultural thing, but my view is that most of us also dislike being told what to do, especially if we knew already. (My own pet peeves includes looking respectfully at art and pointing at something from a very safe distance, only to have some suffocating volunteer come over and say "NO TOUCHING!" when I had no intention whatever of doing so and nothing short of a force 7 earthquake was going to put that finger anywhere near that art! )
So I suggest that the signs need to not make the exhibition less pleasant for the people who weren't going to touch anyway, while also informing those who would have. Personally- I favour something that says "Touching hurts the quilts, so please use only your eyes" or similar.
The Sunbonnet Sues are cute enough but let's face it, that is not a consequence that is ever going to happen. (ie even if you wipe your hands on the quilt you are not actually going to be locked up, are you?). However the consequence you can be sure of if there is touching, is that the quilt with be dirtied and chemical reactions will take place which will accelerate aging, so I would focus my signs on that.
Now maybe this is a cultural thing, but my view is that most of us also dislike being told what to do, especially if we knew already. (My own pet peeves includes looking respectfully at art and pointing at something from a very safe distance, only to have some suffocating volunteer come over and say "NO TOUCHING!" when I had no intention whatever of doing so and nothing short of a force 7 earthquake was going to put that finger anywhere near that art! )
So I suggest that the signs need to not make the exhibition less pleasant for the people who weren't going to touch anyway, while also informing those who would have. Personally- I favour something that says "Touching hurts the quilts, so please use only your eyes" or similar.
The Sunbonnet Sues are cute enough but let's face it, that is not a consequence that is ever going to happen. (ie even if you wipe your hands on the quilt you are not actually going to be locked up, are you?). However the consequence you can be sure of if there is touching, is that the quilt with be dirtied and chemical reactions will take place which will accelerate aging, so I would focus my signs on that.
10-06-2013, 03:44 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sunny Arizona
Posts: 476
I recently went to a quilt show that allowed people to "touch" the quilts. They used a quilted piece of fabric about the size of a mug rug, folded and pinned to the lower right side of the quilt. I think it said something like "please use this to see the back of the quilt". People got to look at the back without dirtying the quilt.
10-06-2013, 03:47 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 816
At the AQS show in Des Moines this weekend there were signs placed throughout the row that said "Do not touch the quilts". They were placed frequently.
There were also ropes, but some quilts were close enough you could touch them if you were to ignore the warnings. I only touched one quilt, to point out a detail- but it was mine.
There were also ropes, but some quilts were close enough you could touch them if you were to ignore the warnings. I only touched one quilt, to point out a detail- but it was mine.
10-06-2013, 04:35 PM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
I recently went to a quilt show that allowed people to "touch" the quilts. They used a quilted piece of fabric about the size of a mug rug, folded and pinned to the lower right side of the quilt. I think it said something like "please use this to see the back of the quilt". People got to look at the back without dirtying the quilt.
10-06-2013, 04:37 PM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,395
I guess I don't understand the aversion to any sort of touch on quilts that were made to be washed and used??? Or were these just intended to hang on the wall and show off the maker's skill?
Yes, I know you don't want dirty hands grabbing the quilts, so why not have baby wipes handy so people can be sure their hands are clean?
I'm very much a 'touchy/feely' gotta handle the fabric, person. I don't think I would enjoy a quilt show that I was forbidden to touch the quilts. But I would appreciate it being easy for me to do so without wondering if my hands were clean.
Yes, I know you don't want dirty hands grabbing the quilts, so why not have baby wipes handy so people can be sure their hands are clean?
I'm very much a 'touchy/feely' gotta handle the fabric, person. I don't think I would enjoy a quilt show that I was forbidden to touch the quilts. But I would appreciate it being easy for me to do so without wondering if my hands were clean.
10-06-2013, 04:52 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: dayton OH
Posts: 1,911
I guess I don't understand the aversion to any sort of touch on quilts that were made to be washed and used??? Or were these just intended to hang on the wall and show off the maker's skill?
Yes, I know you don't want dirty hands grabbing the quilts, so why not have baby wipes handy so people can be sure their hands are clean?
I'm very much a 'touchy/feely' gotta handle the fabric, person. I don't think I would enjoy a quilt show that I was forbidden to touch the quilts. But I would appreciate it being easy for me to do so without wondering if my hands were clean.
Yes, I know you don't want dirty hands grabbing the quilts, so why not have baby wipes handy so people can be sure their hands are clean?
I'm very much a 'touchy/feely' gotta handle the fabric, person. I don't think I would enjoy a quilt show that I was forbidden to touch the quilts. But I would appreciate it being easy for me to do so without wondering if my hands were clean.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful, it's just my feelings.
10-06-2013, 05:22 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maine-ly Florida
Posts: 3,929
I was in charge of our White Gloves this weekend. Most people who attend a show around here understand that touching is gently discouraged. I only saw one person touching, once, the whole weekend. If you allow touching, you also open up the possibility of having a pen accidentally touch a quilt. As my mom used to tell us back in the day, look with your eyes not with your hands.
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