Protecting Quilt
 

Hello I have a large quilt from the 1800s. Its always hung in someone home. I have it now but I'm looking for a way to protect the material. Does anyone have any ideas? The size is about 5 x 5.

What a lovely piece, it looks to be in excellent condition. Did you want to display it or conserve it for storage? I know more about textile storage care than display care.

The easiest thing is to wrap it in a cotton sheet and fold loosely. Keep it on the top of a stack or in a box strong enough to keep it from getting crushed. You want to refold the top periodically, so if you fold in half once, do thirds the next time, start from a different direction. I prefer a sheet but you can put it in a pillow case the same way.

The next level up for storage is archival tissue paper/boxes.

PS: I'm going to suggest that you get your own thread. Welcome to the board and thanks for the picture -- we love pictures!

Welcome and Happy Quilting

If the quilt is going remain on a wall for display, definitely keep it out of direct sunlight.

This is a beautiful Crazy Quilt. I am a big fan of these works. IF you are going to store it some where a non- crushable box and light blue tissue paper like what you would use for a wedding dress to keep the colors from fading. If you are going to display it be sure that you shake it out from time to time to keep dust or lint from collecting it. Keep it out of sun light too. Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan! I am glad to have you join us. There are many people here who can share some very valuable ideas on how to best protect your beautiful quilt. Again welcome to the QB!

I would suggest you contact the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln NE (on the Univ. of NE campus)--they have tons of very old quilts and can probably advise you on the best way to protect this lovely crazy quilt (BTW they have a huge collection of crazy quilts) If there is anyway to display it (no sunlight or bright lamplight) laying flat so no folds and no weight pulling the stitching from hanging either.

I have a friend who has one and she had it professionally framed. It is hanging on a wall in her dining room that doesn’t get direct sunlight. It is stunning. I am sure the cost was high but certainly worth it for such a lovely piece of art.

Very pretty quilt.

This is what I would do. My friends lived extensively in the far east and brought back many textiles. They had them framed (sometimes sandwiched between 2 pieces of glass) and hung out of the sunlight. They were beautiful for years.

I was also thinking of framing. You can buy conservation glass, it's more expensive but blocks 99% of UV light rays.