what do you do with your old quilts
 

I have a few old quilts that I don't want to use on beds.
they aren't antiques yet but I want to keep them in, as good as I can condition.
What do I do with them? What do you do with yours.
I don't really have any place to display them. but I don't want to keep them in a "box"

I keep mine in pillow cases with zippers on them.

I have few clothes, so half of one closet has 3 homebuilt shelves. I store currently unused quilts on those shelves. They get refolded at least once every three months that way. I know a lot of people make pillowcases to store unused quilts in, but I struggle so hard to get them in that I decided not to bother. I store my sewing machine rolling cart underneath.

I don't have the space to keep 'unused' quilts and I'm not saving stuff for 'future generations' since fabric ages into unsuitability either by taste or deterioration. I am now giving quilts that I no longer love as gifts to those who appreciate such things. This is not to say that YOU shouldn't keep older quilts to pass on to younger generation. I'm just saying, don't keep what you don't love. Most of us have way too much clutter.

I keep using mine. They're all on beds, if not as a bedspread, then folded at the bottom of a bed. I repair them as needed -- resewing seams that came undone, replacing fabric in blocks that frayed, and replacing binding as needed. My early quilts were scraps from clothing, most with some polyester content. And some from my gauze phase.

What about a nice display case

I do keep mine in a box, it's a special acid free cardboard container. I can't use all of my quilts at one time and after using on beds and displaying many I still have more to store. Theses boxes are great for that purpose, they are stored in my clothes closet where I can get at the quilts and refold or get them out for use.

These boxes are made for the purpose of storing fabrics, quilts, clothing and such.

Display them. Nothing makes a home more cozy, especially in the winter, than quilts. Back of the couch, across a chair, folded and stacked on a shelf, hanging on a quilt rack free standing or hanging on the wall. Take smaller quilts, roll them and display in a large basket. They should be enjoyed.

This tip applies to anyone with a shortage of storage space for out-of-season bedding: fold blankets, etc. to lay between your box springs and mattress. Might not want to do this with "heirloom" quality quilts but it does free up a lot of shelf space.

I was just going to post this - my dear MIL used to do this - when she passed away, we found lots of very old quilts between the box springs and mattress in her spare bedroom - they were spread out flat. Nowdays, the beds are so tall that you might not want to do that - I am short and have a hard time getting up into some of the beds.

Here is what I do: I roll my quilt width wise and then make a long tube fabric bag that has enough extra fabric so the quilt can easily slip into the bag. I make a casing for the top and make fabric strips for tying the bag closed. I put these bags with the quilts on the top of a bunk bed. They are then placed on top of the bed flat with the end that is open to a side that I can look and see what quilt is in the bag. My goal is to make tags with the name of the quilt so I won't even have to look in the bag to see what quilt it is. I've used Christmas fabric to make bags for my Christmas quilts to help with wondering what is in this bag? If you like this idea I would really like to know! So far I don't think anyone else does this.

A really good way to store quilts is to lay them flat on an unused bed. Think I learned this at a quilt show in Roswell, Ga. The quilts were stacked on top of each other. If you are concerned about dust, place a cotton sheet over the quilt stack.

Currently, mine are stacked on the extra bed or displayed on a quilt rack.

However, if I could afford one of these...
http://www.quiltcurio.com/
Think they're beautiful!
And no, I don't work for these people or even know them.

I have a wooden quilt rack in my living room that I found at a thrift shop for $5.

I have a big pile stored in cotton pillow cases on the top shelf of my closet. Get them out and refold every now and then.

I use two quilts on each bed, the older one underneath. I have a few in the drawers of the dresser in the spare room.

DonnaPBradshaw: Great idea, especially the coordinating fabric bag. If you don't have enough to make an entire bag, sew a row of fabric onto the plain sleeve at the "view end" or simply make a tag with a piece of fabric that indicates the quilt colors inside the bag.

I visited a quilter who stacked her quilts on an extra bed in her home. There were layers upon layers. This way, they were not folded.

Display them. I have a friend who has a couple of old wooden ladders that she uses to display her quilts. She can display quite a few that way.

are they still in good enough shape to donate? someone always needs a quilt.

I had a friend who bought a new metal ladder, took off all the stickers they come with, spray painted it to match the room, and used it for her quilts. Looked great.

I put mine up for family auction. Post photos , those interested can claim the quilt.

If you have a spare bedroom, you could have quilts on a bed, one layered on top of another...and if anyone wants to see your quilts, you could have a "bed-turning" and show them off by peeling back each layer.

I saw a great idea - make old, well loved quilts into stuffed animals. You can pass them down to children and grandchildren, and they will still be loved.

I agree with Jackie. If you can't stack them out of the sunlight put them to use as decorations. I've never thought of rolling them and putting them in baskets, but that is on my to-do list! BTW: I've read that the special boxes loose their protection power [archival storage] after a certain time.........not sure how long they are good for, but I'm sure someone here knows. :thumbup:

O think you should display them.. Either the ladder idea or on the wall away from the sun. A friend of mine did that in her living room

Most of the quilts I make are given as gifts to family members or friends that I feel will love them and use them as much as I do. The few that I do keep are used when someone visits and wants to cover up or snuggle with one. I am not saving any for future generations as I am giving them to the present generation so I can see them used and enjoyed.

In the last few years, we have disbanded my Mother's and my Mother-in-law's homes. Both had way to many things they were saving for that special day and/or person, however, there were no labels or list to say who should receive them and no information to tell us who made the item or the history of several quilts, antique pieces of jewelry and furnitue. So, if you are going to save things for the next generation, please make a list of the items, state the person you want to receive it and provide a brief history of it. Otherwise, it may go to the wrong person, be put into a garage sale or donated to a local charity. Or, if it's something you do not use any longer and you just have it tucked away, get it out and gift it to the person now so you can see them enjoy it.

Donna, I do like your idea. Thanks for sharing.

I agree with Jackie, dispaly your quilts they are to beautiful to put in a closet. Drap over the end of a bed, over a chair. Good luck

Really NEAT IDEA......