storage/display
 

I often see quilts on display in homes utilizing a cabinet with open doors or maybe glass doors so that the quilts can be seen. Quite attractive! But my question is about storing those quilts with them against the wood of the inside of the cupboard. Is that a problem? We are told to not put them into a closed wooden box without putting them into pillow cases or something to protect them from the oils in the wood.

I have some stored in floor chests at foot of beds, each in a pillow case. I also have hanging on those wooden shelves with wooden dowel under, again, piece of cotton first, then quilt......one draped over top of door to guest bedroom, cotton hand towel between it and door......so far, so good.......my friend has one of those display hutches and has pillowcase on shelf, then stacked quilts

They might have some shelf liners on the shelves. I would be worried about any indirect light as that can fade a quilt. Probably a good idea to rotate the quilts every season.

If the wood is sealed there is no problem.

Personally, I don't see how a pillow case is any protection against oils leaching from unsealed wooden surfaces over long periods of time. How is that any different than the quilt surface 'protecting' the batting from staining...which it doesn't. Wood oils penetrate pillowcases the same as they penetrate quilting cottons, going right through and staing the next layer. Better to seal the wood with paint or urethane and not have to worry about it anymore. I've seen way to many wood stained vintage table linens to risk storing any fabric in direct contact with unsealed wood or wood by-products.

I have some of my stash stored in a china hutch. My Son made plywood shelves, as he said the glass shelves might not hold the weight of fabric on each shelf. (It is stuffed, so the shelf is supported by the stack of fabric under it.) But anyway, I wrapped the wood shelves in plastic that I bought at J's with a coupon. It is sold on rolls in various thicknesses that you can cut to whatever size you need.

I really don't know what's best. I have 2 quilts on couches that we use and a couple on a quilt rack. I just move them around and refold to hopefully keep the dust and sun exposure even

Stress isn't good for ya. :) So.....

Let's look at this issue this way:
1. how many of the quilts you wish to display are heirloom quality quilts?
2. how many of the quilts are you personally expecting to "live" more than 50+ years?
3. do you make quilts for use or as "treasure"?
4. do you personally use your quilts?
5. do you have family members or close friends who long to have your quilts?

Answers to these and maybe more questions will tell you whether you need to be storing quilts with museum quality methods. Most personal, family use, made because you love fondling fabric and playing with color quilts, do not need specialty care and storage behind glass doors on finished wood shelves will likely not harm them. My own have been on beds, sofas, walls, in pillowcases, in plastic boxes (with a homemade sachet of lavendar and a hint of cedar), in cedar chests wrapped in cotton, and just hung in a closet, with no adversity for over 30+ years!

Jan in VA

I make my quilts to be used, not just for display. If they get stained, torn, faded, or worn out that's ok. I keep my quilts in chest, over the back of chairs, in cabinets, over railings, on the back porch, all cars and trucks have one. O ya, I even put them on the beds to keep us warm. LOL I am lucky to have a couple of older family quilts I just love, both show the battle scares of long well used lives. That is what makes them special to me, they hold the memories and love of generations.

I have a cabinet like that, I just put down a muslin piece of fabric to lay the quilts on.