maryb.43

Hello, sister quilters! I am in a dither, dilemma. I need to wash, or dryclean an antique quilt. It is getting dirty and has never been laundered. My concern is not the front, but the backing. It is a deep purplish flannel!! The front is all early 1920's blocks from my great grandmother. The blocks are very light, mostly shirting fabric, and light cottons. All from old shirts and dresses of the early 1900's, so it is more than just an old quilt. It has great value to me!

I have considered taking the backing off of the quilt,( it is a tied quilt), replacing the backing with a fabric more suitable, ie, cotton. One that I know won't bleed.

I am terrified that this deep purple/rose will bleed and completely ruin my treasure. I do not know if my sisters ever washed the flannel. Or tested it for color-fastness.

Oh, help. give me advice.
Thanking you all in advance.

Mart

feline fanatic

Can you take a damp white cloth to a very inconspicuous corner of the quilt and dab at it to see if you get any color transfer? If so, then there is no guarantee that any of the known solutions will keep the bleed from ruining the blocks.

You can try washing it using Synthrapol. http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemica...detergent.html

This won't stop a bleed but will keep the dye from migrating to other fibers in the quilt. You MUST follow the directions completely, especially using HOT water. Also you need to have a washer that will give you loads of water. Energy efficient front loaders don't have enough water. So if that is what you have you may need to resort to handwashing the quilt in your bathtub so you have ample hot water.

Good luck!

Genden

I would replace the backing rather than take the risk. It is the front/top that is of value to you. On the other hand, do you think it has ever been washed before?

Tartan

If it is just tied, I would replace the back myself. If it's a treasure it just isn't worth the heart ache of a bleed. Once you have it re-tied or quilted though, I might treat the washing like I wash antique quilts. In a bathtub with tepid water and gentle soap on top of a sheet. (the sheet is use to lift the wet quilt out of the tub) Gently agaitate by hand, drain the tub and refill with fresh water, agaitate and then drain out the water again. Some old materials cannot withstand the agitation in a regular washer.

Genden

I just re-read your post . Didn't rember that you said it has never been laundered. I would not take the risk. Since it is tied, it is doable to take off and replace the batting.

KalamaQuilts

I'd never subject a quilt of any age to dry cleaning chemicals.
I'd untie it too, but washing just a top makes a terrible mess of the seams so...
would you be willing to requilt it as is and then wash?

bearisgray

What she said!

maryb.43

Thanks for responding so quickly, all of you. Your advice is helpful...a little, bitty part of my lazy-self was tempted find an easy way out, but I had this sinking feeling that I would regret that forever! Too big a risk... I do appreciate the tip regarding washing the quilt in the tub with a sheet under it....how do you get the darn thing to dry? I have never done this but can see this is the wiser move considering the age of my pieces.

Again, thanks for helping me

Tartan

After the water has drained away in the tub, check the top to make sure there are not any bleed spots.(if you have bleeding refill the tub and add colour catchers,hand agitate making sure the colour can come out into the water rather then tranfer to other fabric, repeat until water runs clear) If it looks good, lift it out of the tub AFTER you have a spot ready to dry it. I like the spread a clean sheet on my clean garage floor and spread the quilt out on it until dry. Some people use a clean sheet on the lawn but pick a shady spot if you do that. Some people pop an antique quilt in the dryer but you run the same risk with the tumbling as the agaitation in the washer.

maryb.43

Kalama...I had not thought about that option. I am assuming you mean: untie, add the new backing, put the quilt back together in its new form, and then wash....right? I am willing to do that if that is what is best....anybody else want to weigh in on this?

While you are at it...would I be wiser to SID once the new back is on? Or is tying better, considering that is the technique my sisters used when presenting it to Mom? Any advantages...I could surely hand stitch it together if you all think that would be the wiser route. Any suggestions?