News
Le Tort Quilters! The Chinese Auction is February 20, 2012. Tickets will be available for prepurchase at the upcoming meetings on January 16th and February 4th, as well as a the night of the auction meeting. Purchasing tickets in advance gives you a head start on putting your name on the back of the tickets. Address labels work very well. On the night of the auction, cups will be placed with each item or group of items, you will put your ticket(s) in the cups of the items you are interested in. We will randomly draw the winning ticket from each cup and you get to take the item home. Tickets are 25 cents each or one-yard for $5.00. All proceeds benefit the guild’s educational fund.
Did you know that Letort Quilters is a chapter of the National Quilting Association (NQA)? The National Quilting Association, Inc. promotes the art, craft, and legacy of quilt making, encouraging high standards through education, preservation, and philanthropic endeavors. They fund grants and scholarships; provide quilt teacher and judge certifications; as well as a Master Quilt Program that recognizes quilts constructed with a high degree of excellence. They also hold an annual quilt show in Columbus, Ohio every June. Because we are a chapter of NQA they make available for purchase the special ribbons we award at our own quilt show. We can share our activities and announce our quilt show in their publication The Quilting Quarterly. Individuals can also join NQA. Members receive the Quilting Quarterly publication; reduced class fees and quilt entries at the annual NQA show.
For more information about NQA visit their website. Information about the organization, lists of teachers and membership information can all be found on their site.
The following article presents information from Liz's presentation about proper care for antique quilts.
Storage
Proper care and storage are important to preserving a quilt. The enemies of quilts include light, humidity, temperature extremes or significant temperature fluctuations, insects, soil, and acidity. Quilts should not be stored in a basement, attic, or garage as those places can have huge variations in temperature and moisture. Avoid using plastic bags, cardboard boxes, paper boxes, cedar chest, blanket chest, or putting quilt next to wood as this puts brown spots on the fabric. An aluminum foil barrier could be used for further protection between the cloth enclosed quilt and the wood. Acid free paper and acid free boxes may be used but would need to be changed with some regularity so the protective barrier is maintained. If the quilt is wrapped for proper protection of the fabric, it could be stored in a box or chest.
Wrap your quilt in an old sheets, muslin, or cotton pillowcase to store. All these materials should be washed and thoroughly rinsed prior to use. Fold quilts in as few places as possible and re-fold in a different place periodically to help prevent creases which can damage a quilt. Crumpled acid-free paper placed in the fold lines will help avoid tight creases. Rolling a quilt on a large, cloth-covered tube or placing flat on an unused bed avoids the crease problem.
Cleaning
NEVER DRY CLEAN a quilt.
Do not wash or clean an old quilt until it is necessary to do so. Airing is sometimes sufficient. Vacuuming can remove dust and dirt. Place soft, flexible screening or mesh over a section of the quilt and gently vacuum. Criss-cross one section of the quilt at a time. Damaged, painted, or embroidered quilts should not be vacuumed.
Wash it only when you need to do so using a mild soap such as Orvus. An automatic washing machine set to gentle or hand wash may be used; however, it is preferable to place the quilt in a washing machine but do not agitate. Wash by hand and spin out the water. Rinse until water runs clear and no soapy residue remains.
A quilt may be washed in a bath tub by placing a sheet in the tub first so that the wet quilt can be picked up while wet without stressing the fabric. However you choose to wash the quilt, NEVER place is on a clothesline to dry! The quilt should be air dried flat, outdoors, preferably on a very dry, breezy day. Place a sheet under the quilt and another sheet over the quilt to protect it from the sun and birds.
Preserving, Restoring, Conservation, or Repair
Abrasion from cleaning or using can also cause quilt fabric to wear. Some quilts may be returned to nearly their original condition by purchasing old fabric exactly or similar to the piece that is worn. The retro fabric may be trimmed to the shape that is needed and appliqued on top of the worn fabric. It may also be possible to copy the piece of worn fabric through a photo transfer process and print a matching patch.
If it is not possible to applique a vintage piece of fabric onto the damaged quilt or there is reason not to want to do that, a piece of bridal allusion mesh may be appliqued to a section of the quilt to protect it from further deterioration. Mesh is available in a variety of colors so one can choose a color that is almost undetectable on the quilt. White mesh can also be dyed to match.
It may be possible to slow deterioration, especially of crazy quilts, by placing a piece of fusible light weight interfacing between the layers when a patch or piece cannot be replaced.
Sometimes a quilt has been loved and used until it is beyond repair or conservation. There are a number of things that may be done with the quilt at this point. From the less damaged parts, a piece may be placed into a picture frame, made into a stuffed animal, a pillow, a doll quilt, or a lingerie bag, or anything that will recycle the remaining good parts of the quilt.
Liz presented an interesting and informative lecture on how to best clean, restore, conserve, repair and if options are limited - replicate older quilts that aren't in pristine condition. The guild brought in stacks of old quilts in a variety of physical conditions to talk about, from minor ripped seams to complete tears and holes in the quilts. Much was learned by all, and it was a great 'show and tell' of older quilts. Thanks Liz!
In our last meeting we talked about having fun with a mystery quilt. Tammy and Beth found a great mystery quilt to try using 'Worms and Jelly Rolls'! If you'd like to participate, visit the Quilters Club of America website. You will need to sign up on the site, but the membership is free.
The Cumberland County Quilt Documentation Project is underway! Local quilters are undergoing an exciting project to document the history of quilts and quilting (pre-1950) in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Visit the documentaiton website for more details and project updates.
