Quilt Room Ideas Archives

You might have a valuable piece of fabric, such as a quilt that belonged to your grandmother, a tapestry that you picked up on a trip, or even a wall hanging that you picked up at a craft show, that you have rolled up and stored in the closet, folded and stored in the armoire, or tucked away in a box or bag under the bed for safekeeping. Have you considered the possibility that this "safekeeping" is actually causing damage to the textile? Did you know that putting something in a plastic bag will cause it to deteriorate and become moldy, and that folding it can cause ridges and uneven streaks that will make it unusable? Have you ever stopped to consider whether or not the cherished textiles you own will be able to withstand the passage of time and be passed down to succeeding generations? Perhaps this is the year that you will finally finish the quilt and organize all of the fabric in your stash. Maybe. Be sure to read this guide in its entirety if you believe that it is finally time to bring it out of storage and appreciate it for the work of art that it was created to be. It is a wonderful way to warm up a room in your home by decorating with fabric art, and it also allows the piece to breathe and be opened up in the process. How To Organize Quilt Fabric? If this is the case, the following advice can help you store long lengths of fabric. The majority of quilters organize their fabric by color, keeping all of their reds together, all of their yellows together, etc. When it comes to prints, the task at hand becomes somewhat more complicated. When we look at a print, many of us immediately identify the primary color and file it away with those hues. Some people collect all of their prints in one place. I separate my batiks and flannels from the prints, but I do keep my prints mixed in with the solids. The fabric is organized by color within the batik, wool, and flannel piles, respectively. The process of sorting the fabric for a flannel or wool quilt is simplified as a result. And when I'm working with batiks, I almost always start with that particular fabric before turning to my stockpile of cotton to complete the rest of the quilt. Here are some general tips for organizing: You can hang your fabric using pants hangers, and then fold it in half so that the selvedges are touching. After that, fold it either in accordion fashion or as if it were coming off of the bolt at the fabric store so that it is the same width as the clamps on the hanger. Clip the raw edges of the selvedge onto the hanger.Your fabric should be rolled on cardboard mailing tubes.Fold it up neatly and place it on the shelf so that the folded side is facing out. If your shelves are open, you can protect the fabric on them by covering them with roll-up window blinds to keep the sun from bleaching it.Fold the fabric so that it measures approximately 8 inches by 11 inches, and then place it in the drawers of a filing cabinet, such as the kind you can purchase at an office supply store, with the folded side facing up. (Your quilting can take on the appearance of a legitimate enterprise with the help of this one. Keep the cabinet locked at all times, and people will assume that you have a large number of important documents.Fold the material and place it stacked in plastic tubs or boxes that are see-through made of plastic. Be sure to label the contents of any boxes that you use that have lids that prevent visibility inside. How To Hide Fabric Stash? Fabric Concealed in Clever Places- The following are some ingenious storage solutions that have been designed to conceal fabric from anyone who does not comprehend the reason that you require it in any way! A box with the words "baby clothes" or "Christmas ornaments" written on itIn the freezer, packaged in butcher paper, with a label that reads "meat loaf."You and your friend should go shopping, then switch bags just before you get home. When you get home, you should say something like, "This isn't mine; I'm just holding it for a friend."The trunk of your motor vehicle.A wire hanger that is covered by a dress or blouse can hold approximately two yards of clothing.In plain view, on an open shelf, folded neatly, and in colors that are coordinated with the rest of your room's decor. It's just a game, after all! Despite the fact that I store my fabric in a variety of locations all over the house, I've found that even if I only use a small portion of it in each of those locations, it gives the impression that I don't have "that much" of it. How To Sort Quilt Fabrics? Let's continue our journey through quilting in the 1890s with some advice on quilting that was published in Household Discoveries in 1890 by Sidney Morse. Household Discoveries was published that year. Sidney recommends that you organize your fabric scraps by "putting goods of the same general character, as ginghams, woolens, calicoes, silks, and the like, in separate lots." In other words, you should categorize your fabric scraps according to their material type. He suggests that quilts made of fabrics that are similar to one another are "generally more satisfactory than if various kinds of goods are mingled together," and they can be put to a variety of different uses. Quilts made from old stockings can be used for summer quilts, porches, and hammocks in the garden. Silk quilts can be used for couches and sofas, woolen quilts can be used for guest bedrooms, gingham and calico quilts can be worn every day, and silk quilts can be used for everyday wear. What a departure from past practices quilting is in the 21st century! Where is the best place to store my quilt? Place the textiles you want to store somewhere dry and dark. Avoid living in tight spaces like attics, basements, and garages. Steer clear of any storage space that is subject to wildly fluctuating temperatures. KEEP QUILTS OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT. Fabric dyes are broken down by the ultra-violet rays that are present in daylight and fluorescent light, and the oxidation of fibers is sped up as a result. It is important to keep insects, mice, and other vermin away from textiles. (Do not use moth crystals in situations where there is an infestation of insects.) Storage options for quilts include laying them out flat, folding them, or rolling them around full-length dowels or cardboard tubing. The folded method of storage is recommended when there is a limited amount of available space or when your quilts feature densely stuffed work. It is important not to stack too many folded quilts on top of each other because the weight of all the quilts will cause creases that are difficult or impossible to remove later. For the same reason, it is important to periodically unfold and refold your quilts in order to prevent severe creasing. In order to prevent the fibers from becoming creased, it is recommended to use muslin tubes or pantyhose that have been stuffed with batting in the fold areas. Can’t I store textiles in plastic bags ? No! Never use plastics for anything that needs to be stored. They emit potentially hazardous vapors, which speed up the deterioration process of the textiles in the room. Plastics that are particularly hazardous to the environment include garment bags, heavy-duty garbage bags, dry cleaner's bags, and Styrofoam. Can I keep my quilts in a cedar chest? Cedar, in addition to other types of wood, produces oils that can be harmful to fabric. If you are compelled to store your quilts in a wooden container, you should first apply a protective coating of polyurethane varnish, then line the inside of the container with unbleached, washed muslin or paper that is not acidic. These muslin or pieces of paper ought to be used to line metal containers as well. I have some old quilt blocks that are stored in a shoe box, is that safe? It is NOT OKAY to recycle materials such as newspapers and cardboard boxes because they contain harmful decomposing agents. Just keep in mind how quickly your newspaper will become outdated in just a few weeks. The damage that will be done to your quilts if they come into contact with these items. Do I need to use acid free paper or boxes to store my quilts? You can use acid-free paper or boxes to store your quilts, but you can also use clean cotton sheets or washed, unbleached muslin, both of which are excellent at protecting and storing quilts. Quilt storage doesn't have to be expensive. How To Sort Vintage/Antique Quilt Fabrics? Packing your quilts and other textiles carefully in acid-free tissue before putting them away for storage will prevent permanent creases from developing in the fabric. Always make sure to take out your quilts and refold them along new lines at least four times every year. The beginning of an efficient storage system for high-value dolls, figurines, small textiles, ribbons, laces, ornaments, and other items can be established with a versatile record or artifact carton. Create individualized storage solutions for your vintage quilt collection or precious heirlooms by making use of the optional drawers and trays that are displayed below. Each component ought to be made of acid- and lignin-free, lignin-free purified alpha cellulose pulp board that does not contain any alum sizing. The samples that are shown in the photos have a pH range of 8.5-10.0 and are buffered with calcium carbonate; there is a 3 percent reserve available, and the pH of the modified starch adhesive must be at least 8.5.