I love to make quilts. I love everything from designing and buying fabric to cutting and sewing. I even love working on the final quilting, even if it’s something I don’t feel very confident with yet. And while I do give a fair number of quilts that I make to other people, often to celebrate special occasions, I’ve ended up with quite a few quilts that I’ve kept. Add in the quilts that I’ve received as gifts from the other quilters in my life (mostly Mom and Grammy), and I’ve ended up with quite a pile of quilts!
While my family and I use them to snuggle up on the couch or in bed, I do have more quilts than can possibly be used or on display at any one time. Make no mistake; having a surplus of beautiful and heartfelt quilts is a blessing, but I do still need to figure out how to store them safely so that they aren’t destroyed by the sun, mold, bugs, or my cat looking for a rogue napping location.
Four Ideas for Storing Quilts
How and where you store your quilts will depend on the number of quilts that need to be stored and the places available in your home. Here are four common ways that quilters store their quilts:
- If you have a guest bed that’s used infrequently, you can simply layer all the quilts on top of each other on the bed. This keeps the quilts from getting creased or wrinkled. If you have curtains in the room, make sure they’re always drawn to keep the sun from causing fading and shut the door to the room to keep any pets from wandering in and making a cozy nest for themselves.
- Fold them with the front side facing in, place them into a clean white pillowcase, and then stack them neatly in your linen closet. This will help keep the dust off and keep them away from the sun. Make a mental note to take them out and re-fold them once a quarter to avoid creating any permanent creases. If you want to use a box instead, choose an archival storage box over a cardboard one to avoid insects.
- Use a pool noodle to roll them up and stand them upright in a coat closet or wardrobe. Rolling them will help avoid any creases, and the closet will keep them away from dust, sun, and pets.
- If you want to store your quilts but still keep them on display, use a quilt rack or antique ladder to show off multiple quilts at once. Try to place the rack out of direct sunlight, and don’t use any furniture polish on the rack that could stain the quilts.
Dos and Don’ts of Quilt Storage
The above are just a few ideas for storing and preserving your quilts. Walk around your home to see what storage methods might work for you, keeping in mind these dos and don’ts of quilt storage and preservation.
Do
- Re-fold your quilts several times a year to avoid any permanent creases or wrinkles.
- Use archival boxes or cotton sheets/pillowcases to avoid staining and keep the bugs away.
- Store your quilts out of direct sunlight to avoid fading over time.
- Keep a written inventory of your quilts and where they are stored so that you can easily find the one you’re looking for without pulling all of them out of your closet.
- Think creatively to take advantage of unused storage locations in your home, such as your guest bed and closet.
Don’t
- Use plastic bags or boxes. These can trap moisture and create the perfect environment for mold to grow on your quilt.
- Store your quilts anywhere there are extreme temperatures of lots of moisture. Avoid your attic and your basement for quilt storage.
- Store your quilts in trash bags. Not only do these trap moisture, but they’re too easy for someone to mistake as a bag of trash and “helpfully” take them to the curb on trash day.
- Be afraid to store all of your quilts in plain sight! With some careful planning and occasional refolding, you can absolutely store your quilts where you can see and cherish them every day.
- Skip labeling quilts that are stored so that you can’t see the front design.
How do you store your quilts? Share in the comments below!
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