Quilt storage

[oneokie]

DW asked if anyone had any good long term quilt storage suggestions. Tried the space bag and it failed.

[kimmom2five]

I have a linen cabinet from IKEA for all my quilts. That way they are stored and still pretty. Quilts need to be refolded along different lines occasionally to avoid stress on the fabrics.

[Ohio dreamer]

Don't keep them in plastic. A cotton pillowcase is a good "container".

[braggscowboy]

Oneokie, we have a lot in blanket chest. We have several old ones and I really don't have an answer other than the best you can do. We also have them in an Indian Territory wardrobe, which may not be the best because of the folds.
I don't know why a person could not put them out on a bed as if used as were designed to do, one on top of the other and cover with a linen ty coverlet to keep the light of of them and from time to time rotate and turn. Might work?

[RebelDigger]

I refurbished a huge old steamer trunk, one of the really big ones with leather straps and buckles (I saw trunks just like mine in the pictures from the cargo hold of the Titanic and they were still intact--amazing). I keep my quilts in it folded and wrapped in 100% cotton sheets. If you use one of these trunks, head's up about making sure you get rid of the old odors. I stripped out the paper lining because it was what was causing the odor in mine and that is why I wrap the quilts in sheets, so that they won't be right against the old wood. Once in a while, I take them all out and refold them.

[goatsareus]

Originally Posted by braggscowboy

I don't know why a person could not put them out on a bed as if used as were designed to do, one on top of the other and cover with a linen ty coverlet to keep the light of of them and from time to time rotate and turn. Might work?

This actually is the best way to store quilts. I have an extra double bed that has about 20 quilts layered on it. The room is dark so I don't have to worry about light/sun getting on them. Occassionally I pull them all off, shake them out and rearrange them on the bed.

[libby]

We're staying with a friend who is a professional quilter and had her basement flood this month! We're taking the opportunity to provide better storage for all the quilts. I am liking the different ideas! She is thinking Built- ins with closet rods. The quilts are folded and hung over a hanger. She has a big collection, and we need to maximize space!
But for sure- don't store them in Plastic! Let them breathe.

[RedDirt Cowgirl]

Acids from wood will go right through one layer of cloth to another. I line trunks with aluminum foil for a complete barrier. (A big bed in a dark room would be ideal if you didn't have to worry about silk or wool and moths.) A cotton sheet will give the quilt something to curve over, and reduce the fibers cracking on a sharp fold. Folding on thirds will help with old quilts that probably have been folded on half lines before.

The worst story I ever heard about storing quilts was laying them under the bottom sheet & mattress pad on a bed that was used for sleeping. They disintegrated in one year.

Originally Posted by RebelDigger

I refurbished a huge old steamer trunk, one of the really big ones with leather straps and buckles (I saw trunks just like mine in the pictures from the cargo hold of the Titanic and they were still intact--amazing). I keep my quilts in it folded and wrapped in 100% cotton sheets. If you use one of these trunks, head's up about making sure you get rid of the old odors. I stripped out the paper lining because it was what was causing the odor in mine and that is why I wrap the quilts in sheets, so that they won't be right against the old wood. Once in a while, I take them all out and refold them.

[VT Chicklit]

Exactly what RedDirt Cowgirl said, except you should unfold them yearly and refold them so that the folds are not in the same spot. This prevents permenent creases. Mine are kept in pillow cases or sacks that I have made from old sheets to keep dust off and I "pad" the folds with rolls of fiber batting to also prevent creases.