SonjaHammond Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 I need some advice. I have a quilt that uses 40 yr old (or older) muslin for the background. The muslin has yellowed slightly and has some spotting. There is hand applique also. This was made by my husbands grandmother who is now 103. Should I wash the top and try to get the spots out before I quilt? Or should I quilt then wash or just leave it alone. It has a musty oder from being stored in an old chest. Thanks for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 Hi Sonja, Most appraiser/experts I have talked to say not to wash a stained or yellowed top or quilt. There is too much that can happen--bleeding, damage at weak spots, or seams opening. I had a GFG from the 40s that quilted beautifully but it was recommended not to wash either before or after quilting. It had some yellowing and little clusters of brownish spots. It is an impressive quilt--very large--and now used for display only. Good luck with your treasure and let us know how it comes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyeQ Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 I\'ve done 6-7 antique tops this past year and have washed them all (they smelled really musty) but only after they\'d been quilted and bound. Some were hand pieced w/very few stitches per inch and I wanted them to have all the support they could before being washed. I\'ve not had a lot of luck w/the yellowing coming out, but that really is part of their charm. As long as they don\'t smell that kind of "charming". I have pictures of them in my webshots. Some were blocks I put together into quilts, and others the whole top was complete and I just finished it from there. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/557862361HYKxaj One, a Spiderweb, I spit into 2 (it was king sized and REALLY scrappy) added red borders to tie it together and made 2 twins. I can see why the original piecer didn\'t finish it, it was hand pieced and had DD cups of fullness in the blocks. The customer loved them when they were done though and has them on display when you walk in the door. I use Woolite and Synthropol (sp?) when I wash them and I DO NOT dry them. Just use the gently cycle, spin them twice and then lay them over chairs to dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted December 27, 2007 Report Share Posted December 27, 2007 I\'d vote for just letting them air out somewhere before you quilt them. Do you have a garage that they could freshen up in? Maybe throw some charcoal briquets near them (obviously not on the tops) to help absorb odors. Good luck, and good for you for finishing up this lady\'s work. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nora123 Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 don\'t wash before you quilt it, it will ravel and fray badly no matter how careful you are. I just finished a blue and white quilt that had storage stains(bad). After it was all done I soaked it in oxyclean for a few days and it is just beautiful. NO stains what so ever. Sincerely, Nora Millennium Washougal WA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 I wouldn\'t wash it before it was quilted for sure. If you do wash it afterwards, don\'t put it in a wringer washer. Just soak it somewhere. A curator at the AQS museum in Paducah mentioned to me once about soaking in buttermilk to remove yellowing and spots, but I don\' t know if that was straight buttermilk, or mixed with water or what. You might try calling them to see what they recommend. http://www.quiltmuseum.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonjaHammond Posted December 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to quilt first and then decide if I will wash or not. Teresa thanks for the link to the museum. I will give them call once I complete. I will send pictures once completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted December 28, 2007 Report Share Posted December 28, 2007 Oh Sonja, I am excited to see photos of your finished quilt. I just know that it will turn out beautiful. Until then, my redheaded friend, know that I think of you often. Happy quilting. Shana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoAnnHoffman Posted December 29, 2007 Report Share Posted December 29, 2007 I had one of those too. I used Woolite Oxy Deep carpet and spot remover in a blue spray bottle. It took out 90% of the spots and left no ring. If it has a smell hang it out in the freezing air for a while, it works wonders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted December 30, 2007 Report Share Posted December 30, 2007 Originally posted by JoAnnHoffman If it has a smell hang it out in the freezing air for a while, it works wonders. DUH......man its amazing what we forget as we grow up. I knew this, but forgot. Mom wouldn\'t freshen up the quilts until we had a good hard frost/freeze on the ranch. They always got washed in the spring, but freshened several times during the winter months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted December 30, 2007 Report Share Posted December 30, 2007 Bonnie, where did you grow up? I think out west when I think ranch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted December 30, 2007 Report Share Posted December 30, 2007 Central Montana....a tiny town called Winnett. Graduating class of 1974 was 13 5 girls 8 guys....lived 13 miles from town on a cattle, sheep and hog ranch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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