What is the Best Way to Treat a Crazy Quilt That Has Worn Areas and Shattered Silks?

You should treat a very worn crazy quilt the same way you would treat anything or anyone old and not in good health: very, very gently! The less you handle the quilt the better. If the crazy quilt is basically in good condition, with only a few worn areas, you can cover the worn areas with fine silk organza or crepeline (a fabric made especially for textile conservation work) and carefully hand-sew it to the quilt taking large stitches so as to make as few extra holes in the quilt as possible.

No matter what condition the crazy quilt is in, you can prolong its life by following these simple rules:

• Keep the quilt out of bright light, especially direct sunlight and flourescent light. Silk is extremely susceptible to light damage. If you want to display the quilt from time to time, keep the light level low, keep the curtains closed and put lighting fixtures a distance from the quilt.

• Keep the quilt clean. According to the "Care of Victorian Silk Quilts and Slumberthrows" from the Smithsonian Institution's Division of Textiles (web site: www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/textiles.htm) you should never dry-clean or wash a crazy quilt. Both will harm the fabrics. But dust and dirt can harm fabrics too, actually cutting fibers as the small dust particles expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. The only safe way to clean a quilt is by gently vacuuming it. Cover the quilt with a piece of screening, preferably fiberglass-coated window screening and run a very low power vacuum over the quilt's surface to suck up dust. If the quilt is damaged, hold the vacuum a few inches away from the quilt. If the quilt is extremely damaged, do not risk vacuuming at all.
  • Keep the quilt dry. Don't store quilts in damp basements or in other areas of high humidity. Don't seam them in plastic bags.
  • Keep the quilt from direct contact with wood or paper. Don't store them in wooden bureau drawers or trunks without putting a protective layer of fabric between quilt and wood. You can purchase acid-free textile storage boxes made especially for quilts, as well as acid-free buffered paper in which to wrap the quilt.

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