Speaker A
Hey, quilting friends, I'm Christen with ISeeStarsQuilting.com. Welcome to my channel.
Quilter Christen shares the top quilt care mistakes, including over-washing, harsh detergents, improper folding and display, and storage, plus tips to make quilts last longer.
Key Takeaways
- Wash quilts only when necessary and gently to preserve stitches and fabric.
- Avoid harsh detergents, heavy fabric softeners, and brighteners.
- Store and display quilts in ways that prevent creases, light damage, and moisture buildup.
What the video covers
- Washing quilts too frequently or incorrectly can wear down fabric and delicate stitches.
- Spot-clean small stains like coffee instead of tossing the whole quilt into a heavy hot-water wash.
- Use cold water, a gentle cycle, and a very gentle detergent, with little or no fabric softener.
- Strong detergents and softeners, especially those with brighteners, can alter fabric makeup over time.
- Quilts used as displays or throws don't need weekly washing; wash only when necessary, such as after a mess.
- Folding a quilt tightly for years creates permanent creases and exposes it to light and dust.
- Rotate displayed quilts and avoid direct sunlight, since the speaker notes sun exposure fades them.
- Store quilts in breathable containers or bags, since sealed containers trap moisture and cause odor and mildew.
- Color catchers are recommended when washing new quilts.
- The creator offers a free printable quilt care guide and a video demonstrating her washing method.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and Channel Welcome
- 00:43Quilt Storage Tip and Viewer Engagement
- 02:10Free Quilt Care Guide Offer
- 04:07Mistake 1: Washing Too Frequently or Incorrectly
- 04:37Mistake 2: Harsh Washing and Detergents
- 09:29Mistake 3: Improper Displaying and Folding
- 11:27Mistake 4: Storage Containers and Moisture
- 13:00Closing Remarks and Resources
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Plus, I have a really, really great tip for you. If you're like me and the number of quilts in your house outnumber the number of people in your home, You'll want to check out this storage solution that I have for you.
Speaker A
Today we're diving into the top five quilt care mistakes that you can make and how to avoid them.
Speaker A
Let's swap some stories back and forth so that we can avoid having those little issues happen, to each other.
Speaker A
Plus, I have a really, really great tip for you. If you're like me and the number of quilts in your house outnumber the number of people in your home, you'll want to check out this storage solution that I have for you.
Speaker A
And I can teach you the things to make your quilting and your quilting life much, much more fun.
Speaker A
But first, I want to hear something from you. If you've ever had a quilt care horror story, put it down in the comments down below.
Speaker A
You see this right here? This is something that I give away with every single one of my quilts, and it makes a huge difference in my own sanity knowing that I'm doing everything I can to take care of those quilts.
Speaker A
Let's swap some stories back and forth so that we can avoid having those little issues happen to each other.
Speaker A
Click on the link and I'll email you that sheet so that you have the exact instructions to take care of your quilt.
Speaker A
That's what we do here. I like to share what goes on in my sewing studio so that you can learn from the mistakes that I make.
Speaker A
Okay, let's dive into the five mistakes that are going to kill your quilt faster.
Speaker A
And I can teach you the things to make your quilting and your quilting life much, much more fun.
Speaker A
Okay? Your quilt is to be washed gently. Okay. If you spill a little bit of coffee on one corner of your quilt, the whole thing does not need to be tossed into the washing machine on a heavy load on the hottest water setting possible.
Speaker A
And life is just better when you get to do it with a friend.
Speaker A
It doesn't need to happen that way. If you want your quilt to last a very long time.
Speaker A
One more thing to mention before we dive into the first mistake is that I have a free quilt care download that you can print off and give with every single one of your quilts.
Speaker A
obviously after I'm gone, there's not really much I can do, but I would like my quilts to last longer than me.
Speaker A
You see this right here? This is something that I give away with every single one of my quilts, and it makes a huge difference in my own sanity knowing that I'm doing everything I can to take care of those quilts.
Speaker A
But I'm giving you my $0.02 and my knowledge in the quilting world, as well as having talked to other experts in the industry as well.
Speaker A
You can get that for free when you go down to the description box down below this video.
Speaker A
most quilts that are like a display, quilt or like just goes over the back of the couch it doesn't have to be washed every single week.
Speaker A
Click on the link and I'll email you that sheet so that you have the exact instructions to take care of your quilt.
Speaker A
I recommend that you wash your quilt only when necessary. if the dog jumps on the couch and goes mud all over the quilt and you can't spot clean it, it's okay to do a full wash.
Speaker A
You spend a lot of time on your quilts. You spend a lot of money on your quilts to get these gorgeous handmade quilts made.
Speaker A
mine on cold water with a gentle cycle and a very gentle detergent. I don't use a lot of fabric softener is in there.
Speaker A
Okay, let's dive into the five mistakes that are going to kill your quilt faster.
Speaker A
I will link it across the top of the screen right here where I show step by step how I wash my quilts.
Speaker A
Mistake number one is washing your quilts too frequently. Or let's add to that, incorrectly.
Speaker A
So it's a really, really good guide. If you're a beginner quilter and you're wanting your quilts to last a long time, Let's look at mistake number two.
Speaker A
Okay? Your quilt is to be washed gently. Okay. If you spill a little bit of coffee on one corner of your quilt, the whole thing does not need to be tossed into the washing machine on a heavy load on the hottest water setting possible.
Speaker A
When it isn't necessary. Our quilts are already soft. They're already soft. We made them that way.
Speaker A
With all of the strong detergents and all of the strong fabric softeners and everything in it, it doesn't need to happen, okay?
Speaker A
Now, if you're going for that vintage vibe that looks like it's like 60 years older than it actually is, it could work in your favor.
Speaker A
It doesn't need to happen that way. If you want your quilt to last a very long time.
Speaker A
Also, when you're working with fabric softeners and detergents that have brighteners, that's going to change, like, the makeup of your fabric.
Speaker A
Generally, I could sum it up as: I want my quilts to last longer than me.
Speaker A
And if you're watching this and you've been a quilter for a really long time, and you have an absolute favorite perfect way that works for you and taking care of your quilts, go ahead and leave it down in the comments down below.
Speaker A
Obviously, after I'm gone, there's not really much I can do, but I would like my quilts to last longer than me.
Speaker A
Yeah, that's a thing. That's definitely a thing. let me explain this one to you.
Speaker A
As many quilters as there are out there in the world, that's how many different opinions you're going to get on this subject.
Speaker A
What you're doing, completely unknowingly, is you're putting stress on that fabric that's right on the side.
Speaker A
But I'm giving you my two cents and my knowledge in the quilting world, as well as having talked to other experts in the industry as well.
Speaker A
It's going to get exposed to all kinds of other things. over time, that can hurt your quilt If you've ever inspected like antique quilts, You'll be able to see how that it was folded and where that wear and tear is coming off.
Speaker A
And what we've kind of come up with is the best way to keep your quilts looking fresh for a long time.
Speaker A
I have a quilt ladder. You see the one that is like well, you can't see it right now, I have a quilt ladder in my sewing room.
Speaker A
Most quilts that are like a display quilt, or like just goes over the back of the couch, don't have to be washed every single week.
Speaker A
like I'm feeling more bright colors and sometimes I'm feeling more seasonal colors in there, right?
Speaker A
Excessive washing can wear down your quilts over time. And that harsh agitation in the washing machine can eventually wear down your stitches that are delicate, from your sewing machine or from hand stitching.
Speaker A
I love to put like the antique quilts that I have on there, but I know that that room gets a whole lot more sunlight, so I change that out frequently.
Speaker A
I recommend that you wash your quilt only when necessary. If the dog jumps on the couch and goes mud all over the quilt and you can't spot clean it, it's okay to do a full wash.
Speaker A
It seems like a good idea because you are keeping moisture out. You're keeping like you know bugs or whatever out of your quilt.
Speaker A
It's okay to wash your quilt. I'm not saying don't wash your quilt because ew. But if it's time to wash your quilt, put your quilt in the washing machine, or you can hand wash it. I personally am a fan of the washing machine, and I always do mine on cold water with a gentle cycle and a very gentle detergent. I don't use a lot of fabric softener in there.
Speaker A
It can trap moisture inside the bucket, inside the container, and inside the bag. And that moisture can't escape.
Speaker A
If the quilt is brand new, I do use color catchers. These things right here, they're amazing.
Speaker A
It also gets a little funky smelling. Okay, it just gets a little funky smelling do not use containers that can not breathe.
Speaker A
For a deeper look at how to wash your quilts, I have a video that I have created. I will link it across the top of the screen right here, where I show step by step how I wash my quilts.
Speaker A
It makes it nice and compact and easy to store and like, takes up way less space.
Speaker A
That answers a lot of your questions. You can go down in the comment section below that, and you can see how other people have chimed in on how they wash their quilts too.
Speaker A
That's not a good one either. Yeah. They take up a whole lot less space and they're fantastic for your sweaters.
Speaker A
So it's a really, really good guide. If you're a beginner quilter and you want your quilts to last a long time, let's look at mistake number two.
Speaker A
Right. If you squish that into a vacuum sealed bag over time, it can just compress your quilt and it won't be able to fluff back up because the fibers will be nice and tight and down So now that we know what to avoid when storing our quilts,
Speaker A
And it really goes hand in hand with mistake number one: using harsh detergents and fabric softener on your quilt when it isn't necessary.
Speaker A
Totally. Okay. Absolutely. Should have, like, a badge for that one. Okay. More quilts than you have people in your house.
Speaker A
Our quilts are already soft. They're already soft. We made them that way.
Speaker A
want to thank the Fabric Hut for sending me these bags. I am absolutely loving this company's heart and the forward momentum of what they are doing to help quilters exactly where they need it.
Speaker A
Harsh detergents and fabric softeners can wear down the fabrics on your quilt, and they can make them look prematurely old.
Speaker A
They come in two different sizes so you can get ones that fit the much bigger quilts, or can fit a couple small quilts.
Speaker A
Now, if you're going for that vintage vibe that looks like it's 60 years older than it actually is, it could work in your favor.
Speaker A
There is a transparent front panel. These bags are made of a breathable material. It's a very soft but strong material, and unlike the plastic bins, this helps keeps the quilts fresh.
Speaker A
But if you want your brand new quilt to last a long time and look fresh and beautiful for a long time, it can hurt the process.
Speaker A
and they have very durable side handles as well. That makes it easy to carry.
Speaker A
Also, when you're working with fabric softeners and detergents that have brighteners, that's going to change the makeup of your fabric.
Speaker A
This is the big size bag. And it folds up really, really flat. And it's nice and flexible.
Speaker A
Okay, I'm not a scientist. I don't know exactly how it works. I've just been told to stay away from those.
Speaker A
But it's nice and sturdy, so it maintains its boxy shape. And it's not just going to be like a, you know, like those bean bags that used to fill with stuffed animals for space and like storage saving space, right?
Speaker A
And if you're watching this and you've been a quilter for a really long time, and you have an absolute favorite perfect way that works for you in taking care of your quilts, go ahead and leave it down in the comments down below.
Speaker A
And when you're not using them, like if you want to get them for a friend or something, they can fold like this and take up almost no space at all.
Speaker A
I would love to read what works for you too.
Speaker A
They are there to meet the needs of the quilters that are not being met right now, and they are doing an amazing job.
Speaker A
Mistake number three comes down to improper displaying of your quilts.
Speaker A
you get a larger one and a smaller one in your order. And they're super affordable and very, very handy to have.
Speaker A
Yeah, that's a thing. That's definitely a thing. Let me explain this one to you.
Speaker A
Or perhaps you already have an antique quilt and you want to preserve it the best way that you know how.
Speaker A
If you fold your quilt up nice and tight, and you leave it at the top of your closet for years and years and never take it out and never do anything with it, it's going to get a crease in the fabric.
Speaker A
If any of this was really, really helpful to you, let's keep the conversation going.
Speaker A
What you're doing, completely unknowingly, is putting stress on that fabric right on the fold.
Speaker A
And let's just keep the ball rolling so that we all can do the best that we can do with our quilts.
Speaker A
That folded fabric is going to get exposed to light. It's going to get exposed to dust.
Speaker A
Don't forget to go down in the description box down below and download that free quilt care sheet that we talked about.
Speaker A
It's going to get exposed to all kinds of other things. Over time, that can hurt your quilt. If you've ever inspected antique quilts, you'll be able to see how it was folded and where that wear and tear is showing.
Speaker A
I print it out and I give it with every single one of my quilts.
Speaker A
I suggest finding a method that works for you to rotate them, so that it is not always the exact same way.
Speaker A
tutorials, and all kinds of quilting fun stuff every single week. All right, I'll see you next week with more tips, tricks, and tutorials for the modern quilter.
Speaker A
I have a quilt ladder. You see the one that is like... well, you can't see it right now. I have a quilt ladder in my sewing room.
Topics:quilt carequilting tipsquilt washingquilt storagequilt maintenancehandmade quiltsfabric carequilt displaysewingquilting mistakes
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