AROUND THE FRAME

Out, Out Damn Spot! (Lady Macbeth)

Now you’ve found the appropriate vintage or reproduction fabric for your restoration project you’re ready to start, but wait! Your old quilt or top is stained, whatever should you do? It depends.

Let’s discuss what could have been done to prevent the stains in the first place. Quilts and tops become stained from many causes: rust, water, blood, urine, ink, wood, mildew, cardboard… Cardboard? Yes, cardboard. When my husband cleaned out three generations of stuff from his family home in Huntington, the attic boxes were relegated to our new basement and left until we had the time to get around to them. Ten years later, I (not we!) decided it was time to discover whether they contained trash or treasure. In the very bottom of one of the boxes, I found an old sheet that due to the time left in the attic with its wildly fluctuating temperatures had an exact replica of the box bottom transferred to it.

Dye migration is often seen as spots when fabric stored for a long time in an unstable environment is unfolded. Unfortunately, the spots are usually permanent.

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The cedar chest can be used to store quilts with caution. Wood is a natural substance and wood seeps oil. Lining the cedar chest with unbleached muslin so the textiles are not touching the wood is a simple, yet effective ounce of prevention.

A good rule of thumb to prevent many stains is to store textiles at even temperature and humidity. Keep them out of the attic and basement and prevent mouse chews and their urine stains too.

Until next time, send your questions to me at bornagainquilts.com or visit the Web site at www.bornagainquilts.com.