Question of the Week:
Do you wash/clean your quilts? If so, any special tips to share?As usual, I can't give a straight "Yes" or "No" answer (drives my hubby crazy!). If it's a quilt to display in the store, no. I like the crispness of the sizing so it hangs well. A wallhanging for home or a gift, no. A quilt with layered patchwork that I want to emphasize the dimension, yes - maybe even a couple times. A lap quilt to cuddle up with, absolutely. I wash my quilts with a mild detergent made for quilts in a front load washer. There's much less stress on the stitching when a quilt is tumbled versus agitated (who wants to agitate their quilts?). If it's a cuddle up quilt, I'll throw it in the dryer on damp dry for a bit, then lay it out flat to dry. I guess the simplest answer is, I wash my quilts when they need it.
Blockheads Block #20
Devil's Claw by Betsy Chutchian (click here for instructions)This was such a fun block to make. Soooo easy using either method. I like that Kathy used two different prints for the triangles. The layered patchwork version is simply two fabrics and 4 seams after layering/topstitching. (The brown print in the background is from my new fall line, Harvest Hill, coming in October.)
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| Kathy's traditionally pieced block on the left; layered patchwork on the right. |
Click here for my layered patchwork instructions for Block #20.
See what all the designers are up to this week.
Betsy's Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Lisa Blog - https://lisabongean.com/
Jan's Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Jo's Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/
Carrie's Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
Don't forget - the Moda Blockheads Directory is available for all the block instructions to date.
I also don't like to wash my wall quilts. I like to keep the vibrancy in case there is any color fade and they hang beautifully. Throw quilts, I want the softness after its been laundered. I use shampoo and tumble dry on low!
ReplyDeleteIf it's a quilt that will be handled quite a bit, like a lap or a throw, then yes. If it's a wall quilt, or even just a little candlemat, no. If I spill on the candlemat I'll wash it, obviously, unless I can spot clean it.
ReplyDeleteI have numerous wallhangings and I have never washed them. Like you I like the cripsness to stay in the fabric. I have put them in the dryer on air fluff to remove the dust from the fabric. I wash all my quilts that we use and I love to hang them out on the clothesline to dry and get that fresh smell.
ReplyDeleteI wash my quilt with cold water and if it's a wallhanging I don"t wash,I use a vacuum cleaner to clean it.
ReplyDeleteLove the brown. Especially the light blue in the design. You rock!
ReplyDeleteI never wash wallhangings, just vacuum them occasionally. Any quilts that we actually use, the ones I keep thrown over the back of the couch or the bed quilts do get washed a couple times a year. I usually take them to the laundromat since I have a traditional agitator machine. I do go ahead and dry them because I don't have anyplace to lay them out to dry completely. I like the way the dryer puffs them up and makes them more cuddly!
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