The Rescue Quilts – How to Clean a Vintage Quilt Top – VIDEO TUTORIAL

I have been emailed and messaged about this topic over and over. AND FINALLY, I’ve made a little video about how I clean up the quilt tops before I work on them.

Let me show you the two tops that I’ve recently acquired…

---

The Rescue Quilt series is about finishing up quilt tops that were never completed.  

The goal is to honor the quilt maker who made the quilt top by completing their project, to not waste good craftsmanship (usually done by hand), to ogle long ago yummy fabrics, and to breathe in a little old inspiration and make it new again.  

You can view all parts of this series here.

Want to get started on finishing your own Rescue quilts?  Here are a few articles to get you started:

• How to clean them
• How to find them
• Why you should label your quilt.
• Also, check out this pinterest board of “Inspiring Vintage Quilts” and be sure to follow me there!

---

---

About the Quilts

The quilt on the left is a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I pick up a lot of these. I LOVE this pattern and am always on the hunt for more of them.

What’s special about this version of GMFG is those tiny green diamonds connecting all the blocks. I don’t think I’ve seen that before and I’ve had my hands on MANY of these quilts. I like them especially when they have these little unique qualities.

The quilt on the right is a Hummingbird quilt. I’ve NEVER seen one of these and had to get someone else to let me know the pattern name. As soon as I saw this one I knew I had to have it. So colorful and old fashion!

---

---

Alright here we go. My process is basic and simple. Nothing fancy. We have to take care of these quilts that came before us. I just like to give mine a little soak and let it air dry. I use a tub of warm water and basic laundry detergent.

Remember that the majority of these quilts are going to be hand stitched and need extra care. But even if they are machine made, sending them through the washer and dryer unfinished will cause them to fray and will make you pull your hair out. Just soak them!

It’s not going to make it smell all yummy, but it will get rid of the majority of that stale smell that many of them have. You’ll breathe a little easier as you work on finishing the quilt up.

I’ve made a little video for you…

---

---

That’s all I have for you today!

I found this one recently on Etsy. I want it, but I currently have quite the stack of these lovelies piled up that need finishing. Maybe you might be in need of one?

---