Technique: Eva’s way to launder quilts

Scarlett Burroughs "Mamaw's quilt"

Anyone who owns a quilt will at some point wonder “How do I clean this thing”? Advice runs the gamut, from “only wash a quilt in a bathtub” to “throw ‘em in the washing machine” to “only trust a dry cleaner who specializes in delicate fabrics”.

The method you use to wash a quilt will depend on the age and condition of the quilt, but disregarding this piece of the equation, there are some absolutes that are inarguable. Always use a gentle soap, such as Orvus Quilt Soap which is designed for use on silks, cottons, vintage linens and the like. It’s expensive around $9 USD for an 8 oz bottle, but a little goes a long way.

Personally, I wash all my quilts including the one shown here in Johnson’s baby shampoo (do not buy off brand). My Mamaw (grandmother) made the quilt shown. It’s about 50 years old. It’s held up fine through many washings (delicate cycle) and every day use. If you opt to use a washing machine like me, you must read Eva Colgate’s technique. Eva shared this information during an interview by Jean Rusk of The Alliance for American Quilts’ S.O.S. project. Here are the first few sentences of her answer to the question from Jean, ”What about laundering them?”

I wash mine all the time, but they say you should do it in a bathtub. But you can’t get water out of them if you do them in a bathtub, so I have a very large wonderful washing machine. I fill it up with cold water. I put my…go here to read the rest.

There are other options besides Orville Quilt Soap and baby shampoo for washing your quilts. Red Pepper Quilts mentioned a product called Soak. Check out SOAK here. What do you use?

Technorati Tags: quilting, laundering quilts, technique, Orville Quilt Soap, Soak, baby shampoo, bathtubs

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I’ve always wanted to knit a mohair sweater. It just seems to me like the ultimate in comfort and a bit of luxury, and I would probably live in such a sweater all winter long if I had one.

Now might be the time to finally make my mohair sweater dreams a reality, thanks to the Summer Lotus Blouse, a free knitting pattern from Hobbii.

Don’t take the “summer” in the title too literally, because it’s worked with two strands of mohair held together, so while it will be super light weight it will also be plenty cozy to wear throughout the year.

The sweater is worked from the top down in stockinette stitch with I-cord edgings for a super clean look. It uses a larger than expected needle to keep it airy and light, which also speeds up the process.

One thing that’s cool about holding two strands of yarn together is that they don’t have to be the same color. These sweaters end up looking like they use a solid color but they’re actually worked with two different colors, which gives you so many more options. Pick two harmonious colors or shades of the same color, or go wild and pick two colors that are quite different and see what happens. You could also, of course, hold two strands of the same color if you like, but part of the fun of knitting with mohair is seeing how the colors play with each other.

This pattern is available in six sizes, ranging from an actual chest measurement of 30.3 to 44.1 inches, or 77 to 112 cm. It’s meant to be worn with about 2 inches/5 cm of negative ease, but you can choose a different size if you don’t want such a snug fit.

You can grab the pattern for free and check out all the yarn options at Hobbii.

[Photo: Hobbii]

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