Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Technique: Eva’s way to launder quilts

by

Scarlett Burroughs

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?

[tags]quilting, laundering quilts, technique, Orville Quilt Soap, Soak, baby shampoo, bathtubs[/tags]

Have you read?

Hand Sewing: A Journey to Unplug, Slow Down and Learn Something Old – A Quilter’s Honest Look Inside the Book

I’ll be completely honest before we even start.

Hand sewing has never been my strong point. In fact, I have almost zero patience for hand quilting. I love the look of it, I admire the tradition of it, but sitting still long enough to stitch an entire quilt by hand has always felt like a test of endurance for me.

That’s exactly why I was curious when I started flipping through Hand Sewing: A Journey to Unplug, Slow Down & Learn Something Old. The title alone suggests something a lot of us probably need more of these days — a chance to slow down and reconnect with the craft itself.

After browsing through the book, it feels less like a strict instructional manual and more like an invitation to rethink how we approach sewing.

First Impressions While Flipping Through the Pages

One of the first things I noticed while browsing through the book is how calm and thoughtful the layout feels. The photography, the pacing of the instructions, and the tone of the content all lean toward the idea that sewing by hand is meant to be a slower, more intentional experience.

Instead of rushing through projects, the book encourages you to treat stitching as a quiet process.

And honestly, that might be exactly what makes it appealing.

Even for someone like me who usually gravitates toward a sewing machine and quick finishes, the book made me pause and consider the idea that hand sewing might actually be a way to slow my mind down a bit.

What This Book Focuses On

The book explores traditional hand-sewing techniques and projects that are designed to help you reconnect with slower sewing methods.

Rather than focusing only on large quilts, it introduces smaller projects and techniques that build confidence with hand stitching.

As I browsed through the pages, the emphasis seemed to be on:

  • Traditional hand stitching techniques

  • Mindful sewing and slowing down the creative process

  • Simple projects that highlight the beauty of handwork

  • Learning skills that have been passed down through generations

It feels very much like a return to the roots of sewing before everything became fast, digital, and machine-driven.

The Philosophy Behind Slow Sewing

What stood out most while flipping through the book wasn’t just the projects themselves — it was the mindset behind them.

There’s a clear theme running through the book that sewing doesn’t always have to be about speed or productivity.

Sometimes the act of stitching itself is the point.

For quilters and sewists who enjoy hand work, this philosophy will probably resonate immediately. For those of us who are used to finishing quilts quickly with a machine, it offers a completely different perspective.

And I’ll admit… even though hand quilting still tests my patience, the idea that it could be a way to quiet a busy mind is pretty appealing.

The Style of Projects in the Book

The projects inside the book lean toward simple, timeless designs that highlight the beauty of hand stitching.

Rather than complicated patterns or heavy piecing, many of the designs focus on techniques that allow the stitches themselves to become part of the visual design.

This makes the projects feel approachable, even for someone new to hand sewing.

You get the sense that the goal isn’t perfection — it’s enjoyment of the process.

Who This Book Is Best For

This book will likely appeal to:

  • Quilters who enjoy hand quilting

  • Sewists interested in traditional hand sewing techniques

  • Makers looking for slower, more mindful creative projects

  • Anyone wanting to step away from the machine occasionally

If you already love hand sewing, this book will probably feel like a natural fit. If you’re someone like me who usually relies on a sewing machine, it might just encourage you to try a few hand-stitched projects and see how it feels.

After spending some time flipping through Hand Sewing: A Journey to Unplug, Slow Down & Learn Something Old, I can see why the slow sewing movement has become more popular.

It reminds us that crafting doesn’t always have to be about finishing quickly. Sometimes it’s about enjoying the quiet rhythm of the stitches themselves.

Will I suddenly become a dedicated hand quilter overnight? Probably not.

But the book definitely made me think about giving hand stitching another try — if only as a way to slow my mind down for a little while.

And honestly, that might be the real value of a book like this.