Re: Question about rolling quilts for storage

[Jane Hammond <janehammond@xxxxxxx>]

Another consideration in storing rolled textiles, especially those of  
considerable weight and volume, is elevation of the tube ends, to  
avoid compression of the weight-bearing underside (the bottom of the  
roller).  I find half-circles cut from blocks of Ethafoam can raise  
the roller enough to clear the textile from the shelf surface. Too  
much elevation can encourage sagging in the tube center and risk  
compression of the textile in that area.

Although only mused about, I have daydreamed the construction of  
somewhat over-sized rolling boards, similar in shape to those used  
for bolts of fabric,  but constructed of Coroplast over stabilizing  
wood strips and padded out to round the edges; the logic being to  
minimize the curved surface.

Jane Hammond
Textile Conservator
Adjunct Textile Conservator
The Intermuseum Conservation  Association
Cleveland, Ohio
On Feb 14, 2007, at 2:39 PM, Margaret Geiss-Mooney wrote:

> Good morning, fellow TexCon'rs - How I responded to the question posed
> earlier.
> Regards,
> Meg Geiss-Mooney
> Textile/Costume Conservator
> Professional Associate, AIC
> mgmooney@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Margaret Geiss-Mooney [mailto:mgmooney@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Subject: [qhl] RE: Question about rolling quilts for storage
>
> Good morning, QHLers - As a textile/costume conservator in private  
> practice
> here in northern California, I do recommend rolled storage for  
> quilts BUT
> not as a wholesale recommendation (i.e. EVERY quilt in the  
> collection is
> rolled). EACH quilt must be assessed for which type/technique of  
> storage
> would be the best in the long run for THAT quilt. I usually  
> recommend that
> silk-laden crazy quilts (even painted) never be rolled, for  
> example, because
> of their propensity for shattering (they usually are already going  
> down that
> road quickly). The current physical condition of the other styles  
> of quilts
> is the primary determination, for me, whether rolled storage is
> recommendation. The diameter of the tube/rod needs to be as large as
> possible - I recommend at least 2-1/2" - 3" OD, preferably larger.  
> Any tying
> around must be done carefully and not cinch down into the rolled  
> textile
> (even those the deceased grandmothers would be rolling in their graves
> because the ties are loose enough for one finger to be inserted  
> under the
> tie). For those one-woman operations, I recommend that a rolling/ 
> hanging
> cart be obtained (I love the Metro™ shelving component system) to  
> serve as
> the "other pair of hands needed" when getting a rolled textile out of
> storage and when the rolled textile has to be moved.
>
> No matter the style of storage (rolled, boxed, flat, draped,  
> hanging), it
> must be executed thoughtfully and without haste. Great ideas and  
> intentions
> will be overshadowed if the actual storage process is done by  
> personnel
> (whether trained or untrained; paid or volunteer) following a  
> cookie-cutter
> direction (ALL the quilts are to be rolled) who hurry thru the  
> process.
>
> Now stepping off her soap box. Can you tell I will be leading a  
> workshop on
> costume/textile storage next month!? <g>  And don't get me started  
> on padded
> hangers that are made up in bulk by well-meaning volunteers without  
> even
> looking at/measuring the intended costume!?
> Regards,
> Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney
> Textile/Costume Conservator
> Professional Associate, AIC
> mgmooney@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> ....Is the conservation community still recommending rolled
> storage for quilts and, if so, why?  Are there any new techniques  
> that are
> now being recommended?.....
>
> --
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