“Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are ‘patches of Godlight’ in the woods of our experience.”

- C.S. Lewis

Autumn sunlight is so different from light in the other seasons. It has a golden quality, and seems to come in at an angle, more so than at any other time of year, at least to me. Sunlight brightens moods and brings a new perspective to the day, especially after a period of fall’s gray and rainy days.

Exposure to the sun is not good, though, for human skin, nor for textiles. Fabric fades in direct sunlight in a short time. It is always amazing when an antique sampler or quilt is discovered in a trunk with little or no sun damage.

If you want to protect your quilts from fading and from thread damage:

• Keep them out of direct sunlight.

• Store them wrapped with acid free paper.

• Do not store quilts in plastic bags or plastic boxes, as any moisture will be trapped inside with your quilt.

There are many resources available that outline ways to keep your quilts as safe as possible from the elements. I’ve highlighted a few of them at the end of this article…

…Because, that’s not really what this article is about…

There is another side to this discussion. What about enjoying the quilts we make?

Quilters know that quilts made to be used will get used up. A quilt given to a child will be spit up on, thrown up on, dragged through the mud, washed a hundred times, and loved ferociously.

Decorative quilts, though, are to be preserved and protected.

I have always been careful about where to place wall quilts so that they are not directly in the sun. I put a lot of work into those quilts, and don’t want them ruined!

However, I also crave light and sunshine, and am grateful for the sliding doors and many windows on our first floor.

I have a wall quilt that I made in 2000. Eighteen years ago. It is a more complicated version of my Mirrored Reflections pattern, and I love the bright yellow, orange and pink color scheme. My husband named it Autumn Heat. (Yes, he’s a writer – but not of romance novels!)

We have had yellow walls in our kitchen for years now, and the quilt is showcased quite nicely. I really love the quilt, and the couple of times I tried to switch it out for a different wall hanging, my husband asked to have it back up. I was happy to oblige.

The sliding doors to our deck are oversized and create a wall of glass along the eating area of the kitchen. Part of the year we have heavier curtains to help keep the cold out, and other seasons we hang sheers - orange ones, of course! Often the curtains are open to let in light and so we can see the backyard, the small pond and assorted wildlife.

I worried about the quilt fading, but we love it where it is hung. We see it every day, whether it registers as just “part of the furniture”, or whether one takes a moment to enjoy it. It is bright and cheery, and helps make New England winters just a bit better. A “’patch of Godlight’ in the woods of our experience.”

I wave a wand over the wall quilt here and there, hoping to remove dust and cobwebs, and take it down once or twice a year to clean it a bit more carefully. Touching it is always a pleasure – even if that does leave oils from my hands on it!

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter took photographs of some of my quilts for my upcoming book with her fancy new camera. When I took Autumn Heat off the wall, I noticed that, for the first time since I stitched it, the fabrics had really faded. Their brilliance had lasted much longer than I expected.

But then, the guilt that I had not taken better care of the quilt raced through me. I stopped, and thought of all the joy my family and I had experienced from having it on the kitchen wall for eighteen years.

Totally worth it.

Do you have a fabric-fading story? Share it in the comments below. I’d love to hear your stories.

As promised, here are a few resources for storing and cleaning your quilts:

• National Quilters Circle:  Storing Your Quilts

• SuzyQuilts:  How to Wash and Care for a Quilt…the Right Way!

• Great Lakes Quilt Center:  Quilt Care