I know this would be extra work, but if the quilt is valuable it might be worth it:

How about basting those "large open spaces" before attempting anything else? If those large areas
were stabilized, washing the quilt would be safer. It might even be possible to machine baste.

Hi Laura
I think your friends idea of laying it on grass, with a sheet underneath it, would work well, she wants to avoid moving the wet quilt as much as possible because the wool will shift, ask me how i know this. My washing machine has a drain cycle no spin so if she has a machine like that she could put it in the machine after cleaning it in the bath to drain the water out and then carefully lift it out and lay it flat to dry. So laying it on the grass and cleaning it would mean there was less moving the quilt.
Jenny in Oz

Sounds good. I like the tub soak idea, but it is going to be one heavy wet quilt. She has really bad knees, so I'm sure this will be a job for hubby to do. Thanks for the great advice.

I would add to what Teri said--place a sheet under the quilt before putting it in the tub. You can then use the sheet to roll the quilt and get some of the excess water out of it. I would then use the sheet to lift it out of the tub. Quilts are heavy when they are wet and if you try to pick up the quilt you could pull those inside fibers apart causing holes in the batting. I also have be known to take the quilt to the wash machine and put on the final spin cycle and get most of the water out of it before laying it to dry. Most times, I just stick it in the dryer but you said this was wool and I don't think I would put that in the dryer.

I would wash it in the tub with some kind of very gentle soap or Vintage Soak http://www.vintagetextilesoak.com/ & cool water.
Then air dry it laying flat, perhaps pinning it to a carpet (pet hair free) and blocking it at the same time. If you do this on the carpet the make sure you have fans blowing over it to help it dry.

Teri

I hope some of our Aussie friends who have experience with loose wool can offer some advice!

My friend asked me this tonight and I am at a loss. She was given a beautiful hand made quilt, cotton top and bottom that is filled with 2 layers of combed sheeps wool. It is quilted in large flowing lines, with lots of empty space (her words). I have not seen the quilt, but she is wondering how she should clean it, she was thinking of laying it out on the grass and pouring warm soapy water onto it. I said, wait, let me ask some very talented quilting people I know of. So,, very talented quilting people, how would you clean something like this??