How can I get cigarette smoke smell out of heirloom quilt top?

Try this: To get cigarette smell out of a blanket, soak it for 1 hour in warm water with 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda, then wash as usual. You can also put it in a sealable plastic bag with 1 tablespoon of baking soda or 1-2 dryer sheets per item.

These instructions are based on a twin to queen size quilt. First hang it outside in a protected area (not in the sun so it doesn’t fade) for at least a day, longer if you can. Then fill in a tub with cool water and approximately half a cup of baking soda and a few (2-3) tablespoons of blue Dawn ( be sure it’s the original blue). Let everything fully dissolve then submerge the quilt completely. Let soak. Watch for colorfastness, especially with reds or very dark colors. Rinse, hang it outside to dry (even better if you can rig a few screen doors to lay it across so it can have airflow but not out any stress on the fibers or thread). This may need to be repeated multiple times depending on how long it was exposed and how badly the nicotine stained the fabrics. Obviously the larger the quilt the more difficult to handle so you may need help. For a king size you’ll need a VERY large tub so it might be best to take that to a professional. Check with your local quilting stores and groups, there is usually someone in the group who is able to help with that.

My Father in Law is a chain cigar smoker, so i have some experience 😉

I have good luck with some linens with this trick...if you have a big lawn, lay the quilt out on DRY grass and leave it for a day in the sunshine. I bring them in at night to keep dew off the fabric. Might take a few days in a row, but this has worked well with most things for me.