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or, My Winter Project:
My mom gave me this quilt of wools, silks and velvets because she knew I’d adore the colors, and I do, but it is in sad shape. Most of the silk squares have disintegrated and left the old cotton batting behind:
I’ve been collecting similar old fabrics for some time now to patch it, but honestly don’t have a clue how to begin. Any tips from quilt repair experts would be much appreciated.
It’s nothing special as far as quilts go; the fabrics are put together nicely but the quilting is just what you see here. The backing is old but in surprisingly good shape:
But I love it, as I love most things old and battered about, and want to see it whole again and lying across the back of my sofa. It will be a nice project to work on during the cold nights the come, if I can just begin.
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I wish I could offer suggestions, but I wouldn’t know where to begin either. But good luck. It is a treasure that I am sure you will restore beautifully, with love.
Comment by laeroport November 6, 2006 @ 11:25 amYeah, my quilt went from a spring project to a summer project to a fall project, and now winter. :) I hope yours is faster. I have no idea how to patch though. It doesn’t look like the adjacent squares have much to sew onto. Maybe you could put a larger backer piece between the batting and the quilt top and then top stitch by hand through the patch, the adjecent squares and the under-patch. I’m totally making that up though. I’m sure there is a more tested way to do this!
Comment by amy h November 6, 2006 @ 12:42 pmNow, patching quilts, PATCHING QUILTS is something I know about. Finally!
But, um, I don’t do a fantabulous job. I read somewhere that you dont’ really want to make the patch all that perfect anyway, takes away the integrity of the age of the quilt or some stuff like that.
Perhaps I should come over one day to take a looksee and discuss…
(…yes, I’m trying to get an invite to you house. How else am I suppose to stalk you?)
Comment by capello November 6, 2006 @ 1:21 pmI wish I could offer suggestions but I know absolutely nothing about the art of quilting. I do know it’s lovely and will be lovelier once you are done with it.
Comment by Ingrid November 6, 2006 @ 9:59 pmThat surely is a gorgeous quilt! I’ve only ever made new ones, not repaired an old one, so I’m not sure what I’d do. But Amy’s suggestion is a very good idea - it would minimise the risk of damaging the adjacent pieces.
Comment by kirsty November 7, 2006 @ 5:36 pmThanks for liking my scrap quilt, btw. :D
my daughter uses a quilt that is in a very similar condition. this summer the binding came off around the edges and many of the squares are disintegrating, too. but i love it too much to give up on it. i’m anxious to see how your repairs go!
Comment by molly November 7, 2006 @ 8:31 pmWhat a great quilt. I don’t have experience and would probably just dive in and learn the hard way how to not repair a quilt. I am curious if there is good information out there on how to do it? I guess I have some ideas and wonder if they are anywhere close to correct. Amy’s suggestion above sounds good!
Comment by Bee November 8, 2006 @ 9:08 am