I have shown this quilt before talking about family quilts, but I would like to describe what I did to save this one. Some of the squares in the 4 patches had deteriorated and I wanted to extend the size to fit our king bed. This quilt was made by my grandmother, my mother and me before my wedding and it was a Full size, not even a Queen. It ended with the center 4 patch sections. Besides the damaged fabrics, it had lost some of the quilting stitches and the binding was shot. I removed the binding, hand stitched fabric squares over the damaged ones, added the muslin border and the border with the squares. Then I used a small PVC frame to re-quilt the unstitched areas and the two borders and then bound the whole thing.

This project took me the best part of a summer, but the quilt was so dear to me that it was worth it. The best part of this whole thing was that when I was talking to my mother she still had a paper bag full of the ORIGINAL blocks so I could replace the worn ones with fabrics from the 70’s. Also, the original fabrics were from clothes my mother made for me and my sisters and clothing we made in 4-H. I was able to incorporate fabrics from projects I had made for MY kids and even some from my husband’s shirts. This quilt is basically a history of our family.

Another one we weren’t ready to give up on was this whole cloth quilt of my husband’s. One edge was totally hashed and his grandma had stitched the raw edges together with a whip stitch and no binding, so I trimmed off the ragged edge and bound it with black flannel. 

A cute little mom called me one day to see if I could help with a quilt she had made for her daughter that was coming apart. It was the first quilt she had ever made and she hadn’t sewn much before. The seams were coming apart, the ties were coming out and the edges were not secure. I took out all the ties, restitched the seams, threw it on my long-arm and quilted a floral design E2E and found a fun coordinating fabric to bind it with. The darling little girl was very patient and relieved to be reunited with her blankie.

NOW, back to the Postage Stamp quilt! The vast majority of this quilt was in remarkably good shape and the back was like new. The ties were also still intact, even if short. Another call to my ever resourceful mother resulted in a big bag of fabrics from the appropriate time period (the title “Pack Rat” might apply, but thank goodness for her!) I cut the fabrics into 1 1/2” strips and set to work covering the damaged squares. In the photo above I replaced the whole square of light green and cream flower fabrics, the 4 brown center squares and the light pink. I was recovering from an injury during this time, so I felt more productive that I could sit and hand stitch and know that the quilt could be used and loved for many more years to come.

I’m the kind of person who likes the process more than any other facet of a project, so I’m content to spend the time to bring things back to life. My dear mother always referred to herself as “Mighty Savin’” and I guess I got a little of that quality from her. It takes some time, but the results are worth it to me! 

That quilt I talked about in the last two newsletters finally got quilted and bound, but only after I found massive pleats and puckers in the backing after I finished with the long-arm!!! I spent many hours unpicking the offending spaces, starching and steaming out the fullness and re-quilting the areas. I have NEVER had that problem with a quilt that I pieced and still have no idea WHAT ON EARTH happened. Sometimes you just have a project that is doomed…

So glad it’s finally done, acceptable and out of my house!

— Queen Bee

Quilt repair can be a rewarding way to preserve and extend the life of a cherished quilt. Here are four short tips for quilt repair:

1. Address Issues Promptly: Tackle repairs as soon as you notice them. Small issues, like loose seams or fraying edges, can quickly escalate if left unattended. Prompt attention can prevent further damage and make the repair process more straightforward.
2. Use Matching Fabrics: When patching or replacing a section of the quilt, try to use fabrics that closely match the original in color, pattern, and texture. This helps maintain the visual harmony of the quilt. If an exact match isn't possible, consider incorporating the repair in a way that adds a unique touch to the quilt.
3. Practice Appropriate Stitching Techniques:  Employ stitching techniques that are compatible with the original construction of the quilt. If the quilt is machine-pieced, machine-stitch the repairs; if it's hand-pieced, use hand-stitching. Consistent stitching methods help preserve the overall integrity and aesthetics of the quilt.
4. Reinforce High-Stress Areas:  Identify high-stress areas, such as corners or spots that receive frequent handling, and reinforce them preemptively. Adding extra stitches or patches to these vulnerable spots can help prevent future wear and tear, extending the quilt's lifespan.

Remember that unexpected occurrences are a natural part of the creative process. The key is to approach them with patience, a problem-solving mindset, and a willingness to adapt. Every challenge can be an opportunity for growth and innovation in your quilting journey.

Fix any Quilt!  How to Repair Mistakes and Tears

© 2024 Association of Quilters Everywhere

1191 Canyon Road, Logan, UT 84341, USA