This might be out of my league, but I was asked to do it by a long-time neighbor and friend of my parents.
Her mother made her this quilt when she was a young child. It is much loved and is full of memories…
Each block and each bird have their own personality.
I am tentatively starting to work on it, making repairs one block and a time and hoping for a grand revelation on a finish. It is mostly not-quilted and there is no batting…
Suggestions? Ideas? Encouragements?
Wedding Dress Blue 
When asked to do the same thing, I didn’t know if I could but you have the right idea. Take it one block at a time. Mine was all hand stitching where blocks and binding had started to or were completely separated but none of it had shredded, thankfully. For your shredded one, (couldn’t see the back) but I would tuck a piece of hemmed fabric – as near the colour as you can – between the back and the front, cut the loose threads at the front then stitch it as invisibly as you can to the tucked in piece then use fray check or similar to finish. Good luck
Quilt restoration. Start by photographing the entire quilt. Photos are a reference as you progress. Also, get some advice from a local quilt guild.
You can do it. You’ll do a beautiful job.
Can’t wait for the reveal.
I don’t know anything about restoring old quilts, but a thought that came to mind (if you have to take the blocks apart) is to iron some Pellon Featherweight 911 non-woven fusible interfacing to the back to stabilize them. That is what I used on the shirts for a t-shirt quilt I made.
I would remove whatever quilting there is, repair top wherever needed, get another backing (or use existing one if it’s still in good shape, add batting, and then quilt it again properly. I can’t see enough detail to be able to tell how much repair is needed to the top. Best of luck!!!!
I agree with this. It is how I repaired one last year than you can repair from the back using fabric patch or light weight stabilizer. Let friend know you plan to add batting to stabilize it.
I have yet to try & repair an old quilt (other than hand stitching a few unsewn seams), but sounds like you are on the right track. I would imagine slipping some lightweight interfacing where fabric is wearing thin to stablize it, replacing/adding to fabric as needed with as close a match, and only disassembling where absolutely neccessary. Can’t wait to see the finished repair. Please take pictures along the way!
I have no advice to offer, but please share your method and ‘after’ pictures. This quilt is much like the quilts I made for my two sons from a commercial pattern in 1986 and 1988. Someday soon I hope to have the need to refurbish them for grandchildren.
Probably a “summer coverlet” for those warm summer nights. Maybe was tied originally on the corners of the blocks so no shifting when washed. I would re-tie with embroidery floss when done repairing the quilt. I would add a new back over the old backing and new binding.
Take your time and enjoy the work.
I am going to start repairing quilt tops a friend found in a family trunk. Will repair them one at a time, baste to new muslin (white) and then layer with cotton batting and backing, pin baste, then tie and bind. They will be gifts for her granddaughters when done.
Loisjean Radomski
Lpnstitch@twcny.rr.com
You are smart, and experienced and talented. I expect that taking it a step at a time is the best way to do it, and praying for guidance. You’d be surprised what our God knows about quilting and sewing! Whatever you do will make this obviously treasured quilt, with its wonderful birds, last longer. It would also be fun to recreate this quilt, wouldn’t it? =)
I KNOW that this would be a whole lot of work, but….wish I could see
those birds popping out with some batting inside of
each. It would give the quilt more dimension.. Maybe if you could undo some of the zig zag stitch and stuff batting in with a chopstick??? Just a thought.
What a challenge! I have avoided quilt repair like the plague. But those adorable birds deserve to have their life prolonged.
If it were mine, I would do boro style mending on it rather than to try to conceal the fact that it has already done many years of loving service.
No wadding as that would alter the character of the piece far more than visible mending would do.
Hi Is it possible to take the backing off. do your repairs. then add a thin flannel instead of batting removing any old stuff before putting the backing back on Then, tie it instead of quilting it,? (yes I know a long sentence) I’m sure you will do a great job whatever way you chose to tackle it Vicki in Canada
On Sat, Aug 8, 2020 at 7:46 AM Wedding Dress Blue wrote:
> weddingdressblue posted: “This might be out of my league, but I was asked > to do it by a long-time neighbor and friend of my parents. Her mother made > her this quilt when she was a young child. It is much loved and is full of > memories… Each block and each bird have their ow” >