Patchwork quilt - advice

[Elocin]

Please help all of you patchworkers out there!

I won a vintage patchwork quilt on eBay on the weekend, and have been chatting to the seller over email. She mentioned that some of the squares are worn / torn and in need to some minor repairs, which I knew before I paid for the item.

There is no back on the quilt, it's basically just a whole heap of squares sewn together.

What would be the easiest way for someone who doesn't do a great deal of sewing to fix this up?

Click here for an example

Could I just buy some scrap material and sew it to the back of the damaged squares? Should I glue some material behind the gaps?

I will be using the quilt on mine and DH's bed over summer as our feather doona just ends up on the floor.

[CharlieBrownGirl]

That's a shame Nic.
Hope someone has a solution for you.

[jackrose]

Perhaps you could take it down to your local patchwork shop for some advice. Not a big chain store but a proper quilters shop. They are usually staffed with passionate, knowledgeable quilters who could steer you in the right direction and maybe even suggest some products for repair.

Let me know how you go, I'd love to see what happens! Sorry I can't be more practical in advice though, not sure how I would tackle that.

[tellytubby]

The link won't open for me, so I'm not too sure what the damage is.
Have you fixed the quilt??

Could you possibly unpick the squares as gently as possible, and cut new material, matching the exact size of the one you just cut out, and sew back together??

Jackrose has some good tips - the local quilting shops are full of the oldies who just LOVE to help when it comes to crafty projects!

HTH

[Elocin]

Thanks girls, I have cheated a bit in fixing it up. I got some material of a similar colour and sewed it behind the damaged squares as a bit of 'reinforcement' I guess.

I've been able to get some sheets from my Nan's place that us grandkids grew up sleeping on, and have used them as backing. I'm now able to use the quilt without worrying that I'm going to damage it a great deal further.

[Fleur]

Have you fixed the tears in the squares? You could hand stitch some of it, or even better applique over the top of it?

[jackrose]

Well done

I bet the original maker would be chuffed.

[Elocin]

Have you fixed the tears in the squares? You could hand stitch some of it, or even better applique over the top of it?

I have Fleur... Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. I handstiched similar colored material behind the damaged squares and then stitched the rips onto the material behind so it can't catch and rip even further.

JR, I love having part of my family on the quilt... Makes it that much more special!

[Fleur]

ooooh, gotcha. good idea

I love the look of the little bit I saw, a couple of pretty patches there! I love old patchwork, so soft & pretty & cosy looking.

[Elocin]

Here are a couple of pics of the quilt... I'm a little bit in love with it

Pic 1

Pic 2

[tellytubby]

Oh wow Elocin, absolutely gorgeous!
I would love a nice big quilt like that too Time to head back to the janome shop perhaps? Quilting is soo bloody expensive!

[Elocin]

Thanks Hun!!!

Quilting might be expensive, but so is trawling eBay for months and months... Just ask my DH

Although, I was very happy to pay for this one... It was about $40 including delivery!!

[jackrose]

Oh my! That is beautiful! I love random square patchwork. It speaks to me of stories, as if every square of fabric was taken from somewhere with a history such as the dress worn on a first date, the sheet from an infants cot, the tablecloth christmas lunch was served on... Now the quilt has a further chapter to it, awesome!

[Fleur]

Oooh, that is gorgeous. And $40! bargain!