Help...best option for saving an old quilt.
 

My grandma made each of her grandchildren (100+) a quilt before she died. This is mine which I've had for about 45 years. It has become very worn, so I skinned the back and batting off because they were very worn out. Overall the top looks to be in good condition except for the outside border. As you can see from the closeup it is very fragile and worn thin - might not show in the picture, but you can see my fingers through the fabric.

If I trim the outside border down it will become too small for real use on a bed. I will be hand quilting it following many of the same lines my grandma used and I will continue to use the quilt because that was her wish that we love, use and remember her with our quilts.

I'm looking for opinions. Is there something I can do to enlarge the quilt just a bit without making it look bad? I was thinking of trimming the border down to about a 2" to get back to the good fabric and then adding a 4" muslin border which would be enough for size. The green sashing is a generous 4" throughout the quilt. I appreciate all feedback.

There are many reproduction fabric colors of the period of the quilt. Your idea of triming down is a good one.
I suggest you find a compatiable solid and add it to enlarge the quilt.

This idea may or may not be of any use . . . but many years ago, my daughter had a cloth doll, which was very love-worn, to the point where I was afraid to even wash it. I took it apart and sewed a lightweight lining to the fabric, which greatly eased the stress on the seams. Just wondering if that would work on a quilt top. The lining could be carefully hand-stitched "in the ditch" and possibly strengthen it enough for quilting. Like I said, it's just an idea and may or may not be worthwhile.

I have bought many old vintage quilt tops and have done as you are suggesting. I add a solid border to the quilt top and it works just great. Your grandmother pieced a very lovely quilt top. Love these !

I bought some old blocks at a quilt show many years ago and used some light weight fusible interfacing on the back of them to help give them more stability. You might try that too.