I have been repairing quilts for friends who had quilts that were from their grandmothers or mothers, etc. It started with one I did for a lady and she referred someone and sew on and sew on. LOL. Now the LQS's here refer people to me. I am always afraid there will be one that will not be happy with my work.
I take time to make sure it is work I would be proud of. Anyone else repair quilts? Some I have gotten are real challenges.
I rec'd a call today and the lady is leaving it at the LQS tomorrow for me to pick up. I look it over, see if it is something I know I can do and then call them.
It gives me great satisfaction when they get so excited to see the repaired quilt. Anyone else.

Deb, I have always wanted to do that but haven't. It's a challenge I'm sure and that's what intrigues me. But now that I joined the board.......... well, you know lol
:D:D

I started out doing a favor for a dear, sweet older lady and it was such a rewarding experience and then I can't say "no". My bad. But I feel like if people refer me then I did something good. I love helping when I can. Hope you try it soon. YOu can even buy them at garage sales and repair your own.

I've never had the opportunity to try, but I think it would be a great thing to do. I always look in shops for older quilts, but haven't found I can afford!

Garage sales are great on prices for older quilts. I saw one in someone's doghouse one time at sale and bought it from here. LOL. Fixed it up and it is a nice quilt. Had lots of holes so I fixed the binding, replaced a few blocks/pieces and wahlahhhh. Nice..... It is tedious at times but so fun. Something else I enjoy is when they get it back trying to find where I fixed it. ♥

I always wondered, when restoring an old quilt- how do you pick out fabric if you have to add some more, when the older fabrics are faded?

I guess you just find the best matches that you can? My DM restored and old Sunbonnet Sue quilt from my DGGM who made the blocks and DGM sewed together and quilted...

It is on the wall in our living room. I always sit and look at it and try to figure out which blocks she repaired and which ones were original, so I'd say she did a great job on it! I hope I have not high-jacked your thread...

You can find fabric as close to it as you can adn with fading, there is a product you can buy called "Fade". You fade teh fabric to match. I think you can googel it and read about it. Just a thought. No hi-jacking my threads, I post to have you do just that. Thanks.

I've repaired old family quilts by appliqueing suitable fabric over the worn patch. It is time consuming but satisfying especially when no one can locate the repaired spots without looking very intensely.

No, I have always wanted to learn how to repair quilts and antique quilts but never had the opportunity. Any insight on places to find good information on repairing vintage?

There is a book (the only one I know of) now out of print about repairing old quilts. I can't remember the name but is by Camille Conyach....can't spell that either but is liquor. Spell it right and then google or see if it is on Amazon.

The book was published in 1994 and is out of print. Amazon has it for $74.95. Perhaps a library will have a copy to check out. For anyone interested in restoring quilts it is probably a good investment since to my knowledge it is the only book printed that deals in depth of this subject. You might also check out Nancy Kirk and The Kirk Collection and see if she has pamphlets etc.

Thanks so much for the information

Thank God for people like you Debbie! No interest in quilt repairs for me.... it's too much like mending clothes, which I seem to do year in and year out!

I started doing that when we started buying antique quilts to resell. Some needed repairs. Some were beyond repair, so I saved the fabric to use. (this was before they started making all the repro prints - I would have loved having those. )

One that comes to mind was a Log Cabin with tiny strips, fabric was about late 1800's. That took a long time but the owner did not mind paying me what it was worth.

Another one, the owner wanted it washed. It was a pansy applique on off-white - when DH saw it after washing he said, OMG you ruined it. THe muslin was so dirty he had thought it was a brown fabric.
It is very satisfying to bring one of these beauties back to life.

i have repaired some old quilts also, i had one baby quilt that was simply worn out...but repair i did, and the woman was thrilled and paid handsomely for it...i have had a couple that were definite challenges. at times i offer to make a new one in place, but they always want the old one...i really hate it when they show up...just too much stress worrying about whether or not the fix will be ok...so far (about 4 or 5 years now) each one has been graciously accepted but that does not diminish the stress. i do not (offer) or suggest such a thing but i do accept it when it happens ;-)

I am getting some good comments on this post. Thanks fro sharing everyone. I don't offer or suggest either, but when one comes along, I usually accept it too. I just explain, it is a hobby , and if they want perfection, then find a specialist. So far no problems. And I like the reactions when they can't find the repair. Sometimes, I have to look twice. I think I will do before and after pictures frmo now on, just in case. And it's good for learning how I repaired different issues.