If you are interested in the quilt top for it's value , I would be cautious about finishing it. I'm not sure if it applies w/quilts - but had an old piece of jewelry that was very delicate filligree and had a few broken gold pieces on it. I was told bby a jeweler not to let anyone fix it or it would lose its value as an antique. Just something to think about. If you take an 1850's quilt top and quilt it now - it doesn't really have the same uniqueness.