Brenda, are you repairing it by hand? When I was repairing bridal gowns and prom dresses - it's amazing what heels can do a dress - I put tulle behind to stabilize it and used a small zigzag stitch on the machine. A ZZ stitch distributes the tension on the fabric more than a straight stitch. It sounds like you have your hands full.
Mom, my post from last night isn't here. I'll repeat - that is a lovely Dahlia quilt. You, too, will have your hands full if you decide to repair it.