Any ideas for this?
 

I got this at an Estate sale. I have cleaned it the best I can.. Now the problem is half of it is quilted by hand (beautiful job) . All the rest of the batting is gone. So should I just cut the dresden plates out and applique them on new fabric , try to add thin batting and try to finish quilting it, or rip out all that quilting and just start over?
Thanks for any help.

If you found the appropriate batting, are you good enough & patient enough to come close to the original quilting?

I don't think I would undo anything that is beautifully done.

OTOH, what is the quality of the white fabric? Are you only going to display it?


...lot of help I was...

Quiltmouse,
No I don't think I could come close to the quilting. The stitches are really really small. I just love old quilts.
It must be pretty strong. I soaked it for hours today, threw it in the washer with vinegar on hot and in the dryer on hot.
Did fine. Not going to display it, I would use it. I've had it about a year and did not know what to do with it. Anything would be better than just letting it lay around.

If it's that sturdy, I would remove the quilting and re quilt with a new batting & backing.

There is no way I would take out beautifully done hand quilting. I would try to match a thin batting and hand quilt the part not quilted. If the stitches aren't as small, no matter. It will be a beautiful quilt.

I agree with Genden. I would not remove the stitches and would match the batting as best you could and quilt away. Enjoy pondering who may have made the quilt and the hours they spent making the quilt. Good luck and happy quilting.

What hasn't been mentioned ....is there backing already on the section where you say "the batting is gone". Can you open it up to add batting? If not, maybe you could choose a very thin batting and add a new backing on just that part then quilt as you want.
It's a beautiful treasure - so the fact that you have rescued it is a great find. Good luck.

I can't imagine that when ladies held a quilting bee that everyone's stitches were exactly the same. If you hand quilt part of it, just imagine that you are the newbie at a quilting bee and enjoy the process and result.

I wouldn't remove the stitches either. Some churchs have quilting bees as a fund raiser and their prices are usually very nominal.

I would like to suggest that you contact the quilt historical section at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and ask them about quilt restoration. I have visited the facility and looked at some of the curated events and it is absolutely marvelous. I'm sure they would be able to give you ideas for restoring your quilt.