Can this be salvaged?
 

I've only done a couple small projects before. This spring I decided to make a quilt for my grandson's bed. I bought pre-cut strips to make a puzzle quilt. Because the puzzle pieces had to "interlock" I had to cut up all the individual pieces to lay out the whole quilt before ever sewing anything. The layout took forever!!!!!! By the time I was ready to sew, many of the pieces had frayed badly. I was careful when sewing to make sure I wasn't just sewing frayed edges together and did an overlock stitch on some of the worst ones, but didn't do it on every seam. Before adding the fleece backing, I decided I should wash it just to make sure the colors wouldn't run and the seams would hold. Well, the seams came apart in several places and the edges are now frayed well past the seam allowance. [ATTACH=CONFIG]434683[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]434684[/ATTACH] Is there a way to fix this?

I will pray for you. Hugs too

oh no!!! so sorry this happened. I know some experts here on the board will give you good advice. I'm not sure how I would go about it.

How about making some applique pieces to stitch over these spots. You could make a lady bug or a caterpillar or other "boy" things.

What about appliquéing strips of the same fabric, which would add a different spin on the pattern by adding dimension.

I like the idea of appliques (strips and pieces) over the fraying areas. If you machine applique, you will add more quilting through all the layers. May I suggest that you increase your stitch length? That is one of the reasons why the quilting lines are popping.

even strips with folded in edges over all seams. in one solid color, black or what ever. or some striped fabric. lay over the seams and stitch down both sides. should rescue this quilt well. good luck.

This is one of the reasons why you want to avoid washing a top before it is quilted. Washing a quilt top places a lot of stress on the seams.

What I would do at this point is use iron-on interfacing on the wrong side to stabilize the seam areas that have opened up (of course pushing the fabric together as much as possible). Then I would either sew strips over the seams or add applique over the opened seams as others have suggested.

Oh, no! If it happened to me I think I would do some fusible applique over the spots in cute, boy designs. I think the fusible would help stabilize the weak seams for future washings.

I am in the process of fixing a quilt I had made for my niece. Their dog chewed a hole through the entire quilt. Had to make a new piece (fortunately still had some of the correct fabrics) to replace what was missing. I have hand stitched the replacement piece in the top so far. A tad painful but came out pretty well if I must say so. You could try doing that if you have the correct fabrics. Much easier if you haven't quilted it yet! This one I've had to take out some of the hand quilting as well. Will post the whole saga on this one once completed and photo documented!

I would do the applique of some boy type things, or cut out circles of various boy things from other fabrics and applique on top (fussy cut fabric of sports things, etc.)...

I experienced this when I washed a quilt top before finishing. The fraying is mostly caused by all the abrasion in the washing machine...after all, that is what the machine does--agitates and makes the seams rub together, which encourages fraying. I learned my lesson--don't wash an unfinished quilt top unless you just soak it in a tub by hand...

Honestly, it may have held up if you had attached the backing and quilted it. The exposed fraying just got worse from the agitation of the washer......in hindsight. I would do appliqués as well as suggested. Good luck! Can't wait to see what you decide

Well you learned about washing before quilting the hard way! It can be done, but you have to fold it, pin it and put it in a mesh bag and then set your washer to agitate on gentle, then leave it pinned and folded when you put it in the dryer. That's actually more work than it's worth. I know because I did it once!

It sounds like you haven't actually put the batting or backing on it yet. If that's true, Why not use some scraps (if you have them), sew pieces of them (large enough to generously span the fray together), put fusible liner under the new pieces and applique them on over the frayed edges?

I would put the fusible behind the ripped seam as suggested. You could also do some fancy sewing on top after fusing if you didn't want to do applique.

There is a great product called Fray Check. You may need to loosen some of the seam where it is pulling out. You can then bend the fabric back under and put the fray check on it. It's kind of like finger nail polish, but it is suppose to last up to 20 washings (I think). Let it dry, then do a decorative stitch across it. I had to do this for a quilt I made for my daughter who likes to wash it a lot. So far, so good with that one. Hope this helps.

So sorry! As others have told you, it's best not to wash a top before it's quilted and bound. But this top CAN be salvaged. All the methods suggested will work, but the applique might be the easiest, and it could be really cute.

It may be salvageable - but if most of the seams have frayed out that badly, I think I would just toss it and write it off as a learning experience.

Or else cut the pieces down and salvage what I could and resew them into something different and smaller.

One can wash cut strips - but I do it by soaking them in a basin of hot water - swishing them a bit with just a tiny dab of detergent - draining them - swishing them again in rinse water - if I have access to a washer, then I put them on 'spin' to get rid of the excess water - and then HANG the pieces to dry. The point is to avoid agitating the pieces.
And yes, there may be some distortion/shrinkage of the strips.

I wash my fabric first to check on bleed. And then cut and sew starch if required. Then sew.

Your problem as a boy find loads of insects and applique them onto the quilt. If the picture is not large enough then enlarge on a photo copier or by hand. It is the easiest and quickest way. And any boy will love insects or even dinosaurs if that's ice required.

Some Fray Check will stop the fraying. Perhaps a fusible patch over the frayed area? Good luck.

Even though you have put a lot of time and probably $$$ for the fabric into it I don't think you will ever be happy with any patch job. Anything you do will will probably take more time that could be spent on a new one. I think I would set it aside and maybe pull it out later and use the good parts for some small project-a table runner,placemats etc. This fabric looks like it frayed way, way too much. If you got it at a good shop I would tkae it in and show it to them and maybe they will offer you something else or a discount on you next purchase. Good luck!

So sorry this happened. You've learned a valuable lesson. Never wash your top before it is quilted. Quilting will help keep the seam allowances from rubbing and fraying out. I would suggest doing some random applique over the quilt so that it looks like you intended it as a design element.
SandyQuilter

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have a further question. My plan was to use a fleece backing and minimal quilting, but now I'm afraid that won't hold up to further washing since it's already so messed up. If I decide to try and repair this, should I go ahead and use batting and quilt it heavily?

I have had this happen on a quilt I made and on several that were donated to our local chapter of Project Linus. I still have no idea why it happened. On my quilt, only some of the fabrics frayed that way, yet they were from the same bundle. It was horribly discouraging.

Novicequiltergrandma, you can use the fleece alone, it will be fine. The problem isn't with or without batting. Good luck to you!

You could use the iron on interfacing and then place a strip of contrasting color over all the seams to make it look like that was the way the pattern was supposed to be. A lot of work, but it would save the top.

For fabric that frays so easily, I would definitely plan on a lot of quilting.

willferg, I am wondering how heavily quilted your Project Linus quilts were. If you use a batting such as Warm and Natural and outline quilt lines 10" apart, this does not always provide enough support for fabric seams. Usually an all-over pattern with moderate spacing (say, 2-3" apart) is sufficient to prevent fraying.

I like any of the ideas above that will salvage the quilt top... Cute appliques will cover the areas you repaired... would suggest using just the Fleece and you can quilt it in lines lengthwise about 3 to 4 inches apart. then bind edges.this would be a Quilt loved no matter how much more Love ( work) you put into it... Don't worry , just finish it and give it with a Hug...

I once made the mistake of washing an unquilted top and the same thing happened to mine. This is how we learn NEVER to wash an unquilted top! I went over all the seams that were frayed close to the stitching or had come apart, and took them in another 1/8" or more. It was a mess and made the quilt top more puckery. When I quilted it I used a serpentine stitch over every seam line, and you would never know it ever had a problem! The seams are strengthened further by that serpentine stitch holding down every seam allowance.

Good luck!

If you choose to fix it - good luck.

If you choose to not finish it - it really is okay.

Many of us have had 'learning experiences' that have ended up in the 'there is no way I can salvage this' pile. I sure have.

Sort of like the very charred dinner - it went into the garbage instead of trying to eat it.

Never wash a quilt before it is quilted. I KNOW! I used light weight fusible strips, butted the seams together and pressed, then put a small applique over it. I fused because I did not want it to fray more. I never did that again. Lesson learned.

why not try a double sided tape,they have some i 1/4 incl thin strip tapes all you need to do is apply it bu removing paper from tape, press with iron and let it set close and done .after if you what you can use a applique if you what too. i have use this tape for pant hems and have use it on quilts that come undone with washing ,if it still just the top quilt you can sew from other side of quilt to secure tape hope this helps you

If we could see a complete photo of the quilt top, it would be easier to suggest. You may be able to reattach the pieces. Looks like your 1/4 inch seam may have been closer to 1/8. Full shot of the quilt would help. How old is DGS? That makes difference too.

I've only made one quilt and didn't have that problem but I did have some strips that didn't line up properly so I appliqued a patch over that area. Since it was a baby quilt and the original panel had some butterflies on it, I decided that the extra butterflies needed to fly away into the border area. Just covered those misaligned seams right up. This would surely cover up your frays but not sure if it would prevent your seams from further fraying during future washes.

What about ric-rack over the frayed places? Calla

This is one of the reasons that fabrics should be washed before you start. Also takes care of shrinkage and colors bleeding. I can assure you, you won't make this mistake again.
Sorry this happened to you but don't give in to it. I wish you well.