Hello, I am a first time poster, looking for some advice for more experienced quilters than me.

A couple of weeks ago I made a rather beautiful quilt for myself. I LOVED it and was really chuffed at the pretty prefect finish.

Then I went out and stupidly left it somewhere the dog had access to. She chewed it, it could have been a lot worse (ever the optomist!) but I still have a hole all the way through (all three layers) and I desperately need advice on how I can repair it.

I have attached two photos. One showing the quilt finished and complete and the other showing the hole.

All advice gratefully received. I'm also open to anyone who knows a professional who would offer a service to repair it at a cost.

Thank you!

Awww man that stinks!!!!

No advice for you, though~~~if it were mine, I'd just patch it and go on loving it, but I know that's not the "proper" answer :)

I have a dog who did that when she was a puppy. I dont know how to fix it but I do know how you feel :(

I will be watching this thread with interest as my dog put a hole in a quilt my grandmother made.

Beautiful quilt by the way

I am no expert, but have a few questions . how is it backed ? is it possible to rip out the damaged section on the front , replace them from the back and cover the back with a label ?

I would make a patch using the poka dot, blue, and dark strip fabric and appliqué it over the hole, the fabric patch colors matching the quilt fabrics. I bet it will barely be noticeable unless looked for. Very pretty quilt!

i would make 4 new .5 squares and put them properly together, turn under a .25 seam allowance, then blindstitch them over the dog's mouth, er, over the ruined 4 patches, with a teeny, invisible slipstitch, by hand. on the back do the same with a piece of backing, just make a patch, maybe with a frame around it, or make an applique with one of the front colors. in between, i'd carefully pat in batting to match the rest in fullness. you might want to glue the new fabric down with school glue while you work to keep things from shifting. then machine stitch over it all. even a profession will have to patch it. if you stay with the dark to dark and light to light you won't see it unless you know it's there. it's good that it's busy.

It amazes me what people are willing to put up with in regards to animals - maybe you need to watch "dog whisperer"...

I see 4 triangles that can be taken out and replaced, and a patched batting - there's no way you can get around a patched backing but the top can be fixed more or less 'like new'... just get out the seam ripper and work carefully - it will all have to be done by hand tho..

My very first was totally destoyed by my puppy, who grew into the most wonderful of dogs. He went through the quilt, blanket, two sheets, and a mattress pad. I came home to find him blissfully sleeping in the middle of all the debris. Butterfly was right on the money about fixing it. When you are done, it will hardly be noticeable.

I love your advice.... and especially your sense of humor! :mrgreen:

I would second Butterflywings suggestion, but I would use staples on the dog. lol NO just kidding. Does sound like puppy needs some lessons of what is not allowed but that doesn't help your quilt.

Do you have some more of the fabric to where you can sew same over same? You can add a piece of batting and do a simple cross hatch to keep it in place. Then add a new assembled piece of four over the chewed piece. You can match the quilting by doing it from the back. I think it would be worth a try.

That is such a beautiful quilt. I would patch it. You have some great suggestions here. I like the idea of putting a label on the back to cover the hole.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
Your quilt is beautiful. I'm so sorry that your dog found it something to eat!!!
I have 3 dogs and they have chewed on way too many items as well!

JJs,I wouldn't have a pet if all I did was discipline it to death. My beautiful rescue dog is full of mischief and it's me that has learned to not leave tempting items in her path.

Dang! If I see this correctly, that pup went right for the middle, huh? Well, is the backing intact...isn't that what we're seeing beneath the damage? I would replace the top three or four pieces and the batting as previously suggested...by hand. And for the backing, if needed, I'd applique something that would tell the tale...a heart-shape, preferably made of gold colored fabric! By the way, that really is an attractive quilt...you did a fine job on it the first time...you'll get it back in shape...no doubts here!

haha

bellaboo - do you assume that we don't have a pet?
believe me, we do - a small bundle that has the run of the house - she has never (knock on wood) chewed up anything....
3/4 pappilon and 1/4 jack russel - so you can just about imagine that she has lots of energy.... except she won't chase the stupid chipmunks in the yard!

she's just a good girl - I'd say it out loud, but she knows when she hears 'good girl' that we're talking about her!!

you know, i might be tempted to write on the back patch, "this is where that no-good pup, (add his name here), ate his way through, 2010. every quilt needs a history.

I'd probably take some of the fabrics that are in the quilt and make a relatively large lazy daisy and applique it, and some leaves meandering around a stem...all from the fabrics already in the quilt...
it is a pretty one~!~

Okay! I would put a heart shaped patch over the damage and love it forever. ( along with the puppy) Animal Lover! :thumbup:

I would trim around the hole, leaving a 1/2" next to the seam lines along those 4 pieces, removing the quilting as needed. Make a new block of the 4 half square triangle units, turn under the seam allowance around the edges, replace the batting piece and stitch the new block down by hand. Then I would resew the quilting :D:D:D
I think it will be an easier job than you think, and only a magnifying glass will show where the patch is...at an arms length, no one but you will see it :wink:

You can Elmers glue baste around the edge of the patch to help hold it in place while you stitch it down.
I would also consider basting the batting patch to the rest of the batting too, to make sure it doesn't shift.

I agree Bella. :) My dog is a chewer, mostly on toys, but sometimes on other things as well. When we got him he was scared of everything and had been abused. He is protective of my boys and me and we love him to pieces (no pun intended). We like him to have a personality, and sometimes that means he will get something hes not supposed to. I can always buy new stuff, but I cant replace my dog!

JJs, I didn't mean to sound like you didn't understand. I just get so aggravated at some tv experts that use choke or electric shock or other methods to train a pet to act perfect all the time. What fun is a perfect pet? :D

If the quilt is for you, why not patch the front and back with an applique (your choice - maybe a dog bone). For the batting, I would fit a little larger than the hold and do a gentle zig zag stitch by hand to secure it to the quilt. It would be a reminder that your dog enjoyed your quilt. You could embroider his name on the bone. Good luck!!!

This is also what I would advise. You will hardy notice it has been patched!!

Totally agree. See that sweet face over there<----? She bounces off the walls and furniture and I let her. She knows wrong from right most of the time (1 1/2 yrs old) and I know she's a dog all the time. I let her be til it becomes to much. Then she settles down.

As for eating a quilt, she would have a new bed and I have enough scraps to make another-I'd be sitting at the machine for one reason or another anyway.

Thank you everyone for your advice. What I really didn't want to do was repair it and then discover there was a better way to have done it. I want the front to look the same, so it doesn't make me want to weep with regret every time I see it, but yes, the back can tell the history!

JJs, you mention getting the seam ripper out and removing the squares/triangles, but I'm not confident about how to slot them back in afterwards... any further advice?

Also, if I patch on top, do you think I can just leave the rough edges underneath?

Oh and just one thing about the dog debate! I have only had a dog for 18 months (husband wanted her!) and I would have totally agreed about "what people put up with" comment, but its amazing how having pets, like having children changes your mind!

In this case, she is not a wild destructive dog. She's nearly two and it's been a long time since she chewed something she shouldn't, which is why I was abit too complacent!

Her name is Macy and this is her, being a quilter's companion, dozing on that very same quilt, while I did the binding...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iDRYn85l0d...h/IMG_6299.JPG

I will post again when the repair is done, so you can all inspect it!

Well, you now have a lot of ways to tackle your repair...so I won't add anything...other than I think your quilt is just beautiful...and Macy is too. Please post when you are done, and don't stress, it will still be beautiful.

So sorry that happened! I read on here, I think it was, that someone gave a quilt and that person's dog chewed a hole in it. She patched it with a piece of material with the words embroidered... "Bad, bad dog!" I thought that was funny.

now, THATS funny!!!

That's what I would do.

Great quilt.....love scrappy quilts.

I have repaired quilts that had holes worse than that. What I do, generally. to fix it, first, is to try and match the fabric. Perhaps you still have some. Make the HST, if that is what it, or they are, and then very finely, with a lot of patience, iron the seams lines in on the repair piece, and applique the piece back on. Do not remove the damaged one, just applique over it. You can get a piece of batting and insert that if that part is badly ripped. The back would have to be patched, using the applique stitch also, but since it is on the back, it will not be so noticeable. I don't know if the quilt is machine quilted. I hand quilt, and have only repaired old, damaged quilts that are hand quilted so no problem, but if it is, perhaps you could take it to the person who machine quilted it and they could do something to help.

I'd put a simple flower applique on the hole and then 2 more somwhere else on the quilt so it looks like you planned to do it.

Your first quilt....it is beautiful.

Your quilt is beautiful and I know that you will be able to do justice by the repair. Your dog is precious!! I can see why she has gotten to your heart. :)

Well, you could make a patch saying (dogs name ) and this is her/his contribution.

So sorry your quilt was chewed up. :(

I have a cat. :lol:

I'm sorry your dog put a hole in your beautiful quilt! what a naughty thing! Here's how I would fix that spot: make another block , matching the pattern/ fabrics as best you can, do the same with the backing, cut it 1/4 inch wider on all sides, and applique it to the quilt with a new piece of batting in between, I'm sure you would be able to re-quilt that small section at home. I've had to do this myself. Good news is your quilt has enough movement/ color in it, I'll bet you'll be the only one that will notice; and at some point you'll laugh about what a naughy boy you had. Good luck

I totally agree with this.....this would be the best way to do it, unless you want to take the stitches out of this section and re-piece a front block/s and just put a patch on the back. It can be done, but not easy!!

you could applique hearts on it in a few areas or circles. they would look like they are floating around, but one would be specificaly placed.

I know you love the dog, but you do not like EVERYTHING that he does. I recently repaired a quilt that had a large burn hole. I agree with BUTTERFLY. Make a duplicate square and carefully hand stich it over the orginal. Turn the quilt over and cut a piece of batting that matches the size and shape of the hole. Now cut a rectangular piece of backing that is larger than the hole. Turn edges under 1/4 inch. Press and, using a basting stitch, stitch all around the backing patch. Using a two sided fusible (I believe that it is called WunderUnder), cut a piece the size and shape of the batting. Fuse to the batting, using a towel so that the batting doesn't melt to you iron. Remove the the paper from the WunderUnder and fuse to the backing patch. Hand stitch around the backing patch and then remove the basting stitches. The patch on the backing will be barely visible and the front will be like new. QUESTIONS?? PM me

after patching the back in whatever way you like,
i would create a new patch out of four pieces. those pieces would be the equivalant of the flower-dot-flower-stripe area. put those pieces together with 1/4" seams. fold under a 1/4" seam allowance, just as there was originally, around the whole thing. put this aside for now. carefully trim around the worst of the chewed area. leave as much as you can, but rough edges won't be a problem at all. that's your structure, but remove the lumpiest parts if necessary. pat in the new batting, gluing into place if you want to. carefully place the new patch into position again using glue if you like. now hand sew with an invisible slipstitch. you may be tempted to use invisible thread, but i wouldn't do it. it will feel different than the rest. whn the patch is in place and sewed down. you have to machine re-sew the quilt stitching. the patch will disappear into the busy pattern.

try dabbing some perfume onto the quilt that the dog doesn't associate with you. he may be less likely to feel at home there. i used to do that with my cats.