Help in repairing a quilt
 

Three years ago I made a king quilt for my niece. It has 17 different fabrics in it so the pattern is quite involved. Unfortunately she was puppy sitting and didn't notice that the puppy chewed a hole right through the quilt about the size of a plum. I've never had to repair anything like this so was wondering about the steps to take and in what order. I don't believe I have any scraps left but, because of all the different fabrics, should be able to find something that wouldn't be too noticeable. It's on the corner of a smallish panel so I assume I will have to replace the panel (unpick the damaged piece and handsew in a new piece. I can visualize that. I will try to match the backing as much as possible and handsew that patch on also. But, what is the best way to replace the missing batting? Do you handsew a piece in? I also have some of that batting fusible tape but haven't used it on anything like this. Any help would be appreciated before I start this job. I figured out I had more than $400 in material in this quilt so have had to really bite my tongue about her letting a puppy sleep on her bed!

Just working on the same issue myself! Fortunately I had all the fabrics left over so no problem there. I picked out the eaten piece to the next sewn seam. I then machine pieced the proper fabrics into the required shape. I hand sewed the replacement section into the now-squared hole. Was able to do 2 sides from the front and the remaining 2 sides from the back. I then squared off the section of batting and hand basted a scrap into that area. Then patched the backing after squaring up that area as well. Hand stitched a typical 'patch' over the hole in the backing. The front came out tremendous, even if I do say so myself! I now have to re-quilt that section. Haven't gotten that far as yet. I'm happy with the results thus far.

Puppies are exactly the reason I have no hand-made quilts on my bed! Only cheapy store-bought in this house. Not only from the chewing, but the 'nesting' habit as well. Have replaced enough cheap ones to know I'll never have one of my own on my bed as I don't ever see myself not having dogs!

all i can say is good luck with repairing it. while i would be happy to see a quilt being used and loved to put a hole in it. Having a puppy chew it would not have made me happy either.

I agree with your method proposed. I would just hand stitch the new batting piece in place. It will hold. As for the back, you might want to put a decorative applique piece, or even a your label over the patched area. It's very trendy right now to have something surprising on the back.

(BTW, that's a gorgeous quilt!)

~ Cindy

You could use the tape or hand stitching for the batting. You really won't know that the batting isn't all its original piece once you're done with the repair. For the back, tropit has a good idea. Maybe a label with a picture of a puppy and with a circle around it and the slash line running through it (no puppies!) And it is a gorgeous quilt. Your niece must be heartbroken that the puppy damaged it and that she then had to admit it to you.

The suggestions all look good - and that quilt looks GREAT! Gorgeous!

Good luck with the repair.

Alison

There is a book out there called Quilt Restoration A Practical Guide by Camille Dalphond Cognac. She goes step by step with various restoration projects. Here is the one that the Golden Retrieved chewed a big hole in a family antique quilt during a thunderstorm. This is a great reference book that all quilt guilds should have a copy if they maintain a library.

I think this is the greatest idea. It really has the history of the quilt and quilter in it's design.
Good luck with the repair however you do it.

I repaired a hole in my DD's quilt. I cut the hole in to a square shape and bound the edges. She calls it her Whole Quilt. Granddaughter has loved that hole in that quilt since she was little. She would stick her hand or foot in it, look out of it, put toys in through the hole, anything her imagination thought of. If I had patched the hole the quilt would have been just a patched quilt and no fun at all. LOL

OH...That's a cute idea! Whatever you do, it will be wonderful. The memories of the whole thing make it all worth it.

~ Cindy