I have been asked to repair a quilt if it is repairable. Well, I took a look at it and omg. The front is not made with cotton fabric, it looks like mabey it was duck cloth or something like it, mabey even drapery fabric. The back is totally shredded and the batting is comming off. Not to mention that it was hand tied. Anyway, I personally don't think that it would be fixable without undoing the pieces of binding, replacing all the batting and backing. I told this person that it would be very expensive to redo. He is going to tell his wife and if she says go ahead, He will bring it back to me. I gave Him a price of 300 to 400 dollars! Now what do I do? Got a feeling that He will have me do it. I was trying to discourage him. Material wise won't be that much, but time wise omg. Any sugestions? Seems that over pricing (mabey) did not have an effect on him.

I don't think you over priced at all

been there!!... at least it;s only tied and not quilted... that would have taken longer to rip out.... sorry, thats the only silver lining , I could come up with!!

As long as the front is in okay shape, I wouldn't even try to fix it. Just take it apart and re-sandwich it for quilting.

You quoted a very fair price.

For the work your price seems generous. It always turns out to be more than you realize.

$500.00 may not be enough for the time it's going to take you...that aside:

You don't want to remove the backing and batting if the top is in bad condition...not until you have secured the top in some way. What I've seen others do with a quilt like this is put a layer of tule over the top of the entire quilt. Get one that won't show a lot. Dark fabrics, get a dark tule, light fabrics, get light.

What you are doing is securing the top as is, no repairs.

I watched this done on a longarm (video online) and they put a new backing on the machine...laid the quilt (batting, old backing and all) over the new backing, laid the tule over that, then secured and quilted a large meander all over the quilt. That I would do for 300.00...I'd also add a thin layer of batting if needed.

If they want the top repaired for use...I'd find like colors (but use cotton or polished cottons), gently take the quilt apart, replace any blocks that can't be fixed (lot of hand stitching here)...once all seams and squares are secure..add a new backing/batting and machine quilt...I'd use Stich in the ditch or an allover pattern. If they want it to look tied...add some ties after all the quilting is finished.

Sounds fair, or charge him by the hour..

Make sure you get paid up front for a big job like this....I wouldn't want you to go thru all the work and then they don't pay.

If the quilt isn't to be used, I would have suggested to cover the whole quilt in tulle. It will keep the quilt together and protect it from further damage.

I agree!!

There has got to be some sentimental value to this for them to want it repaired. If it were me, doggies would have a new quilt. I do NOT like repair work so I probably would have said that they could not afford me. What you quoted, seems more than fair for the nightmare they are laying on you. Unless you need the money, I really hope the wife is horrified and is one that thinks "it's only sewing" expecting a $20.00 fix.

well, wonder if ducky could help you. lol

I like that idea of tule...never thought of that before.

OMG!

i think you should raise your price!!!

I agree with the other posts. Your price is very generous. I also agree that if the top is in good shape, just clip (if you can) the ties and pitch the batting and backing (if your customer agrees), re-sandwich with new batting and backing and tie it again and bind it. If you do it this way, be sure to take into acount the cost of the new material. With your customers approval, you might even be able to trim the binding off and not pick it out. So much of this depends on the shape of the top and what the customer's expectations are.
If the top is pretty beaten up, I'd also consider going the tulle route.
Whatever direction you decide to go, be sure your customer is aware of what the fix is and what your steps are to do the repair.
Good luck with this.

You probably should have quoted $1,000.00 which may be closer to the true value.

This would be my suggestion too, the quilt has sentimental value to these people and I wouldn't even try to take it apart and fix it. Cover it with tulle, tack in a few places by tying it and give it back to them. There comes a time when even a quilt can't be saved and used for more than a mememto.

Carol J.

I have done a repair job similar to this. I think this is very good advice. I'd use an all-over large meander to hold it together. You didn't say how bad the condition of the top is. If it is okay, I wouldn't use the tulle.
I completely agree with getting paid before you start, unless you totally trust the people.

Mercy! Maybe tell him it will get done but that you can't give him a time frame. Or, just tell him the truth. That it's going to take a tremendous amout of time and you just can't make the committment.

Just be honest with the guy and tell him after looking over things again that the quilt is in such bad state of repair and after assessing it that you need to charge him more for fixing it and set the price higher. If you don't want to fix it for him then tell him straight out that it is not repairable.

Been there and done that one, if you do it, charge a lot, it takes a lot of time and patience. Then it still won't be like new.
Brenda

I think you have a good idea on the best way to fix it. This happens when someone uses a much heavier top that they use for the back. If you do find yourself doing this quilt matbe you could include a copy of how to care and wash a quilt for future reference.

i do alot of restoration work- sometimes the quilt comes to me literally a rag- and someone wants to somehow preserve it to put away for their child to have as an adult--
9 times out of 10 i have to first repair the top, square by square- if they are worn or appliques worn out i remove each piece (one at a time) replace/remake it and move on to the next spot. when the top is all fixed i remove the backing and old batting give it a brand new back and batt and quilt it. i try to find the actual fabrics used but if that is not possible i find as close as i can or use repoduction fabs. when possible i use a fusable web to (heal a tear)if there is alot of raw-edge applique that is coming up i use tule over it, but that's the only time i've used the tule for part of a fix.
if the top is in fairly decent shape and the biggest issue for this quilt is the back and batt it is a very easy fix and should not take long at all- it's the fixing one block at a time on the quilt top that is time consuming.

Are you over priced? Not by a long shot. I repaired a yo yo quilt for one of my daughter's custmoers and it cost over $300. Repair work is not inexpensive. Perhaps you could advise them to use smaller good parts of the quilt for a lap quilt or a wallhanging.

trollystation has said it all. Last year I repaired one quilt and made another for my GD and the repair took 3 times as long as the new one.

Me too. I don't think you overpriced at all. Heck, if it's a treasured family heirloom, then they're probably willing to pay anything.

Good luck!

tulle is the 'fix' of choice for many archival quilt collections. i was taught at the winterther museum that the damaged areas only were covered in matching tulle and handstitched with tiny, close invisible stitches to the firmest parts of the surrounding fabric. but you didn't say that the front of the quilt was tearing or shredding. is that part okay? am i correct that only the back needs replacement?
if the back and the batting are the only parts that need replacement, then your price is very fair if they are supplying the fabric. if the front also needs work, then you have to adjust the price before they accept it.

If he does come back, take good photos, because it will be much faster to take the whole quilt apart and make a new one, replacing the torn pieces, or re-piecing them,
When you do take it apart, use a designing wall to keep all the pieces in their original position, filling in the spaces, with similar-to-what-was-there heavy duck fabric. Make the new top, add new batting and backing and tie it.
You can still say no, or offer a new quilt, explaining in much detail why!

Can you post a picture of it for us? I would really like to see what this tattered quilt looks like!

I want to see a picture!

Heck, I'll do it

I gave it back to him and have not heard a word about it since. I should have taken pic's to show you all.