How do I fix damage on an old quilt
 

I went to a quilt auction held by a local guild yesterday. I bought an old quilt that was entirely handmade. It was a grandmothers flower garden pattern. It looks to be from the 30's. Nicely made, no stains, and the colors were still bright. The batting was cotton that had wadded up just like the quilts I remember from when I was a child. However, it does have some wear damage on the binding. Some of the very outside edges have frayed open. The binding is muslin the same as used in the quilt's blocks. I'd like some advice as to whether or not to repair the damage on this quilt. It will be used just for display, but I'm not sure if the fix will be better than just leaving it. I just don't know if I'd do more damage repairing it.

I might be tempted to rebind it going further in than the original binding to cover and stabilize the wear. I would not, however, wash it until I had talked to a fabric conservator at a museum. They usually give good advice for nothing.

I'm wondering if you could just apply a slightly wider binding over the existing. I'd do it by hand, this way you could preserve the original and just stabilize it.

I would do as PP says, just make a little wider binding that will cover the existing binding. I keep tell everyone on this board that usually it is the binding that will wear out first. You might just find a perfect 30's print.

We have a well know quilt restorer here in the Valley of the Sun [Phoenix, Az.] If you PM me with a picture I can always forward it to her.

Thanks! I'll get a photo of it.

I like the idea of covering it with a wider binding. I've found a lot of original, 20s and 30s quilt fabrics at Effie's, on Ebay, that would do the trick. They're still old and not reprints, so you might find one that is a good match.

~ Cindy

I would check with an appraiser before any repair.