Problem Help!!
 

My DH's 93 year old Aunt brought me a quilt and asked me to quilt it for her. It is an Overall Sam quilt. So far, I have found about 4 places where she has clipped holes in the fabric with her scissors? I am quilting it on the longarm. How would you suggest that I can mend or cover these places up? They are in different places on the quilt. Some are in the sashing and some are on the block itself. I thought about maybe appliqueing some little cut out like a rope or a leaf or maybe stars.... over them and then maybe scatter some along in the quilt. Then I thought maybe some Fray check might work. But, I'm afraid that you could see that and it might not hold up to washing. Anybody got some suggestions??

Yikes! I think you have a good idea doing a little bit of applique over those pieces -- scattering it around the rest of the quilt will make it look planned.

Does you DH Aunt know about the holes? I would ask her how she would like you to handle it.

fray check would change the hand of the quilt. I think you really wouldn't like the results with it.

Applique or embroidery or similar hand stitching sounds great.

how big are the snips? Could you use a light weight fusible on the back side, making sure to get the edges lined up?

I would definitely point them out to her and ask her preference before doing anything.

Did you found those holes after you had it set up and started quilting it?

If so, my first reaction would have been "oh, snap" (or something similar!!!)

Is it possible for her to see it and for you to consult with her about what to do?

The suggestions have been good. If it were mine, I would start with fray-checking the edges and then maybe do the appliques after the quilt was off the long-arm.

What ever you do depends on the nature of the Aunt. Personally I would through leaves or stars over the quilt. If sh notices explain why gently.

I tried FrayCheck on a quilt once in a couple places due to cheapy fabric wearing out 1/2" in from the seam. I would not recommend it. It makes the fabric super stiff. It can be sticky & pick up lint while drying &, honestly, it doesn't do a very good job.

You can definitely make a little applique piece to sew on. The other option (especially if it is already partially quilted) is to order Iron On decals.

I ordered a bunch of little 1/4" Iron On button decals from this place for a McCall's baby quilt (McCall's thought it was a good idea to put forty-two 1/4" buttons on a baby quilt so I figured out a substitution). They were fantastic! I grabbed a screen shot of buttons in the colors I wanted from a button website. IronOnSticker.com not only perforated the button, but also 2 tiny buttonholes in each of the buttons. I was able to run a decorative stitch between the buttonholes for an amazingly realistic look!

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I tried a larger 2x3" sample decal they sent on a rotary cutter oopsie & it worked great! Washes fine, just can't put it on high heat in the dryer, but I don't do that with quilts anyways. And you cannot iron it directly -- you have to carefully follow their instructions about using their special paper & a hard surface. Once they're on, they're definitely set. Here's their website if you're interested:
https://www.irononsticker.com/promotion-c-1239.html

Does she have scraps of her fabric left? I would make "invisible" applique patches of the matching fabric rather than adding shapes to her quilt. she should be asked.

Maybe I can help here (from your favorite fabric buyer). My dear 88 year old sister-in-law has an antique quilt (over 60 years old) that had holes from "just old fabric" that she wanted repaired. Here is what I did. I found some fabric that was as close as I could come with it ( it did turn out every well). I made the hole just enough to be able to turn under the area (a circle ) and I tucked a one inch piece inside the hole and gently using a small knitting needle to smooth the patch in under the top of the quilt on the batting. Then I took a quilting needle and made tiny stitches all the way around the edge of that was folded over and when I finished, you couldn't even find where I did it. Took some time but it was worth it for her. Just an idea for you.

It is her quilt and you need to ask her how she wants to handle it. I wouldn't applique anything until you ask her. At 90 something she might be offended if you do something on you own.

There is a possibility she doesn't realize she snipped the fabric. I wonder if this is something she completed recently, or years before, when her eyesight was better?

I would gently point out the holes first and try to mend with extra fabric if she has it .If she doesn't, tell her your suggestion about scattering appliques. She might love the creative "fix" to her problem, and feel respected that you asked her before doing anything.

On a long arm site I follow, someone suggested Bo Nash. They described it as a powder you sprinkle on the hole with a piece of fabric under the hole. You iron it to bond it (from what I gather!) Worth looking into.

Consult her first to see if she has scraps, if not get some very fine tulle and lay over the snips and then quilt over the tulle. It will hardly be noticed after the quilt is done. The tulle should match or be as near as possible to the color of the snipped spot.

Definitely need to tactfully mention to her about the oops. Lots of good ideas here. Since you are long-arming it, can you use the machine to "embroider" stars over the cut places?

I would ask your aunt if she is aware of the holes & ask her if she wants you to applique over them. I can't see any other way of fixing them.

[QUOTE=soccertxi;7274288]On a long arm site I follow, someone suggested Bo Nash. They described it as a powder you sprinkle on the hole with a piece of fabric under the hole. You iron it to bond it (from what I gather!) Worth looking into.[/QUOTE

BO NASH is great stuff!! Amazing how great it works. If the holes are not too big you CAN fix them with this. It will NOT show where it was repaired.

Also, she may have some of the fabric leftover that you could inconspicuously applique a patch.

I would just go with the small applique and tell my aunt about it later.

Not knowing the pattern of her quilt or if it's a scrappy, I can only suggest that you drop a hexie over the hole. Tell her it's a love-hug from you. IMHO

SewCrazy, the first post indicated this is an Overall Sam pattern

before I sewed appliques all over someone else's quilt I'd discuss it with the owner.
Unless the batting is poly I'd do the fusible under the slit and mark those places with a pin
so you will know a little extra quilting there would not go amiss.

Let us know

This might work but so far I've found about 30 of these places. Most are in the sashing fabric or where she tried to take out some stitches. I'll be sure and ask her what she wants me to do. She wants very little quilting since the Sam's are mostly applique and embrodiery . Thanks for all of the good suggestions! Now I have a little bit more to run by her.