Repairing small hole in backing fabric?
 

So I had a little "oops" with the seam ripper picking out some quilting and put a small hole in my quilt backing. Wouldn't you know it was in the middle of the backing (which is a single piece of cotton)... It's just a few weave-threads long, maybe 1/4 inch.

This is only my third quilt, so I don't know what the best repair method is - just machine darning the hole? Putting a small piece of fabric underneath (would be inside the quilt) and darning over the hole? Patch of fabric on the outside?

If it was in the border area I'd applique a label over it, but being towards the middle area of the back, I don't know what to do. It's also a Mother's Day surprise present for my elderly mom so I want to do the nicest job possible.

Thanks,

Michelle

I would put a small piece of light weight fusible interfacing (the kind with fusible on one side only) on the INSIDE. should be able to bring the 2 cut edges together, then just iron it.

And then, if it's still too noticable, put an applique over it. Add some more if one looks out of place.

Can you applique a small decorative design over it to hide it? If you do like a floral spray or something, it won't look like you're hiding anything. I made a mistake on a paper pieced "wave" and ended up appliqueing several dolphins in the waves so that it looked like part of the design rather than a fix.

since it's a mother's day gift, how about a label with a mother's day poem on it?

I had that happen, only the fabric came off the bolt with pencil eraser holes in it every 88". I just appliqued extra blocks that I had left over from the top over the holes. Worked great and looks like I planned the backing that way.

Thank you all for the great ideas! I have a nice variety of scraps from the front blocks and it never occurred to me to applique over the hole with something that looked intentional - I was focused on the "hiding" aspect of things.

I love this board!

Michelle

If it's for your mother, how 'bout a picture of the two of you blanket stitched on? I put my son's daughters on the back of his quilt and he was pleased.

I have a friend who just finished a quilt..and then her puppy chewed a hole in the backing..so she cut a flower shape and appliqued it over the hole. It looked really cute like it was supposed to be there. You could always make a few flowers of different sizes too and scatter them on the back so it looks like it's an intentional pattern.