Suggestions on how to restore this?
 

My SIL has a quilt made by her great grandma. It’s all hand pieces and hand quilted. She sent some pictures of the quilt and some areas that need fixing. It’s a double wedding ring quilt. Do any of you have suggestions on how she should go about fixing this? Or if this is something I could fix? If so, how would you go about fixing this? She also says the batting is coming out in pieces, like maybe it wasn’t a full piece of batting used in the quilt? Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

https://i.ibb.co/jZs7n5C/IMG-6337.jpg https://i.ibb.co/Lhq1xzP/IMG-6336.jpg https://i.ibb.co/12ZZRP9/IMG-6338.jpg

It depends - how many pieces are in poor condition? Is it just a few, or is it worn all over? I have fixed several like this, using vintage fabric - blind stitch a piece over the bad piece, adding some cotton batting if needed, reproduce the quilting by quilting through the top and batting, not the backing.

Isn't it amazing how if you are a quilter or seamstress, some think you can work magic with sewing. That looks like a challenge, but am sure you will make it look great again. Good luck and be sure to show a pix when done.

Years ago, batting was made differently than it is now, and it would sometimes bunch up in places or get very thin if the quilting was not close enough or as in your case I think, the original quilting had just come undone. You can still get batting that need needs to be quilted very closely to maintain its original thickness. I prefer using the batting that can be quilted further apart. The package will say how close to quilt.

Sometimes batting as we know it was not what was used. My mom took one of our old quilts apart to put a new binding on it and discovered that there was a blanket inside. She said that back in the day, they also used a different type of "batting". It wasn't like what we used to day and would come apart and bunch up especially when washed in a washing machine. My mom told me that back in the day, they rarely washed quilts. They just put them outside and aired them and spot cleaned as needed.

LC, the issue for me would be how much or little is damaged. A few spots? No problem. But if it's overall the way the pictures show I think it would be a daunting task.
How wonderful though, that she has it!

I have several quilts made with cotton out of bolls that were picked and cleaned by hand. After seeds are pulled out, the cotton fibers are carded with paddles that have metal teeth. You'd rub the two paddles together with the cotton between them. The cotton then could be put into quilts. This is how my grandmother's age group probably made their quilts. I am 75 years old and I have actually seen them doing this. Aren't we lucky that we can go to the store or order batting now?

MawMaw, I'd forgotten about that. I remember someone telling me about carding cotton. I'm sure that was what was in one of the old ones my mom had.

I think I would look at the overall condition of the quilt before deciding what to do next.

Sometimes people cut out the "better" portions of a quilt and frame it or make a stuffed animal or something out of it.

There are times when an item has given long and faithful service, and it should be "retired" - also known as discarded.

You might want to take a look at this blog: https://frommycarolinahome.com/2021/...g-ring-repair/

She also teaches a quilt repair class that is wonderful. I did the zoom one she talked about on this blog: https://frommycarolinahome.com/2021/...epair-program/ but it doesn't look like there are any classes pending. Send her an email if this looks like something you would like to do.

Her blog has a few posts on repairs she has documented that you might find useful, too. Here is another that I have bookmarked: https://frommycarolinahome.com/2022/...-quilt-remake/

If you can find appropriate vintage fabrics the repairs would make this a new treasure for more generations to enjoy, I hope.

MawMawB, I remember 'helping' my mom remake wool quilts when I was a child (I'm 70+). Growing up, we did not have 'quilted' quilts. They were made from wool batting and ticking fabric which was tied. They always had a cover of sorts--like the present-day duvets. The covers were removed for laundering. Eventually the ticking had to be replaced.

I don't remember if the wool was washed but I do remember the clumps of the stuff. We borrowed a carding machine from our church. It was a round drum about 8-10 inches in diameter with teeth all the way around. I was 'allowed' to turn the handle. When the wool batt filled the teeth, it was cut and peeled off the teeth. The new ticking was put on a quilting frame, the carded batts of wool were added, then another layer of ticking and the quilt was again tied. I don't remember how the edges were finished.

As an added note--I still have the wedding quilt that my Mom made for me--and it is exactly what I described above. Those suckers were made to last! I have been married 50+ years.

Great process to share, Ginger! Thank you!