What a problem!! Any suggestions???
 

My niece called me the other day because she has a "quilt problem". She said that she has a quilt her grandma made (my sister says it is a quilt her Great grandma made - - this is why labels on quilts are important for this exact reason)...anyway my niece uses the quilt on her couch. I understand that she probably likes wrapping her little girls up in a quilt that her great grandma made (and great grandma would love that as well) but what happened is why she needs to be very careful. They have a dog in the house... and the dog used the quilt as a chew toy. She asked me if I could patch this up. I have attached pictures... do you guys have any suggestions? I am so glad the little appliques were not damaged. Please let me know. Thank you.

That looks more like a stress tear than dog damage. A stress tear in a quilt of this age (and this many washings) would not surprise me at all. Or ... a very careful dog :)

I could only suggest trying your best to match the solid color pink. You can either very carefully remove the torn sashing - and replace it (by hand of course), or applique the solid piece over the existing torn piece.

The best you can do is shop around looking for a good quality solid fabric that matches the quilt such as Moda Bella or Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton and literally applique over the damaged area. You may also need to replace a section of batting, then hand quilt over the new fabric making it a permanent part of this beautiful old quilt to get it to look like the remaining sections of the quilt. There is an excellent resource book called Quilt Restoration A Practical Guide by Camille Dalphond Cognac. First printing was on 1994. I know that the Fabric Shack had almost 300 colors from the Kona Cotton line. Good Luck !!

This seems like a heirloom quilt passed on from generation to generation.. Not sure of the batting used in that time frame. My ignorant idea just patch over it, trying to remove might cause more headache than any other...

My thought was the same as ManiacQuilter--appliqué over the damaged area with the best matching pink you can find, then do a little hand quilting over it In The same style/design as the original. I would just be glad it is being used and loved, it won't last forever.

since the blocks are fisher boys, maybe you could applique a big fish over the tear.

I would see if I could match that pink. Wash it a few times. Then take several cotton balls and pull them over the whole. Then hand stitch the squares together in as big an area as you need to work it in to repair the hole. Then hand quilt in the same patten that Grandma or Great Grandma did. I think that should work.

.....and if you are able to repair and return it to neice..I would gently explain to her that this quilt needs to be treated will TLC as it is in a fragile condition and hopefully could be passed on to her offspring when the time comes....

Thank you so much for your replies. That is a great idea of seeing about getting a piece from the back to patch the front. I just don't know if I can.. I will have to see how much quilting I will need to pick out. But it looks to be all hand stitched, so maybe I can. I love the idea of a fish or boat themed applique.. whether on the front or the back...... and adding a label is a good idea too. I am going to have to gather that information about great grandma

Cute quilt. It does look more like a worn area rather than a dog chewed it. Anyway, I agree with trying to match the color with a Kona solid and applique it on. I had a quilt that my kids loved and fought over and after 25 years it disintegrated. No amount of patching or applique could save it. "Quilty" died. It had a blanket inside it for the batting and was made when old clothes and other scraps were used for the piecing on top, so it was worn more in some spots than in others. I kept patching it and finally gave up. It was a well loved quilty and had been washed so many times it was just shredded. Show us a picture when you get yours finished.

I love QuiltnNan's suggestion of a fish applique over the damaged area.

I have no problem with a quilt being loved and used to death, but I have had two quilts chewed by the recipients' dogs. I know dog lovers will tolerate a lot from their pets, but I have to say that it really made me sad to think that all my work was lost because of a dog. The owners loved their quilts, and they probably felt worse than I did, but it was their choice to have a pet, not mine. I know you give a quilt because you love someone, and then you let it go, but it still makes me sad.

1930's reproductions solids are available in several shades of pink. On my monitor, it looks as if one of those would work for you.

[QUOTE=Jeanne S;6837170]My thought was the same as ManiacQuilter--appliqué over the damaged area with the best matching pink you can find, then do a little hand quilting over it In

This is exactly what I would do.

As long as this is a quilt that is being used, I would just put a patch over the damaged area and call it good enough.

I would also check the rrst of the quilt for weak sppts and do prrvrntice msintensnve on them.

I would make a label (I know on the front?) and cover the damage. And tell the niece to train her dog, or put the quilt up higher.

I have some old, patched quilts from my gran and the patches are NOT subtle - she'd just use the kid's boyscout badges or any other "patch" laying around. To me, those patches are super-cool and just another layer in the quilt's story, I'm glad she didn't hide the patches.

I'd be tempted, in this case, to use this spot for a quilt label. Put down what you know about the quilt's history, then add who it was patched by and when, and list who is now using/owning the quilt.

I doubt any future generation would feel this ruined the quilt.

OR, if you really want to keep the front as original as possible, put a label on the back to replace whatever you borrow for the front.

Either way, the patching is only going to make the quilt more interesting and beloved, at least it would for ME!

Is the backing done in the pink with enough to redo the back so you can fix the front?

You could scan the quilt to get the pink color and print a page of that color if you can't find a matching pink.

I have several old quilt like this that unless I put them away they will not last much longer with use. My family loves them because they are so soft and will grab one of them before a new quilt. I just let them be. If they fall apart so be it. I would rather them be used then folded in a box. When the quilt gets too far gone, frame a few of the blocks for your girls.

I couldn't tell if the quilt eating dog had eaten through the quilt or if the backing is still intact; if it is, I would try to find a solid pink to match as well as possible. Then I would cut away the existing batting, whip stitch a new piece of batting and then applique a new pink strip over the existing sashing, then quilt over that and that should solve the problem. I also am glad that the appliques did not get eaten, that would have been tragic.

I would try to find a cotton in the same color. It will most likely be too intense but you could put it in a solution of water with a touch of bleach to tone it down. You could use a piece of fusible batting and applique the solid piece on top. Hand quilt to match the existing quilting lines. I would not cut into the backing because then you'll have 2 areas to fix.

that is a great idea to do

What a shame. While it's a nice thought to wrap in great-grandmother's quilt, I think I'd rather make the kiddos their own and put grandmother's on a quilt rack. Too valuable to risk "injury".

I don't really try to match the fabric. It will always look odd. Let the fact be known that this quilt was well used and loved by stitching an appliqued piece over the area that might coordinate with the theme of the quilt. The last time I patched a dog chewed quilt, I embroidered a picture of a dog and the words, "Sunshine was here" on a piece of fabric and used that for the patch.

I love that!

Looks like it is just wear and tear, due to old age.

I think meyert in the previous reply has the best solution. If there is a local quilt guild or group, you might show this wonderful antique them. Sometimes personal guidance is reassuring. You might consider using a print such as a pink plaid or swirl to applique over the torn place, and add the information that is a "time span quilt". A quilt made with love and restored with love. (I would also keep it away from pets!!!

That looks ,more like a stress tear. It is probably due to the age of the quilt. I would try to match the fabric and
cover the tear. That is a really an old quilt to be using as an everyday quilt. Hope you are able to fix it...