My friends friend bought this quilt at a yard sale a long time ago. Neither friend wants it now that it is in such bad shape. A few of the squares are just gone but most do not look too bad to mem but what do I know. I have only been a quilter for a few months.
I am thinking I can snip the ties, replace the rotten squares and put on a new batting and back. I would like your opinion. Do you think I would be wasting my time? Also wondering if you can get a feel for its age. Thanks for looking Bj

It has such pretty fabrics in it! I don't have any idea about going about fixing it. I'm positive that someone will come along that will!

I would try to fix it.

I think that is a great idea. I would use red yarn to re-tie it. I think that red on the aqua is what really gives it punch. Looks like the 60's or 70's to me.

I would also try to fix it! It's really very pretty!

Someone spent a lot of time making it in the first place. I think it's worth saving and I would do it just as you suggested.

Are all the problems around the edges of the quilt? Is the rest of the backing okay? If so you might just cut off the edges, re-bind it, and not have to do any more work. From the pictures it does look like it's worth saving.

I like your ideas for fixing it. I think if you do you will feel good about it. :)

I would try to fix it.

I'd definitely repair it. I rescued one recently fromt the 20 to 30's and I have to repair part of it and just got stuff to get the aging stains out of it. This quilt still has alot of long years of comfort to give.

I was thinking that too. If part is in the middle fix that and cut off the damaged edge. Definitely worth saving!

every quilt deserves a chance to be repaired. With all the knowledge that flows thru this board someone will have the right answers. There are many many experts here. I can always find answers to that help me firgure out my problems. A wonderful group of ladies.

Some of those fabrics are from the 50's and maybe the 40's. I have some 50's scraps from when I was a kid that are very similar to some of those.

Your plan for fixing sounds good to me. Try to replace the bad pieces with repro or vintage fabrics if possible. Good luck and post a picture of it when you are done.

A piece of Art, and yes quilts are art, is always worth saving.....if not as a full size quilt, could be cut down to a tabletopper, doll quilts, pillows....but by all means try to save it.....

I just rescued a quilt for a friend of mine that was tied. I was afraid if I took out all of the ties it would leave holes. Most of them had pulled through on the back & it needed a new back & binding. I decided to put a new back on without taking off the old one- I really thought the whole thing would fall apart if I took it all apart. I did take off the binding though. It was a lot of work to get it flat enough to quilt. I then FMQ little circles around where each tie was. I really love how it came out- especially the back with all of the little circles in a pattern. It was more work than I thought, but I was glad to have saved a quilt.

If you have to take the back off, you might be able to salvage pieces from it to use for repairing the damaged blocks on the front. Just a thought...

Can you cut a large enough section and just frame it. They look really cool that way.

Fix it or use it for a cutter quilt to make something pretty. I has very pretty fabrics and colors. Have fun. Please share with us when you are done.

I would try very hard to fix it. I could never give up on a quilt unless I did everything I could to fix it.

ditto

It's very pretty. I like the fabric colors. Looks good enough to mend to me. As you say, it would be a fairly easy fix, since it is tied. :)

I'm thinking 60's. Most of the squares look 50's and 40's but a quilt is only as old as it's NEWEST square. I love it.

barb44 has a good handle on the fabric...but i believe what you have here is a combo... it looks to me like someone had a stack of 4-patch blocks from the 40/50s and set them together late in the 60/70s...the turquoise fabrics that have not faded speak of a little poly in them and have not rotted as have some of the older fabrics in the body of the quilt. the red/turquoise combo might well have been done in the 60s, as well...but the clincher is the poly batting... while it was invented in the 50s, it was not commonly used for some time...this really looks like a stack of blocks were found under grannie's bed and someone put them together and tied it.

is it worth saving? that is for you to say...but i will say that i repair many older quilt as has already been suggested...take off (and i mean 'pick off'....do not cut) the last row on the most damaged side or end...use those undamaged fabrics in those pieces to repair any other pcs in the remaining body...save all remaining pcs for future problems. you will probably find that most of the rotted blocks contained brown as they are the most caustic of the natural dyes used then and often disappear first...which means that a few more blocks may well go later.

then the decision is to replace the back or not...i tell people to decide what they are trying to accomplish and then do what's best and not feel guilty. any quilt's value is judged by the newest fabric in it, not the oldest or even the majority...so this quilt may or may not have a huge monetary value, but it's value in terms of the collection of the typical 40s fabrics may be great to you.... you have to be the one to decide...

so to replace back or not? is it more valuable to you with that original (60s) back...or would you rather have a new back to help strengthen the whole piece for generations to come? it's up to you, and you will get lots of advice about both points of view.... i tell people that just have an emotional attachment to a family piece, to put on the new back so that their antecedents will get to enjoy the quilt for another hundred years (just write down what they have done and why).... (remember, your quilt, if judged to be assembled in the 60s [you can test a tiny scrap of the turquoise to check for poly, which clinches the deal, datewise] is still more than 40 yrs old now...time goes fast....) the key is to document, document, document.....give all info you can find... fabric info from the blocks, test results on the sashings and back, purchase info from the friends, your advice from other quilters and why, your eventual choices regarding repairs, replacements, anything you learn and lots of pix..... and then find a way to keep a copy (back pocket, attached to frame, copy on disk, .... whatever works for you) WITH the quilt... then repair, put hanging rod pocket on the back of the quilt, and enjoy...do not repair a quilt this old and then toss it on a bed...it will not last as long and it's a lot of work so hang it up and enjoy, just get that documentation going....it's important for the next person who falls in love with it.

my standard thing is, 'what do you wish someone had written down about the quilt when they were making it...what would YOU love to know about the quilt if they had written it down?' that's what you need to write down...

[quote=Maggiemay]I just rescued a quilt for a friend of mine that was tied. I was afraid if I took out all of the ties it would leave holes.

Oh my, I did not think about the holes it would leave! I pulled some last night while at a friends house. Not much light. Did not realize I was making holes. So I guess I will have to do like you and leave the torn back on.
Where would I look for retro fabric?

Thank you all for your help. I knew I could count on you. I have a part quilt I want to talk to you about too.

I hope you don't mind.

I would try and fix it, and if not, trim the fabric that is good and make a new one with smaller squares and new borders and fabric close enough to pass for the damaged ones. It is tied so it won't be that difficult to take apart. Worse case is you could make a couple smaller quilts.

Do what you thought. The new backing fabric will strengthen and support the older top. You can cut a small piece of the old backing and stitch it on the new backing with a label to say that is what the original backing looked like.
I am all in favor of "renewing" old quilts so they are solid and usable. All too often if you don't, someone will come along and say "what is this old ragged thing?" and toss it or use it for changing tires. Too sad. (I rescued one being used as a tire changing pad.)

As a home ec project in the 60s I did something similar. I finished and assembled the state flower quilt my mom and her sister had started in the 30s for their hope chests. I used a green poly/cotton blend for the sashing and binding.

Not thinking about the age of the 30s fabric, we used this quilt regularly until the muslin of the flower blocks started to give way.

It did survive regular use and trips through the washer and dryer up into the 80s. Sadly it was in our house when it burned in 2000.

I would try fixing it. Would love to see it when you're all done.

Yes, I would try to save it. You don't have to do it all today.. so just take your time, find some nice old fabric that goes with it and repair it one block or area at a time.. There is something very special about old quilts.. I think they appreciate being helped and are extra cuddly because someone cared.. Save it... you'll love it.

The blue /'aqua in that quiltmis so pretty!

Yes all quilts are worth saving

Back in the 20's, when so many quilts were made for warmth and use, people repaired them all the time. I have found quilts that had entire tops placed over older, worn out tops. So, fix it up...... I'm sure this quilt was made to be used and you will be giving it a new life.

Cut it into new squares if you an bring yourself to do tis and make a new quilt-otherwise there are techniques you can use to salvedge the squares that are damaged-like putting bridal tulle over them and applying decorative hand embroidery-but if there is enough quilt to make a new one I would consider doing that-good luck

Fix it! Or use it as a cutter. But do not throw it. That is a sin and the quilting angels wiill getchga for that.

What do you use to get the stains out of your old quilt? I have Granny's quilt and it has rust stains.

It looks to be in fairly good shape except for the binding but only you can say for sure how much is salveagable. I love the colors and would probably do everything I could to save it. It depends on how much you love it before you invest time, money, and energy into it. If it is too much to repair think about using parts of it for pillows or a throw, etc. Use what you can and forget about the rest.

If you fix it what will you do with it? Do you plan to keep it or give it to charity? What you plan will guide your choice.

I think it's worth saving! In fact, this is one of those areas I absolutely adore! I purchase old/used/damaged quilts from auctions, when I see I can save them. I find searching for vintage fabric an easy task when replacing pieces within the quilt. As for the back, yes I do replace this as well, and follow the quilting pattern originally used. I also put a binding on, making sure all of the fabric stays within the original pattern. This is one of my greatest challenges, and I love repairing as a second "hobby." This quilt is one I've recently completed. I could not find the butterfly pattern, so I placed the quilt onto my scanner, printed out a copy of the butterfly, and proceeded making my pattern.

I would try and fix it. it was made with love you can fix it with love

Deemail, appreciate your detailed response, great info! Yes, I feel as though I am renewing memories when I can salvage a guilt.