Would this be a dumb idea....
 

My friend has a quilt from her grandmother that is in very bad shape....she wants to cut a piece of it and put it in a frame. I kind of like that idea, but wonder if anyone has ever done this and if the quilt should be prepared somehow to be framed? I'm pretty sure she isn't interested in trying to repair it....any thoughts would be appreciated!

I have seen that quite often in flea markets and antique stores. I think the quilt should be cleaned and pressed so that it would look nice when framed.

I think it sounds like a perfect idea!!!!

You might want to check with someone...because i think that you do not want the glass right up against the fabric. You should be able to go on line and find out how to frame fabrics. And of course you want to use acid free components. Good luck.

I did this with one of my great grandma's quilts that was to far gone to repair. I got a mat (for framing) with a house
cut out of the center of it. I printed on the mat "Happiness is Homemade" and put a piece of the quilt behind the mat.
I received many compliments on it when it hung in my family room. Mine did have non-glare glass covering it.

A friend of mine did that with a crazy quilt that was in bad shape from her great grandmother. It is beautiful and what a treasure. I would suggest that she puts all the info she has about the quilt and her grandmother on the back of the frame and also inside on the back so it doesn't get lost.

If you google cutter quilts you will see lots of things made from old quilts - known as cutter quilts

After cleaning, get it professionally framed. A good framer will use acid free materials and make sure there are spacers to stop the glass touching the fabric. If your friend has some other little bits and pieces from Grandma, these can be framed along with the piece of quilt....kind of a framed collage dedicated to Grandma. I have seen this type of thing at our framers....they can look amazing and of course preserve precious things.

use an acid free 'mounting board' and it will work just fine- many people do this when they want to preserve a piece of an old quilt- or even mount & frame a new piece.

It is a great idea and have seen it done many times - you already have receives great advice (clean first - mount acid free - use spacers). If your friend has any sewing memorabilia from her grandma she could include that!!