toverly

I have taken quilt tops that I don't like and given them to Community Quilts at the Guild or just put them on the free table. I've always wanted to make teddy bears out of old quilts. I have 4 that came from my husband's family, found in the bottom of a trunk, totally worn out and used up. No one remembers anything about them. My father in law says he's never seen them and they came from his side of the family. Still, I can't bear to toss them.

L'il Chickadee

OMG! I was just thinking the same thing! Have a baby quilt top that turned out so drab and dull. Can't even donate it. So was wondering about cutting it up, like doing the disappearing nine patch process, only cutting up the whole top.

rryder

That can work well. I've also done them as disappearing 4 patches. Those get kind of fractured looking, which I like.

Rob

tropit

Wow...so much creativity here! Thanks for all of the input. I'm going to cut up a batik quilt top that just has too much color going on. Hard to imagine, but really, it need something to break up that much of an intense color riot. You've all given me so much inspiration.

~ C

juliasb

The wheels in my head are turning!! I just had this vision of taking sections of an older quilt and cutting it into new pieces like broken glass and restitching it into a new top. and then re quilting it. I haven;t that this possible until now. I have a number of quilts that have come apart over time that I can take a part here or there and put into a new quilt instead of trying to repair as the same quilt. I like the idea from above about cutting like broken glass into another quilt of fabrics that are stronger. Great idea something new to try.

Rff1010

If I saw "Patches the puppy" at a craft fair, Id buy him. He's super cute!

rjwilder

I was given a quilt top, all Kafee Fassett fabrics, bright beautiful colors. It's a jelly roll quilt, too big for a lap quilt and too small for a bed. After reading this thread I think I'll cut it down and can probably get two small lap quilt out of it that I can donate. Or maybe one lap quilt and a tote bag or two. I've had it for over a year, so it's time to do something with the top, thanks for the inspiration.

tropit

On a slightly different subject, but still within...do you ever quilt quilts that have just been hand tied and are not wearing well?

~ C

Iceblossom

When I was learning to machine quilt, I bought several yarn tied quilts from the thrift store just to practice on. One of those is still on the bed, despite the dog-chewed holes in it now (didn't start out that way).

Typically I cut out the yarn ties first, then just cut the binding off 3 sides, using the one still together side on the top to hold things together a bit. Some of the yarn ties left pretty big holes, but I haven't had any real issues with batting coming out or the fabric further deteriorating.

JenniePenny

After reading this, I made a face mask out of two small orphan quilt blocks. Love it already.