Binding repair?

I am about to do this very thing (well, 'about' is relative, but it's on my 'do soon' list!). I propose to take the whole thing off and simply replace it. If it had been put on properly, I might just put binding over it; but it was one of my very early ones and the corners are really awful, so I'll start again. The fabric is a sort of ecru colour, so it won't be hard to find a suitable replacement - it only matched the background of the quilt blocks. I will try to find soft, perhaps old fabric in my stash. I won't buy new to do it.

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In message , Polly Esther writes

Seems better to me to remove the old binding, simply to preserve the original seam line. If you put a new one on top, you might be sewing over triangle points or quilting designs. Of course, if it had a wide border with enough room, I'd be tempted. One of these days, I might actually get around to replacing the binding on great-grandma's GFG.

Where would >We've had such a comprehensive (Spell-Check was proud of me on that one)

You can often get softer fabric from those (usually small) businesses who recycle fabric (often shirts etc). I was very sorry when the ladies running Ragbags retired. They were excellent - everything washed, pressed and packaged beautifully. (They were my only source for plain Liberty Tana lawn. There is another one over here now, but I'm afraid I haven't got used to its name yet? Could it be something like 'wash & go'?

I haven't been to a show this year, so I'm out of date >g<

Maybe Googling for recycled fabric would help? . In message , Roberta writes

I have a great-great aunt's quilts and the binding on one is split and falling away. I would love to fix it myself, since I am very capable of handling quilts, but the old scares me. Especially since I cannot simply "take it off" and replace it. It's one of those where the backing has been wrapped around to the front and sewed down. I would have to unsew it, then cut it off. Cutting scares me.

I hadn't considered putting new binding over it, and had only considered putting a patch on it. Now that you all have brought about the topic of the new fabric being too stiff for the old, possibly damaging it further, I'm quite frightened of the whole thing!

Would it be possible to put some stabilizer under it and just sew it up a bit? I'm not looking for heirloom quality, I'm looking to keep it from ripping apart even more!

Thanks, Dannielle

I've seen netting (the fine, soft stuff, not stiff stuff) used on top of damaged patches, maybe you could do something like that on the binding too?

Personally (without having seen what your binding looks like) I'd be scared that I'd mess the stabilizer up more - particularly if it is fusible...

Hanne in CPH

It really depends on the type of quilt.

Is it a quilt of historical value? In museums "conservation" is the word and they would fix the rips either with silk thread or covering it in bridal tulle. The idea is to preserve the quilt intact. The quilt isn't "fixed" per se but the conservation keeps the damage from worsening. You never want to do anything to the quilt that can't be undone.

Maybe it's a family heirloom and while you don't want to go to conservation lengths you'd rather "restore" it than fix it. In that case you'd hunt up real antique fabric of the period. The idea is to make the restoration blend invisibly into the original quilt.

For all you "it must be bias binding" people. Did you know bias binding wasn't used commonly until after 1900? Just so you know for the next time you are ready to declare that a rule to not be broken :-)

"Repair" is probably what most of us are interested in. We make a baby quilt and after much love, use and abuse it's falling apart before the child is ready to let go. In this case you would use mending techniques or new fabrics to replace what is worn.

marcella

Howdy!

There is some nice, old fabric available; it takes some hunt> You can often get softer fabric from those (usually small) businesses

Howdy!

I'd run a line of stitching all the way around the quilt, 1/4" or so from the edge, adding a little security to the integrity of the quilt, then add the binding. If you wash the new(er) fabric (once or twice) before cutting it into binding strips, you'll probably see that it's not stiff, & will settle in comfortably w/ the older quilt. Try it. Good luck!

R/Sandy - f> So now it looks sort of like a quilt with a narrow border (in the same

Ah! I'm so glad you knew of somewhere in the US, Sandy (as most of our friends here are on your 'plot'!). I'll see if I can find the actual name of the UK one to add to the info. I am using old cotton flannel sheets for lining baby quilts at the moment - it is so soft, lovely. . In message , Sandy Ellison writes

danielle, i have similar situation. old quilt w/ muslin back turned to front finish. it is wearing thin. i've been toying w/ idea of leaving as is and adding a single fold muslin binding over edge. will probably do only hand sewing; sm may be too pushy. will wait until i rehabilitate left arm. pat in va

I'm now seriously considering the tulle option. I was going to put some fusible "band-aids" behind it and then stitch it back together, but the tulle might look better. Get your arm better! And let me know what you end up doing!

Dannielle

One more solution worth considering - we're talking about a much-loved quilt here - not a museum restoration. What about using French cotton lace for the 2nd binding? It is soft and could have a straight edge on both sides - called 'insertion'. I think it would almost disappear while giving gentle protection to the edges of the quilt. I'm not meaning a ruffly girly sort of finish, just quietly stitched over the quilt binding. You can see what I'm talking about at

and you don't really need one of the pricey laces, a very simply one would do nicely. Polly

I'm now seriously considering the tulle option. I was going to put some fusible "band-aids" behind it and then stitch it back together, but the tulle might look better. Get your arm better! And let me know what you end up doing!

Dannielle