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'Old' quilt repair help

My son's quilt from his grandma is going to need some repairs soon and I need the expertise of the group. It is not an 'old' quilt per-say. Just one that he was given a few years back that has been loved and thus washed frequently. As a result of the washings and use, the binding is wearing out. The rest of the quilt is fine, it is just the binding that is wearing through in areas and getting close in many others. My questions is how do I repair it so he can continue to use it? These are the ideas I came up with but if you have another let me know:

1-Make a slightly larger binding and attach it over the existing binding (I assume with this one I'll want to do this before the existing is too gone and raggy so it lays and looks better)

2-Cut the binding off and start fresh.

3-Remove the existing binding and replace. (Not really leaning toward this one as it would be a lot of work)

So recommendations?

Reply to
Charlotte Hippen
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As my first choice I would put another binding over the original one, and if you're really lucky you can purchase binding that is wide enough. If not, buy fabric that coordinates and make continuous double bias binding (stronger than binding on the grain). If you cut off the original binding you will be cutting off part of the quilt itself all the way around, and that might do damage to the quilt pattern. However, that might not matter depending on the pattern. As to removing and replacing -- what a tedious job!

Charlotte Hippen wrote:

Reply to
Mary

Well it depends if you want to do it 'right' or just good enough.

If you want to fix it just good enough to use, put a new binding over the old one. If you want to do it right, remove the old and put a new one in its place.

Reply to
JPgirl

Gentle as you go, Charlotte. Both the Bible and Dolly Parton have a bit to say about putting new patches on old garments. Perhaps you'd better use a 'laundered several times' fabric for the binding and cotton thread. It could be that even poly-blend thread would be strong enough to pull weak spots in this much-loved quilt. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

number 1 Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Polly's right (as usual). And I'd go for #3, remove the old binding. It won't take as long as you think, and it will be much easier to put on a tidy new binding. If you put the new one on over the old, your corners will likely be lumpy and inclined to wear out faster.

How many years did it take for the old binding to look raggy? How soon do you want to repair it again? Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

If it wouldn't affect the design of the top, I'd probably just cut off the old binding. Otherwise, take it off and start over. It seems to me that would be easier than trying to put new binding on over old.

Julia > My son's quilt from his grandma is going to need some repairs soon and I

Reply to
Julia in MN

Howdy!

#1: quite likely that the shredded/raggedy old binding fabric will wear against the newer fabric, causing the newer binding to wear out faster. #3: Do it right and it'll last longer. It's worth it. ;-)

Ragmop/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy Ellison

Interesting take on this. I had thought it might be better to just cover the old binding to avoid stressing the quilt edges while removing the old binding. Of course, I hadn't thought about the corners which Roberta wisely mentioned.

So, here is another repair issue. I have a 1940 era quilt that has some wear on the binding. The quilt was totally stitched by hand. The 'binding' is actually the backing turned over to the front. It is getting worn in a few places. I was thinking of just covering it with white muslin. Now I wonder if I should unstitch the front edge, trim it out to even with the binding, and then apply a totally new binding. Advice welcome.

TIA. PAT > Howdy!

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Yes, the best repair for this wrapped binding is unstitch the front, trim backing, then bind with fresh binding. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Yes, that't exactly what you should do! Expecially if you can find some older fabric with a little patina for the binding. Roberta in D

"Pat in Virginia" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@cox.net...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Thanks everyone for your advise. I'm having computer problems so I have to use google (hate it!!!) so I'm going to reply in a general message - sorry.

Thanks Polly for mentioning the thread. I would not have thought of that and I'm not sure what the thread I use to hand sew the back down is (machine thread is 100% cotton though).

Roberta thanks for mentioning the corner issue with leaving the binding on. That was the one I was leaning towards because it seamed the easiest. And I thought that the extra layers may add extra time before I'd need to do it again, but it will probably do the opposite due to the added bulk.

Here's what I think I'll do: Leave the existing binding on to stabilize the edge of the quilt. Machine sew a new binding (bias binding) on the front using the sewing line of current binding as the 'edge of the quilt' then cut the old binding off and finish. The quilting was done in an all over meander so you will never know that a smidgen of the quilt was lost and it will be easier (I think) than 'unsewing' the old and then having to worry about keeping everything together while putting on the new one.

Again thanks everyone!! Charlotte

Reply to
Charlotte

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