How to Fix a Cut Quilt Border

Assess the quilt for any other damage such as loose stitches.

Whenever you have a cut in your quilt’s border, you have two options. You can purchase a new quilt or restore the one you have. Restoring the quilt returns it to a usable condition. Thus, you can continue to place the quilt on the bed and use it on cool nights. Another purpose of restoring the quilt entails making a repair to the border which can’t be easily detected by others. Regardless of the age of the quilt — whether it’s vintage or modern — you want to proceed with the restoration in the same way.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Fusible adhesive
• Scissors
• Iron
• Marker

Instructions

1. Take a look at the quilt’s border to assess the damage. Lay the quilt on a flat surface such as a table or bed. Slowly, survey the quilt’s border for tears, cuts or rips. You may want to run your finger along the quilt to detect any cuts that aren’t visible.

2. Slip fusible adhesive underneath the cut. Use a measuring tape to find the length of the cut. Repeat if you have more than one cut. Write the measurements on a sheet of paper. Place the measuring tape against the fusible adhesive. Make an outline of the measurement, using a marker. You only want to use enough fusible adhesive as the cut requires. Cut along the lines to produce the exact amount of fusible adhesive your need. Carefully pull the cut apart then slip the adhesive underneath both sides of the cut.

3. Push the cut back together. Slowly, push the edges of the cut back together. You want only the quilt’s top to show — not the batting. Repeat until all the cuts have fusible adhesive inside and are pushed back together.

4. Complete the quilt's border restoration. Heat the iron. You don’t want the iron’s setting higher than “Wool.” Place the tip of the hot iron on the border’s cut. Wait about 10 seconds before removing the iron. The fusible adhesive must melt to stabile the quilt’s border and eliminate the cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice on a muslin before completing the quilt border restoration. You want to feel comfortable and confident you can complete the project without making any mistakes. Restoring a quilt is permanent. You can’t undo the fusible adhesive or cut repair once you’ve done it.

• Don’t pull the cut too far apart. You don’t want to cause an additional tear when placing the fusible adhesive inside the quilt.

• Don’t wash the quilt before you complete the restoration. Washing may cause the cut to widen.