How to Restore a Damaged Quilt
Quilts are often family heirlooms that have been around for years. Often when a quilt has been in storage for a long period of time, it will show signs of age or damage. Repairing a damaged quilt takes times and precision, but the results are well worth the effort.
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Instructions
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Give the quilt a thorough going over, looking for signs of missing or frayed threads, fraying edges or moth damage.
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Repair loose seams or edges by turning them over and appliquéing them down with a fine thread. Appliquéing is the process of adding pieces to the top of a quilt by stitching them down.
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Make repairs prior to washing the quilt. Do not wash a damaged quilt before it has been fixed. Try vacuuming a quilt instead of washing to help preserve it from further damage.
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Fix holes in the quilt by cutting away enough of the damaged fabric to make a clean edge to work with. Replace the missing piece with fabric that is as close to the original as possible. If it is a vintage quilt, try and find vintage fabric that fits the overall appearance of the quilt.
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Don't cut all the way through the quilt. Damage usually occurs on one side and doesn't affect the batting or backing, since they are both one piece.
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Look for damage around the edges and replace with new seam binding. Cut away any frayed or damaged binding and hand sew in a new piece. Turn the edges over and stitch into place.
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Replace the entire back of a quilt if damage to the fabric is too extensive to repair. Simply cut a new piece of backing a few inches larger than the original quilt, turn the edges over and stitch into place. Do not use this method for vintage quilts.
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Tips & Warnings
If your quilt is extremely old and valuable, consider taking it to a quilt restoration specialist for repairs.
