BrendaRN06

My friend asked me to restore a pieced quilt top made by her grandmother. Each block has hand embroidered state birds with birds name and state on them. The problem is, it is embroidered on a thin bedsheet. While the embroidery is in good condition, the edges of the pieced blocks have started to fray. The entire quilt is made from bedsheets.

My question is, would it be better to unstitch, and stabilize with lightweight stabilizer? (friend and her mother are only interested in saving blocks with embroidery on them.)

I am open to all suggestions. Thank you in advance for your advice!!!!

Peckish

My opinion - it depends on the goal of your friend & her mother. If there's any chance that the quilt might be valuable as an antique, I would have it appraised and evaluated for professional repair before doing anything. Repairs and restoration can devalue the quilt.

If the goal is to simply preserve the quilt for the family, I would consider fusing the blocks onto muslin, then reassemble them into a quilt.

You might want to consider consulting a quilt restoration/preservation specialist for the best advice.

Tartan

Are most of the blocks embroidered? If so I might be tempted the hand appliqué frames to the blocks to hide the frayed edges and preserve the whole quilt. If only a few blocks are worth saving then I would probably take the quilt apart, put stabilizer behind the blocks, re-sash, quilt and bind. HOWEVER if the quilt is historical than you would need to preserve it as is. A museum site would give you pointers on doing that.

PenniF

Might it be possible to cut around each embroidered item - with enough to turn under and then applique them to new blocks ?? Not being able to see the item, it's hard to know if this suggestion would work ... But if the existing fabric is so worn - fixing sounds almost impossible as even if you try to sew new to old -the old just won't stand the strain. Hope you figure it out !!! Good luck.

BrendaRN06

Here is a few pics of the quilt top. Notice it is made from sheeting, and does not have batting or backing.

PenniF

So very pretty -- not nearly as bad as i was picturing--- seeing it, i'd say yes - stabilize the blocks - perhaps with a light to medium weight fusible stabilizer - you might even be able to do it without taking the blocks apart - cut the stabilizer squares - slightly smaller then current blocks - iron to back side of each - re-stitch with slightly larger seam allowance to catch the stabilizer - then quilt. Anyway - -just a thought -- you'd know best if that's doable or not. Again - GOOD LUCK !!!

Neesie

You could also sew narrow "sashing" (faux sashing?) over top of the existing seam lines. That would enclose the frayed seams, without reducing the size of the blocks. I would back the entire top, with a lightweight fabric, first. The new backing would take any stress, to the top, protecting the delicate fabric from pulling apart.

Peckish

Oooh, that's a good idea!