Marsh

My first post ever on a web site, and am I happy I can put this problem out here. I am attempting to repair a quilt that was made in the '70s. It was machine sewn and hand tied. We (my friend and I) have taken it apart and it was so unbelievable uneven I am trying to square it. My problem is that the fabric in the blocks have stretched so (my guess a lot of washing over the years) much, and I need to add two borders, back and binding. I'm thinking that in order to get the correct measurements I should stretch and tape it down - and I know it will be so uneven again if I do this - but when I put the first border on the quilt, I will have stretch it and I have no clue what will happen then. I hope my description is ok, and I know there are a lot of wonderful quilters on this site. Sure look forward to you ideas. Marcia from Arizona (100 here today, uck)

ptquilts

Welcome to the QB!! What kind of fabric is it made of? woven or knit?

Marsh

I think it is made of really poor cotton quality - lots of little triangles have opened up, fabric underneath is frayed. I am so sorry I offered to do this for my friend -

quilterCDN

I would press the cotton and square it up as best as I could. I do not understand stretching cotton fabric.

BrendaK

Welcome from Northern California. Would it help to use a stabilzer (spelling?)? I wish you luck. Be sure to show us when you are finished. BrendaK

Tartan

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. I would lay it out fairly straight and measure the fabric for borders. I wouldn't stretch it in case some of the seams let go or the fabrics fray. I would do one large border all around the top and then re-square the quilt top. You can cut quite a bit off of a large border without it being too noticeable that you've cut more off one side than the other. You might try an asymmetrical border setting( more on one side than the other) and embroider the family history on the larger side border?

Marsh

Hi - when I say stretched (actually I don't know how else to describe it) the blocks bunch up and/or pooch up. I'd like to attach a photo from my iphone, but haven't been able to figure that out yet.

Marsh

I don't mean to stretch the fabric hard - but when I sew on the borders, I'm going to have to somehow flatten out the edge blocks otherwise I will have little pleats all over the place---screech!!!!

Maggiemay

You may want to take little darts in the edges so it won't pleat- wouldn't be as obvious. I repaired a similar type quilt & like you, wish I hadn't tackled the job! I couldn't take the ties out because they left big holes. I put a new back on over the old one & machine quilted little circles around all of the ties & where they had come out. I was pleased with how it came out but it took a lot of time. Good luck!

feline fanatic

Try saturating the quilt with starch and blocking it. That may help.