Quilt restoration...or just recycle old pieces into new works?

I've had a lot of questions about restoration this week so let's just make this our chapter for the day.  It can be daunting to try to preserve an old quilt that has been damaged over the years.  Here's a few hints that will help you decide if you want to preserve an old quilt or take it apart and recycle the pieces.

Assess the damage on the quilt.  Does it need to be completely taken apart? How many holes?  Replacing fabric can be the biggest challenge, but lately 1930's style fabrics are in vogue.  Also I have  heard of (but never used) computer programs that will match fabric and print out a pattern.  If you cannot match the fabric, a entirely new piece of fabric should be inserted in it's place.  If the quilt has definitive color placement (where the same fabric as the damaged piece is used over and over in a specific place), it would be best to replace all pieces matching the damaged piece with a new fabric.  That brings with it, it's own set of problems ( no one said this was going to be easy!), inserting a new fabric should not bring attention to the new pieces, it should look similar to the other materials in the quilt. The new fabric should also be distressed to match the rest of the quilt. 

When the restoration is over, the replaced pieces should not stand out, but blend in to the original piece.  If displaying the quilt, be sure to keep it out of the sun, this will help prevent fading.  Enjoy the quilts you have.  Display them, use them...it's cold out there!

If you have any questions about restoration or anything else please feel free to email me at questionthequilter@gmail.com.

Go quilt today, it will make you feel good!

Quilting is a lot like life-ism #1

Quilting is a lot like life in the way that each lesson you master is a building block for another task that is ahead.  Like you can't run till you walk and you shouldn't sew triangles until you've sewn squares.  You learn from your mistakes.  You take knowledge from a previous situation and apply it later on.  It's all about the journey, as in life don't skip steps that you find boring or you are too busy to do.  Make the whole quilt.  You'll be a better person for it. 

Go forth and quilt today!

Just a small tip

OK quilters, I'm working on a "how to" article, but here's a little something you should all know.  Never cut fabric late at night.  Trust me on this, been there, done that, woke up the next morning looking at the pieces I cut and wondered what I was thinking.  Don't be in a rush to cut fabric.  The old carpenter motto totally applies to quilting.  Measure twice, cut once. 

Hello Quilters!

Hi, my name is Stacy and I'm a quilter.  That sounds like a quilters anonymous group!  I live in West Texas and teach a quilting class for beginners in Lubbock.  I wanted to make a place where quilters who don't have a lot of experience can ask questions.  I wish I had a place like that when I started quilting, cuz I had a LOT of questions.  So come and question the quilter!  I'll be sharing some mini lessons, some short cuts I've learned, and encouragement to beginners.  I know how intimating a quilt can be.  Yes, it's a big project, but with patience and working on it a little each day you'll get to the end. 

Happy Quilting!