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Ok so a friend gave me a quilt of hers to fix. It is at least 57 years old. It was her baby quilt her Aunt made by hand for her when she was born. I've had it for over a year myself because I've been trying to fix it without taking it apart. I finally surrendered and took the whole thing apart. What I learn was yes it was all by hand and she used a sheet for the backing and the boarder. My question is should I use the same backing or replace it? There is nothing wrong with it except its a sheet. It was the front that need to be mended. 2" squares scrappy look. I'm almost done with the top.

I chuckled to myself as I read your post title. "Ha ha ha, As if J Lu has an old quilt ... she probably means something that's 2 yrs old. She's so enthusiastic, she always finishes her projects quickly. Probably scared Marlene will show her up at guild ...."
Then I actually read your post. Oh ... 57 yrs old. OK, you got me. It IS old. Does your friend have an opinion on the fabric? If she wants it as close to the original, I'd recommend using the sheet. It's held up well for 57+ years. But if she doesn't have a strong opinion, I'd think it would much easier to reconstruct with hand sewing through fabric that's made for this purpose.

You're a true friend to take on such a project. Sounds like you'll be wiping your brow when it's finished.

My granny Ida made all of her quilts with sheets as backings and that was what I used for a very long time too. I would say to keep the authenticity to the quilt, since it is still in mint condition, to put the sheet back.

Granny always brought her sheet to the front for the binding too... or she referred to it as the hem.... and so did I for a very long time..


I would definitely put it back the way it was s0 the value will hold true.

This quilt probably isn't going to be getting hard wear so I agree that using the sheet is the thing to do. If that were my quilt, I would want it only as a keepsake not as one to use. What a good friend you are to do this project.

Ahem. 57 is not old. I'm 59 and I don't feel old.

Oh my! I did not mean to imply that a 57 yr old person is OLD. Gasp! If I blink again, I'll probably have passed right by that milestone myself. My mom is 73 and works out, rides horses and clogs. She is one of the youngest women I know. I think I'm around 22 on the inside ... it's just this outer wrapping that's aging.

Anyone who can adore a pair of boots and that outrageous hat and pose for us is definitely young at heart. I laugh when I see your avatar now, b/c I remember your photo with the hat FFG sent.

But for a quilt .... I think we can call J Lu's project, an one old.

Keep the sheet, there is nothing wrong with it so leave it.

I repaired a quilt for my son, from my Mom. The batting had gone bad, but it went right back together the way it had been and he still uses it. The quilt is 50 years old.

keep the sheet thats all I used my dnand dn .

Well thAnk you ladies form the input. I know Karen will appreciate all the help. Ill post a picture after I quilt it. About that. Ill be doing that by machine!! My fingers already hurt from all the hand sewing. I can't see myself waiting another year to get it back to her. I feel bad enough I've takin as long as I have. Your right Kim I hate to procrastinate it makes me crazy. Is that OCD or what.

You can do what you want.....but... I have read...when mending an old quilt....you never remove anything. You find material that compliments the designs used, wash to remove sizing and shrinkage, cut out new pieces of the pattern to be replaced......and hand stitch this piece over the original. Some older quilts are too fragile to do as you have done. My grandmothers star of David quilt has not been quilted....it is only the top, but because it is 80+ years old and has frayed patches....no machine can touch it....for it would probably destroy it. I will have to hand patch over what is frayed and then hand quilt this piece. Some of the frayed patches are not good material....but back then they used what they could....much of the material came from flour and feed sacks. The purpose here is to restore for heritage!

Well sweetie I will pray about it. I did replace the pieces with close to or something that looks that era. I just washed the backing aka sheet and its funny all the quilting is still visible the only thing with that is it doesn't cover every block. I was going o do a cross hatch pattern on it. I guess I can do that by hand also. At least Karen is a patient friend.