Click here for PDF Version By Barbara Smead Published in Vintage Quilts, Annual 1999/2000 Issue Whether purchased as a flea-market bargain or inherited from your grandmother or a favorite aunt, the ordinary, everyday cotton quilt in your collection is a treasure worthy of restoration and repair. In fact, for as long as quilts have been made, repairing them when needed was considered normal household maintenance. When the binding wore out, it was replaced. Tears and holes were repaired, and worn patches were covered over with new ones. Even an entire quilt top, worn from extended use, would be covered over with a new one or used in place of batting or filler for a brand new quilt. Nothing was thrown away. Each of these methods of repair falls under the heading of quilt restoration.   As a quilt appraiser, I am often called on to evaluate quilt collections. The owners usually want to know the answers to these four key questions: ... What do I have? ... What can I do with these quilts? ... What are they worth? ... Can I make or have repairs made?   A complete consultation with the new owner includes identifying the quilt and determining its history as well as discussing its condition and all possible alternatives should it require any restoration. It is comforting to know that many damaged quilts can be repaired or restored using basic sewing skills and careful cleaning. Quilt restoration stabilizes a quilt, extends its life and makes it more pleasing to the eye of anyone who is lucky enough to own a vintage quilt and share its special beauty with others.   Successful quilt restoration relies on making a repair that cannot be easily detected. In other words, the work you do blends invisibly into the body of the quilt so your eye is not drawn to it. The following basic techniques are the basis of good restoration practices that will enhance the beauty and prolong the life of the special quilts in your collection. Replacing Worn or Frayed Fabrics   It's often necessary to replace badly worn fabric pieces in a cherished quilt. Patches may fray away from wear or disintegrate from environmental damage—too much direct sun, for example. Often, the binding is worn thin along the edge from lots of use. In either case, it's best to use vintage fabrics for the closest possible match. You can often find these wonderful fabrics at quilt shows that feature antique quilt vendors, as well as at flea markets, antique shops or shows, and at vintage textile shows. If your search for just the right vintage fabric is fruitless, check at your local quilt shop for a reproduction fabric instead. In either case, pay close attention to the color, weave, texture, and age. When replacing white areas, make sure the white you choose has the same color cast—pink, blue, yellow, or grey, for example. If necessary you can tea dye a reproduction fabric to better match the fabric in the quilt. You can also try washing and then drying the fabric in direct sunlight to correct the color for a more invisible blend with other aged fabrics in the actual quilt.