Controversy Over Cutting Old Quilts
Youre not going to cut that old quilt, are you, Mary? a quilter asked me, in a voice tinged with horror, when I mentioned what I planned to do.
This labeled me as a quilter who cut old quilts into pieces and placed me in the midst of a controversy that has raged for years. Some quilters feel you should never take apart a quilt, no matter how badly worn, torn, or soiled. Other quilters consider salvaging the least damaged pieces and making them into another quilt, a wall hanging, or a garment. Perhaps a quilter may even make stuffed toys from pieces of old quilts.
This old family quilt Id found in a closet had been well worn from use over the years. Some of the fabrics were only threads. Others were still in good condition. However, the most difficult portions to repair, in fact they defied repair, where those which mice had chewed and soiled.
By cutting away the portions most clean and in best condition, then carefully washing them, I had quilt pieces I could sew into a smaller quilt and quilt hangings for family members. Otherwise I simply had a dirty, torn and tattered quilt I couldnt use nor even want to touch.
Many quilts arent that badly damaged. So with a little repair, they can be restored and, if not used as bed coverings for warmth, may simply decorate a bed or sofa back.
Look first at your old quilts and see if they can be made whole again. Otherwise you may want to salvage what you can instead of tossing them out.
What are your thoughts on this matter? E-mail me at: me.allen@juno.com
© 2005
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POSTED IN: General Quilting/Patchwork
3 opinions for Controversy Over Cutting Old Quilts
Lei
Aug 3, 2005 at 4:41 am
I think salvaging is the way to go. At flea markets in Japan, many of my friends and I would buy soiled kimonos and chop them up for good pieces to use in making other clothing, quilts, or small crafts. It’s a way of preserving without increasing clutter.
Mea
Aug 3, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Lei,
Thank you for sharing your experiences using kimonos for making quilts and crafts. Also, if quiltmakers use old clothing, table cloths, scarves, etc. they can "preserve without increasing clutter," as you say, along with saving family memories.
Deborah
Feb 10, 2008 at 11:35 am
I have been on the fence myself with this topic after looking at my great grandmothers quilt. It was torn and tattered to the point that it could never be retored. I finally decided to cut it (using good areas) and put it in shawdow boxes for 9 family members. This way it is not packed away, but is out for the enjoyment of 9 familys.
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