WIP (Work in Progress)

It's been a relatively busy week, but today I was able to get back to the Quilt Repair Project. I started replacing the patches that were made of a black and white print fabric that have totally deteriorated over the years, leaving holes in the quilt. As I've said before, the fabric I'm using for repair is a scrap of feed-sack fabric that looks to be "vintage" like the quilt, in purple and white print.  Tiny bits of the original black and white fabric still can be found in the seams around the patches, but can be pulled out easily, thread by thread. If they are in the way of what I am trying to do with the replacement pieces I remove them.

So far I've done two of the seven replacement patches. I made a template from a note card and cut each patch as I go, including enough to turn under on all four sides. Then I press the fabric around the template with my iron and some spray starch. This has elements of the technique my Japanese Quilting Sensei teaches for machine applique. I am hand appliqueing however.

The patch on the left side is easily found as I removed the green binding before sewing it in. Can you see the other one?

While getting ready to sew in the patches I found another two inch segment of seam that needed resewing. I wonder how many more I will find? I'm also finding spots where the quilting stitches are no more. I will need to check the whole quilt with this in mind as a last step before doing the binding.

I've ordered a possible fabric for the new bias binding, it's due to arrive on Monday. It will be interesting to see how it looks and whether it will work.

Stay tuned for my further adventures!