New Binding for an Old Quilt … Warning: get a tissue, just sayin’

(Originally written Jan 30, 2015)

Today was special at SederQuilts… A good kind of special. Not just because it is Thursday (Thursday is usually my favorite day of the week… that started decades ago) and not just because I thoroughly enjoy my “job” (I spend most of my days longarm quilting beautiful client quilts with custom freehand freemotion gorgeous stitching on my HandyQuilter) … but because I had a very special one-day-turn-around project to do today… New binding for a vintage quilt.

I love old, meaningful stuff; vintage stuff …not just cuz it’s old and cool, but because it had special meaning to someone, was taken care of, loved, used, and nearly worn out from being useful and special.  And if the cool old stuff has been passed along to someone else, who also appreciates it, that really tickles me.

     So today, I had the honor of restoring a well loved, Velveteen Rabbit type vintage quilt, an Irish Chain in cream and burgundy with a soft print for the opposing solid blocks. It had been loved and enjoyed in its first generation, then handed down to its current adorably sweet “tweener,” Grace.  (I love her name.) The binding had been loved and rubbed within a scant quarter inch of its life, many stitch line corners were frayed and torn, waving little curls of soft comfort, exposing many areas of the poofy batting that was now shredding into dreadlocks . It was very important not to change it too much, but restore it to functional, so it could continue being used… useful, and loved… Not banished to a wall hanger or hope chest… and it still had to “feel right”.

This project actually started a few months ago. We talked a bit by text and phone calls, then had a consult visit. I offered several levels of repairs, some more invasive than others. It was decided to trim away ONLY that which absolutely NEEDED to be removed, and new binding applied. (Sort of like hair cuts for those of us with long hair, excuse me,’ just a trim’.) That option was preferred, partly because it would require a much shorter stay at my studio… hopefully only one day, not over night; and it would retain as much of the original quilt as possible.

I took photos, and went shopping for the softest matching fabric I could find. I purchased two options: a super soft flannel, and a traditional quilting cotton with a nice soft hand. After the edges were surged, I sent the fabric candidates home to be “washed and dried with every load of laundry” till they grew old and soft… and only THEN, should Grace decide which fabric she liked best.

A week or two ago, the fabrics were returned to me… the traditional flat cotton was preferred. So I cut and prepared the binding and waited…

Today was the chosen day. With a reluctant but polite smile, the cherished quilt was handed to me in the early waning darkness. I wished Grace and her family a good day, and promised to do my best, as she continued off to school.

Photos and trimming, stitching and pressing, and then sitting in my comfy hand-me-down “time-out-chair,” hand stitching most of the day, saying little prayers for the owner, sending a few updates to her mom, and finishing with just enough time to whip up supper… And a special little bonus for Grace.

Her sisters and mom were so excited when they arrived that evening. Grace looked slightly apprehensive, but relieved. The quilt looked almost brand new, slightly smaller, with a few retained worn and torn spots, and still had the same vintage feel.  Grace touched it, and smiled. (Ahh, success!) I promised to teach her how to hand stitch some of the tears… some other day, if and when she wanted.  She was thankful to have her quilt back, that it was now sturdy enough to keep using it, instead of needing to relinquish it because it had become too fragile.  I gave mom the extra binding, in case of a future repair.

And then I handed Grace “the scraps” (those special little edges and extras we trim away and save to hopefully use in some future project.) Her eyes were as huge as any Disney Damsel… the second place super soft flannel, adorned with rows and rows of the ruffled trimmings from the old worn borders, the tired old poly batting still hanging like little dreadlocks… had been transformed, “repurposed,” into a pillow, the runner up flannel now stuffed and fluffed like a square-dance skirt.

She tenderly took the pillow made from the most precious parts of her beloved quilt… the edges… and carried it, close to her heart, wrapped tightly in her arms… like every cherished Velveteen Rabbit should be.

Of all the quilting services I provide, restorations bring the warmest thankful tears of joy.

Yep, today was special. Sweet dreams, Grace.

Paola Jo