Feathered Star Quilts 

               RESTORATION TIPS:

*First things first! Decide WHY you are thinking of "fixing" that particular quilt. Is it a treasured family piece, a find for a few $$ at a flea market or yard sale, an auction buy, a gift?

Do you want to keep it for display or use it on a bed? Pass it on? Selling purposes?

*HOW much time do you have, and are willing  to put, into the quilt's repair or restoration?

*DO you have the appropriate period fabrics if your thinking of restoration? Access to original or reproduction fabrics for replacement or repair of damaged blocks or appliqued sections...bindings?

*Do you know how to age new fabric to get the look you need without damaging the fibers?

*For restoration and most repair work, experts agree that you should try to use fabric from the same time period as the quilt's origin. This may involve keeping your eyes open for what is termed a "cutter quilt" from that era, and with the same colors and prints as the quilt you plan to restore. Cutter quilts generally have 40% or more damage to them, making them very time consuming and expensive to restore. They also, generally, are not of a high degree of workmanship or pattern complexity and age. Not so much guilt when we cut into them and remove fabric and threads!

* Do you have the proper thread for your project? Today's cotton or "quilting" thread sold at your local fabric or quilt store may be too thick or strong for repair/restoration work. It may actually cut the fabrics with which you'll be working if those fabrics have been used and frequently washed, or show signs of fading or damage from light. It may also be too clean and may not blend in with the rest of the piece.

* Old spools of thread can be found almost everywhere - thrift shops, yard sales, on-line auctions of sewing items, a friend's sewing basket. If possible, look at the threads' colors and test for strength before you buy. Unspool about two inches and give the thread a good strong tug - if it snaps, it is starting to rot and will not hold up well. Pass it by and keep looking!

*Determine if the thread originally used in the piece you're repairing/restoring is cotton, wool, linen, silk, rayon, etc. Does it have one, two, or multiple twisted strands? The rule of thumb is that you will use thread made from the same fiber as the quilt's fabrics' fibers - silk for silk quilts, cotton for cotton fabrics and so forth. The older silk threads, if not exposed to much light or humidity, surprisingly stay strong and are easy to use.

*If not sure of the thread's content, do a burn test. More about this at a later time.

*NEEDLES - here you want to try to use as thin and straight a needle as possible. They can be new or old, long or short....the main thing is that they are rust free to prevent sticking in the batting or filler or tearing the fabrics. This is crucial to the ease you'll have sewing, as is the size of the eye for the type of thread you're using and easier threading of your needle. I, personally, prefer the antique and vintage long THIN needles with the oval eyes. Many times when redoing piecing and/or quilting, you'll be able to restitch using the same holes made by the maker.

More suggestions and tips for us? Please e-mail! More on this topic will be posted on a regular basis. There are some very good books out there to help you when working on this type of project. One of the earliest, and best, is Camille Dalphond Cognac's QUILT RESTORATION A PRACTICAL GUIDE.

    QUILT SHOP - Fabrics and more!  St. Augustine, FL

MAGRIETA'S QUILT SHOP 142 King Street St. Augustine

   loads of great, current fabrics, classes, batting and threads * 10am to 5:30pm  * Monday through Saturday

                                  904-829-3137 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            904-829-3137      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

                      www.magrietasquiltshop.com 

She also offers custom quilting for those tops you made-

                     Magrieta@customquilting.net

In Moultrie, Georgia,  try to visit ** SUZANNE'S Quilt Shop**

9 First Street S.E.                 1-888-7...        or                229-...       

  *Fabrics * Books  * Classes *Patterns *Notions

               Monday-Saturday  10 am - 5:30 pm

                    www.suzannesquilts.com

Downtown on the square in Moultrie - easy to get to from  Valdosta and Tifton, GA  or Tallahassee

            SUWANNEE VALLEY QUILT SHOPPE

                517 North main Street Trenton, FL

                              352-463-3842 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            352-463-3842      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

                 www.suwanneeshops.com

Located in the 1925 Coca Cola Historic building  -   

      6,000  square feet-plan to spend the day!

Classes - incredible selection of cotton fabrics ( over 4,000 bolts), threads,books and patterns, battings and other quilting essentials. The shop now has a library where you can sit and browse hundreds of quilting books. Make sure to leave time to visit the Suwannee Rose Tea Room featuring homemade soups, desserts, salads and sandwiches.

Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 5pm

Host of a community wide indoor/ outdoor quilt show -

                MARCH 13, 2010

1930s quilt from Paragon kit # 1120

             HORN OF PLENTY

               repaired in 2001