How to Repurpose Damaged Vintage Quilts 

What a fun memory!

I remember taking afternoon baths in a wash tub outside at my grandma’s house when I was 4 - we had to wait until the sun heated the cold well water.

@@kaybutler2394 I love those old wash tubs! But I can only imagine how cold the water was initially!

❤

Thanks! There’s a fine line between repairable and damaged, and I do my best to stay in the right side of that.

What a fabulous story (and treasured gift)!

I did the same with my husband's baby quilt about 40 years ago and the grandchildren loved playing with it, so this past Christmas I made bears for my 2 grandchildren from their great-great grandmother's handmade quilt. I made pillows and heart shaped sachets filled with lavender from the scraps gifted to family members. I loved my husband's grandmother and preserving her work for many years to come.

@@suzycreamcheese8888 such a great gift!

​@@suzycreamcheese8888Great ideas. :) I make memory items for customers and clients, so I too try be creative. Thanks for sharing. 💜

Thanks so much! And when washing, I try to find that balance between not wanting to ruin the quilt but also knowing that whoever purchases the coat needs to be able to easily care for it.

thanks so much!

Agreed. I miss my top load washer, but in our new home, we can only accommodate a front load. :(

I’m working on some “process” videos!

Thank you!

You’ve got a good point…I’ll consider it next time

Thanks so much for the positive vibes! I have both a home sewing studio and access to a maker space where I shot this video. I'm so lucky that the maker space has this textile room, and all these industrial machines were donated by a local business moving overseas. As for patterns--check out Etsy. I've seen one on my IG feed alot: the All Well Cardigan Coat. It looks like a great project, and there are no front closures which can be difficult with thick quilts. Good luck!

isn't it the best to re-use family treasures?!

@@m.a.b.e.l ☺️❤️the best

Yes-working on a few now!

If you have experience reverse-engineering that’d work great. Maybe check Etsy for free patterns, but beware, because free patterns may not have been tech-edited or properly graded.

I sell them on my website (mabelstyle.com)

This is my own pattern (a copy of an old coat that I had). You can use a quilt in place of fabric for any coat or jacket pattern, but be aware that the thicker the quilt, you may want to size up on your pattern.

Thank you so much!

I use a serger to finish the seams. Since the original quilt already has three layers, I don’t line the jackets.

I wondered the same thing. I thought perhaps of French seams but they would be very thick. Overlocked (or serged) seams make sense, would be neat and all threads would be secure.

There are "summer" weight quilts that don't have batting, and maybe French seams would work with that? On one coat I made that had a fabulous lining fabric, I used bias tape to bind the seams, so the coat was reversible.

Yes, I did :D

You’re so lucky to have that quilt in your family, and kudos on trying to replicate it.

Wow! Very similar story here except my parents’ wedding quilt was made by one of my mom’s aunts (my grandmother’s sister - I did not know either of them as they both died before I was born) - their quilt will be 83 years old in September, but it was rarely used and is in very good condition. I’m gifting it to their first grand daughter because I have memories of her sleeping on it on the floor when she was a baby. Momma let my oldest brother borrow it because they had no winter blankets. It was made of blue satin - solids and prints.

thanks for the suggestion--I'll work on this for my next video

It’s fun to put your passions together!

I serge my seams before I sew; sometimes I do Hong Kong seams if the quilt is super thick.

Another fun idea, if the quilt has squares that are in good shape, is to frame a piece or two.

Yes! I'll have a new video on some bucket hats I made using a different quilt

They’re pretty fun, aren’t they!

@@m.a.b.e.l What are the pattern weights? They look like metallic pin hilders.

@@dineend8335 they are-magnetic pin holders. They’re heavy enough!

Yes, I serge the seams. Sometimes, if the quilt lining is especially nice, I’ll do Hong Kong seams and make the jacket reversible. I charge $350 for my coats.

TY, you're so kind!

I use my own patterns

Hi Melissa, I’m using my own pattern.

The pastel colors don’t run; the reds and blues might.

I haven't--but I've seen some that are just lovely.

It's not in a share-able format. I recommend looking on Etsy--there are A TON of winter coat patterns that would be suitable for a quilt coat.

Pattern weights are a great (and easy) alternative to pins!

I’d rather see damaged quilts get made into jackets instead of being thrown away.

I made up the pattern based on an old fishing smock I got in England years ago.

I hope you’re inspired to work on it!

I made up my own pattern (traced off an old coat I love), but there are several quilt coat patterns available for purchase on Etsy.

Thanks so much!

I made by own pattern by tracing a coat I really loved.

In its day, this quilt WAS a beautiful quilt, but it had not been well cared for, and by the time it got to me, it had considerable holes throughout, the batting was clumped up in places, and prior to cleaning it, there was some mold. When I get "cutter" quilts, I thoroughly inspect them, and those that I can restore for bedroom use, I do. A quilter myself, I want my efforts to be used and appreciated, not lumped into a closet. If that means my quilt gets remade into a table runner, a coat, potholders, or a doll's blanket, then that's fine.

I'm a quilter and have spent hours upon hours quilting. My first two were completely hand made using templates - before rotary cutters and free motion quilting. I hand pieced and hand quilted both quilts. That being said, I would like to know why it is superior to lay a quilt in a spare bedroom on a bed where it may or may not be seen or even folded and placed for display on a shelf than it is to create a beautiful garment that can be worn in public for many people to see and admire. Many years ago my mom decided to use her sterling silver flatware daily. I love this attitude. The more people that see the beauty and art in a quilt, the more it is appreciated. I have made many quilts for friends and family and kids with cancer. Once they leave my home, I never wonder if someone laid it on their bed or if they dragged it across the parking lot. It is theirs now and I hope they enjoy it. I sure enjoyed making it and that is why I quilt. So many quilts are jammed in the back of a closet. I have to admit I have a precious family heirloom in a closet myself. It does not go with my current decorating or lifestyle, it is fragile and I have a grandson whom I would not want to burden with being so careful around it. I love it and I am thinking of cutting it all up and making a quilt jacket to wear around the house. And I'm not going to apologize for it. It was given to me by my grandmother who is in Heaven and I think she would prefer I do that rather than keep it in a pillowcase in a closet. I would consider it a hug from her every time I wear it.

I made up the pattern by tracing off a coat that I love. I do sell them online (mabelstyle.com)

I wash my quilts; first by hand (soaking in a tub), then in a machine. Some experts say that antique quilts should not be washed given the age of the fabric. And it is risky to put old textiles in modern washing machines.

@@m.a.b.e.l oh I see, that does make sense. Thank you for explaining it to me. I didn’t know.

That must have been a great experience! And it’s interesting to see how different substrates (and dyes) behave over the years. The quilts I’ve acquired are deemed by the folks who sell them to be cutters and not suitable for their intended/original purpose. I’m not cutting into heritage quilts, and the few times I’ve received one that’s not cutter-quality (but needed only simple mending or a soak) I’ve put to use in my home. Quilting is an interesting craft in that it traditionally involved repurposing/reuse of fabrics made for different purposes. My great-grandmother often repurposed family clothing and linens in her quilts, so I don’t think she’d be upset at all if she knew I remade my baby quilt into a knitting bag that I use every day.

Many museum quality quilts still end up in the landfills if people don't appreciate them. I have seen fabulous quilt coats made from extraordinary quilts and they can cost over $1,500.00. I would assume that most people who would pay that much, already have a great appreciation of the masterpiece quilt and would take very good care of it. Just because it is museum quality does not mean it will end up there. I am always so fascinated at the comments in videos like this one. I absolutely love hand pieced and hand quilted quilts. I come from a family of Mennonites. I have some very gifted quilters in my family. One aunt aimed for 12 stitched per inch and she quilted for a living. She quilted for some famous quilt pattern designers. I just don't understand who made it a law that a quilt laying on a bed is the only way a quilt can be appreciated. I defunded the quilt police a long time ago. Art is in the eye of the beholder. I know many highly talented quilters were not wealthy and therefore purchased fabric that was not intended to last for centuries. So, whether those types are washed or stored in a closet, they will still deteriorate and fade over time. My grandmother would love it if I used the quilt she gave me - even if I cut it up and create a beautiful quilt jacket out of it.

I made my own pattern, but you could modify any existing chore coat pattern to work

Yay! I hope you’re enjoying it!

I’m in the “quilts are lovelier out in the wild in whatever format rather than hidden in a closet” camp. Maybe the focus should be on folks selling rather those buying? Also, lots of quilts look perfectly lovely on film or in a photo. When you get up close and personal, that’s when the extent of the damage is apparent

@@m.a.b.e.l I have fixed several quiltsmand that one was not in bad shape.

Hmmm, I didn't see you standing next to me in my studio, studying the quilt. Aside from some tears and shreds, there was mold on a portion of it. The point, however, is that this is my quilt. That I purchased. That a person willingly sold to me. So I can choose to use the quilt the way that I want to.

Susan, I made my own pattern, but there are TONS available on Etsy--any winter coat pattern will work nicely.

@@m.a.b.e.l Sounds like you might do well offering your pattern for sale. It is clearly popular!! I really love your work!

@@1955dmb Thank you! I"ll be doing a video soon with some pattern recommendations!

@@m.a.b.e.l So excited to hear this!!!

Thanks!!

The top is the Fielder top from Merchant & Mills (using their jaquard quilt fabric)

Agreed. I’ve also used a larger Rubbermaid tub inside my bathtub, just to keep everything contained

That is such a great idea... thank you for sharing that information!!

I follow the instructions on the detergents I’m using, and the one that’s worked best for me says hot water. It seems contradictory though, doesn’t it?