Vintage textiles and quilts are like the human body in that they can be remarkably uneven in how they wear. A person can have weak knees & perfect eyesight. Sometimes an antique quilt is damaged in just certain sections,  colors or patterns & the rest is in much better shape

Custom Crazy Quilts PLUS Repair is a boutique based business in Richmond, Virginia specializing in the repair of antique quilts & vintage textiles. 

I usually do the worst parts first & bring the family in to consult.  I don't go over $ 200. without consulting the family first. The range varies widely - from under $ 50. to over $ 500.  depending on the extent of the damage & how much you want to repair. You don't need to fix every little thing. It just needs to be stable enough to handle, display & enjoy & that can be done with a combination of  hand mending, adding patches,  new backing, & new binding as needed.

At a few hundred dollars worth of repair we see considerable change. With a crazy patch pattern where all the pieces are different & some are gone ( & none of us saw it before the damage), it raises the question of how to be faithful to the original ? I try to match the original, if I can see it, & if that's gone I go by what's next to it.

The worst damage I've seen comes from people who were just not paying attention. Quilts stored in attics for years have an odor that is overpowering. If the family is willing I let the quilt get some fresh air. If it smells I suggest you take the quilt outside with you when you sit on the porch & bring it back when you come inside. Avoid sunlight. Sit in the shade.

Unknown substances in a garage can leak into the box with the quilt for years before anyone notices. Keep the quilt someplace where you would notice if there was a leak or problem. Many people use on a guest bed & take off when guests come. Don't let kids or  pets jump on the quilt & don't sit on it or pull at it.

There is a standard quarter of an inch seam allowance in sewing which means there is a quarter of an inch of space & distance between the sewing & the edge of the fabric & when pulled or pushed  that's not very far to go before the seams separate. That's why washing is such an issue because the weight of the middle layer can be tremendous when wet & puts stress & pressure on the stitches. A lot of damage is caused by pulling the quilt while sleeping, washing in a machine or sitting on it. 

Some families have all of grandma's sewing supplies & donate that when their repair is finished, to be used on other people's projects, so I include materials at no extra charge. I have an extensive collection of vintage fabric &  can usually find something close to what we need to replace & repair your damage sections.

I do all hand sewing with needle & thread. No machine work is done here. Anything I can get a needle & thread thru I can sew but I can't necessarily hide the repair. You may be able to see that we did something there.

Vintage textiles respond well to care so your efforts are rewarded. A combination of repair, fresh air & attention yield good results & typically, families are glad they took the time & spent the money.