Replacing Worn Quilt Blocks [Technique]

Remember this quilt?  I made it way back in 2013 for my husband - who had been complaining for some time that I hadn't made him a quilt when "even the dog's got two".  So I finally made him his own quilt using his 100% cotton shirts and some linen shirts and trousers.

Well, that quilt has been loved and used and washed and used and loved some more and sadly one of the linen shirts I'd used just didn't hold up to all the wear and tear leaving two squares of the quilt in this sad condition - yes that is the batting you can see 😢

So last month I set about replacing those two blocks.  I wasn't looking for perfection - I was looking to make the quilt usable again so the method I used is relatively quick and pretty easy to do - here's how I did it.

Replacing Worn Quilt Blocks

First I made two replacement blocks to the same size and block style that I made the original blocks - if you don't have an original pattern to follow simply make sure you make a block to the same size as the whole PLUS half an inch in each direction to allow for 1/4" seams.

This next stage took the longest - I unpicked the original quilting and block seams to release the torn block.  I unpicked the seams half an inch past the point I needed to and kept the threads long so I could knot and bury them. The photo below shows you how the back of the quilt looked once I'd unpicked the stitches.

This is how the quilt top looked once the block was removed

and take a look at that removed worn block!

Using a disappearing pen I drew lines around 4 sides of the made block at 1/4" from the edge to mark the seam allowance.

Slipping the new block inside the gap I made sure the edges were all underneath the four surrounding blocks and pinned them in place along the 1/4" marked lines.

Using a long basting stitch I stitched the surrounding blocks down, ensuring their own 1/4" seams were neatly tucked under and the fold line was against the 1/4" marked line - this is easier to achieve with the basting stitch than with pins and sewing the block in place will be easier now too.

My basting stitches are pink - you can see them better in this photo below.

Using a 1/8"-1/16" top stitch  I stitched, through all layers of the quilt as if quilting, along the edge of the surrounding blocks to hold the new block firmly in place.  

Note: the technique I've used is fast and easy but these four lines of securing stitching will be visible on the back of the quilt in addition to the quilt design lines.  If you want to spend longer and invisibly repair your quilt then you need to ladder stitch your new block in place by hand.  

With the block fastened in place I stitched the quilt lines back into the quilt, starting and ending at the points I'd previously unpicked the stitches at.  The stitching on the back of the quilt is very obvious at present but a few months of use and washing and loving will soon knock the colour of those threads back to match the rest.

And my husband was very grateful to have his quilt back in use again - it's been on the 'to do' pile for about 12 months

And yes, these two have already claimed it again!!!

Replacing Worn Quilt Blocks

Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)

Disclosure/Disclaimer: 

This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs to links shared.

Copyright: 

Uncredited reproduction of all content, text and images on this site is prohibited. All content, text and images must be credited to Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD and include a link back to this site.

Follow

Linky Parties This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too. If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties' page you can see where I like to share my work.