How to Repair Holes and Tears in Quilt Tops

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Hi there, I’m hoping you can help me. I have a newly finished quilt that got a small hole in the top from my cat’s claws. What’s the best way to repair this so that my quilt still looks okay?

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NQC Answer

Not to worry, this should be a fairly easy fix. If the hole is on the quilt top in a place where you can hand stitch it, that would be the best way to repair it and make it less visible.

I have also fixed small holes by cutting a small piece of lightweight fusible interfacing, inserting it into the quilt under the rip with the fusible side facing the wrong side of the quilt top. You can then align the edges of the rip and “fuse” it back together.

Good luck!

Ashley

Related link: Types of Interfacing Fabric and Interfacing Sewing (links to National Sewing Circle website)

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36 Responses to “How to Repair Holes and Tears in Quilt Tops”

  1. Pamela Swanstrom

    I am currently working on restoring a quilt my great grandmother made around 1904. Lots of worn places, exposed batting. I began collecting cotton fabric in similar styles (more than likely, many of the little squares were made from flour sacks or shirts). Can these be fused in as well.?

  2. Jan

    My daughter’s dog likes to nest when she gets up on the bed. If I make a bed and the blankets are tight, she has made holes several times in quilts. I have fixed the quilt I made for their wedding at least three times. Luckily I still had some matching scraps in my stash. I’ve done what the previous poster said. I used double sided fusible tape and put a strip in between the layers and then folded the repair fabric quarter-inch to match the original seams. It’s kind of like making a puzzle and then laying it on top of that ripped areas. I then hand sewed the seam lines together after I ironed them down with the tape.

  3. Pauline

    To repair a little hole I do a small embroidery...like a flower or a heart.....same color.....it makes a conversational piece at the same time....Good Luck

  4. Margate

    Could you please tell me how To be mend a hole in 20year old exhigon quilt?. Thanks

  5. Joyce

    A friend buys old quilts. Vintage ones to resell. I fixed one really rough one for her. The binding was strange but I turned the top layer of it in , turned in the bottom layer to make a narrower binding and whip stitched it all The way around. Pieces were torn and missing. I whip stitched the edges of the torn pieces to hold the torn parts down. Total hand stitchesdalmost A wholeQuilt. It resold for 95$ yesterday

  6. Dorothy Sampson

    yes i have a quilt my mom made for me it is worn bad.

  7. Win Jeavons

    I often simply hand applique a butterfly over the damage. It is now my signature ,and can be used over small stains if accidents.

  8. Betty Woods

    My friend has a quilt that her dogs chew a large hole through the center of top, binding and backing. Also, has smaller holes in other areas of quilt. How can this be repaired?

  9. Laura

    <strong>Ticket 37819</strong> I have an old patchwork quilt I’d like to refurbish. There are no holes on the top but the fabric is very thin. Could I use fusible interfacing to reinforce those squares? (I need to disassemble the layers). Thank you for any input!

  10. Laura Bolakowski

    I have a fray at a seam in my quilt. It’s frayed enough that I can’t just stitch over it. Any suggestions?