Need help reviving an old quilt

[SueSwan]

When my 28 year old DD was born one of the presents we received was a quilt. She has always called it "Birdie" cause it has cute baby bird fabric in it. Her 7 year old son fell in love with it when he was a little guy and now she has a new baby. The 7 year old dragged Birdie out for the baby, and I almost died .... it hasn't been washed for a long time, cause my daughter was afraid it would fall apart. I volunteered to revive it ... here is where I need you help.

I washed it ... it is still together, though very thin in places .... I opened it up and turned it inside out .... cut out the old batting, which was in better shape than you would have thought, but was originally not all one piece, so I wanted to replace it. Now the dilemma is how to stabilize the very thin fabric ......

Should I line it with muslin ?

Has anyone done this kind of thing ?

It has a gathered edge, so I don't relish taking the entire thing apart .....

Any ideas ?? Am I on the right track with the muslin OR is there some kind of stabilizing fabric I can attach ?

Sue

[institcheswithrosie]

You might try pressing a thin fusible interfacing on the back of the this areas. If the original fabric tears, it would show the muslin or whatever. The interfacing should keep it from tearing.

[auntjana]

I would lean to using the muslin like you thought. I think that if you stabliized it with iron on interfacing, it may have acid in the glue, that could detoriate the fabric even more in the next few years.

Jana

[SueSwan]

I took it to my LQS and asked them .... all agreed that it should not be used as a quilt anymore ... it is really thin in places, just asking to be ripped. SO, I decided to put new batting into it, close it up, tie it, no quilting .... then put a sleeve on it so it can be decoration in the baby's room.
That way we still get to have Birdie in our lives ....
thanks for the suggestions, they were both the alternatives, Plans B and C. Great minds think alike.
If you could see this fabric, you would agree that it will be in shreds if we try to use it anymore....

[CaroleJ]

Any plans for a new quilt for new baby....?

Any excuse to sew! LOL

[SueSwan]

Oh, he has a quilt I made especially for him ...... and I am sure he will have another before he is 2 ..... LOL