Quilts should be loved forever.

* BOOKS FOR SPRING 2024 ARE NOW CLOSED. Feel free to email to claim a spot for my Fall 2024 repair period!

It is my passionate belief that quilts are infinitely more than a blanket - they are the love, warmth, and comfort left behind by their makers. I so often hear descriptions of quilts made by grandmothers, mothers, aunts - but in a state of disrepair due to a lifetime of being loved.

I am not a historical restoration specialist! If you have an antique quilt and would like to have it restored, please seek out a restoration specialist with a knowledge of historical textiles. But I would love to use my needlework skills to honor the work done by (presumably, though not always!) the women in your family, or revive that amazing quilt you thrifted or found at a flea market. Quilts should be able to be handed down, those stitches connecting generation to generation. But sometimes they need a little help.

Most repair work involves creating new patches that blend into the quilt and hand-stitching them into place, mending loose / torn seams, or attaching new binding - these things are common wear-and-tear on quilts that have been in use for a long time. But some repairs may involve a more creative approach - perhaps you would like to take a severely damaged quilt and create a smaller wall hanging, or framed piece, from it. Maybe you’d like it mended in a more decorative, visible manner. I’d love to hear about it and see if I can help.

How I Work

If you have a quilt that needs a little loving care, please get in touch, and send clear, well-lit and direct photos of the whole quilt as well as close-ups of the damaged area(s). Please include a photo of the back of the quilt if there is any damage there that needs to be addressed. Let me know what you have in mind and anything you know about the quilt, including the size. We can discuss options, and I will try to give you a range of ideas that cover different levels of detail, based on your preference or budget.

I work with a per-project cost, rather than an hourly rate - but I will create a project cost estimate for you based on a rate of $40 / hour. I may ask for a small deposit before I start, and I will always, always let you know first if anything changes as I go, or if I have any further recommendations to make, and keep you updated as I work.

I take on repairs twice a year, in two-month periods. I can take approximately three (possibly four) quilts during each period, depending on complexity, and work on the repairs all at once, rather than in consecutive order. Your quilt will be returned to you by the end of that two-month period. This helps me avoid delays if waiting for supplies or client feedback, and work more efficiently.

* BOOKS FOR SPRING 2024 ARE NOW CLOSED. Feel free to email to claim a spot for my Fall 2024 repair period!

I’m happy to receive quilts as a porch drop-off to my Pittsburgh home (where I work*), or by mail if you are not local - we can discuss secure options for shipping. Quilts must be freshly laundered and delivered in a bag or tote of some type for easy returning!

* I do have dogs! They are not allowed to be in the studio when I am working on your precious treasures, and quilts are always locked away any time I am not actively working on them!