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Repairing a Worn Blanket

old blanket
Depending on the extent of the wear there are a few things you can try to repair a worn blanket. If the damage is small, try darning or patching. If it is more extensive, you might consider affixing the worn blanket to a backing fabric and even stitching around the holes for added strength. This is a page about repairing a worn blanket.
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11 Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

June 18, 2017

Has anyone seen a blanket like this being sold anywhere? I'm trying to restore this one and it has several large holes and is threadbare in many areas so I was hoping to find a similar blanket to use to reinforce and patch with. Also, any ideas for repair in general? I'm a novice with a sewing machine so I was trying to keep it as simple as possible.

I've asked some local seamstresses, but so far they've said they can't help without similar fabric to work with. :( Let me know what you think!! Thank you :)

Repairing a Worn Blanket - bear image throw blanket
 
A worn blanket with a bear pattern.
 
A close up of a worn woven blanket.
 

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
June 18, 20171 found this helpful
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It looks like you could darn it. Get a book on darning or google it. Use the same colors of thread. You could make a sturdy repair that is not very noticeable.

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
June 19, 20170 found this helpful
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It would really be unusual if you found a blanket like this - more like pure luck! I can easily see why you would like to restore it but with the large holes this may not be possible. Some places may be fixable but since this is a reversible blanket it would probably not look so good.

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Have you thought about trying to salvage just one side? Maybe pick the side that has the least damage to the bear? If you cannot find anyone that feels they can "patch" similar material then maybe consider buying a solid color (brown?) blanket of the same size and attach it to the worst looking side. You could tack the blankets together and place more emphases to try and join the blankets where the holes are.
i actually did this with my grandson's favorite blanket when it had been washed to pieces but he still wanted it. You will need a large work area if you try something like this.
Good luck - I hope you can figure a way to salvage your bear.

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June 10, 2021

My childhood blanket was used recently (well, a few months ago) as a kennel cover for a friend's puppy and my husband has left it outside in the rain since then. My grandmother made it to be able to fold into a pillow as well (hence the extra fabric piece at the bottom).

There is also places missing that were there before he left it outside. Is there a way to salvage it and remove the mold without further damage? (P.s. he's already upset with himself about it)

A blanket that has been left outside in the weather.
 

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Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 425 Answers
June 10, 20211 found this helpful
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You could try soaking it in a large bucket, tote, kiddie pool, or even your bathtub, in a water and oxi-clean solution. If that doesn't take out all the mold, next try a water and bleach mix. While it soaks, slosh it around every so often. Once the mold is gone (or faded as much as possible), squeeze as much water out as you can. Then rinse the same way as the soaking, followed by hand squeezing out all the water you can.

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Then place onto a clean sheet draped over a flat surface such as a picnic or patio table, and let dry flat. As far as the cloth itself, it is pretty far gone as to repairing, but you could sew up another whole outside covering and baste the layers together to hold old blanket to new fabric (or sheet). If you don't sew, maybe ask a friend that does. Good luck and let us know what happens.

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Bronze Answer Medal for All Time! 111 Answers
June 11, 20210 found this helpful
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Kill the mold, then remove the stains.

  • First you need to kill the mold.
  • Put the blanket outside in full sunlight for several hours.
  • Then turn it to expose the other side.
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  • The ultraviolet rays from the sun will damage the mold's dna and prevent it from growing.
  • The sunlight itself may remove the stain or some of it. To fully remove the stains, wash it in a dilute water bleach solution. Be careful with the bleach which will cut the fabric if it is too strong. You could also try oxiclean. You may have to replace the missing fabric. Perhaps you could find appropriate fabric from a dress or apron of your grandmother's. If that isn't possible you could have a photo of your grandmother transferred onto fabric. There are several do it yourself ways on the internet to transfer photos onto fabric.
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March 27, 2020

I have a baby blanket and I want to fix the holes. I have tried sewing the holes together, but the fabric tore more. Any suggestions? I love the blanket and don't want it to tear apart!

There are holes like the one is the picture is 4 or 5 other spots as well!

Repairing Holes in a Baby Blanket - closeup of a large hole in a baby blanket
 

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
March 28, 20201 found this helpful
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This may be a time to find a soft fabric and stitch it to the blanket, covering the gap and in an applique style.

The blanket fabric looks much to fragile to cinch it together to see. That risks more damage.

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I can find you some good how to applique videos on YouTube if you need them!

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
March 28, 20202 found this helpful
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I do not believe your blanket is repairable but you may be able to place a new layer of cloth over the entire piece.
Search Google for a quilting or sewing class in your area (your zip code) and take it to one of these places to see if you get someone to help you.

You might also try asking for help at your Michael's or JoAnn's as they usually have people's cards that do this type of work.
It may cost to get it repaired but it then would be like new.

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October 26, 2020

I have a blanket that's been with me for as long as I can remember. I'm older now, but I still want to preserve it as a memory and make it look (and feel) as good as new. There are no holes or anything, it's just worn from years and years of use.

Is there anyway I can add to get its softness back in the edges and small patches? I'll do whatever I have to keep this childhood memory.

Fixing a Worn Kid's Blanket? - front of blanket
 
Fixing a Worn Kid's Blanket?
 
Fixing a Worn Kid's Blanket?
 
Fixing a Worn Kid's Blanket?
 

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Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 425 Answers
October 26, 20200 found this helpful
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Once a blanket gets that threadbare, there isn't really anything you can do to bring it back to like new condition. But you can do something to keep it from getting worse. It goes without saying that you shouldn't use the blanket anymore. Either store it away or hang it on a wall where it is out of direct sunlight to keep it from fading.

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The best idea is to properly store it.... wrap it in a clean cotton sheet, and store in an acid-free box, in a dry spot of your home, such as a closet shelf. By protecting what's left of it, you can hold onto the memory and take it out once in awhile to admire for nostalgia's sake.

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
October 26, 20200 found this helpful
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This question has been asked on several sites now and it seems that the majority of the people say to cut up the blanket and make a rag purse out of it. While others suggest that you purchase a fleece backing and use an infusion product to infuse the two pieces together. However, I did find one person who said that she put in an advertisement on Esty and asked if anyone could help her out. She was able to find two different grandmothers on the site that were excellent at repairing old quilts and also darning. I do believe this would be the best way to go from all that I have read. If you can find a grandmother in your area that repairs old quilts this would be the best person in the world to help you out in repairing your baby blanket.

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
October 26, 20200 found this helpful
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I can easily see why you are so eager to 'restore' this blanket but you may have to settle for just trying to save it.
I would suggest you try to find a very good seamstress and see if they have some ideas about how to fix this up for you. But if you take it to someone and they do not treat it gently then please do not leave it with them.
Most likely you will need a backing and maybe even a frame for display but I really believe you should discontinue washing this item or you may lose it entirely.
If you can lay it flat on an outdoor table and wet it with blue Dawn it may take some of the stiffness out. Lay it on a thick towel with brightest color face down, wet with Dawn gently rub Dawn in cloth, and let it set for on hour; then rinse with clear water but just by running water gently over the blanket (reason for being outside).
Others may have good suggestions but think carefully before doing anymore washing, especially agitating, ringing out, twisting, etc.

Good luck and post back with what you decide to do.

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December 10, 2020

So this blanket has a date of 1977 on the corner. It was my mom's when she was a baby and maybe her unborn older brother's first, we are not sure. I've had it my whole life (I'm 14). I've come to terms that it is normal for teens, even adults to have emotional support blankets. I'm prepared to share my life with this blanket, but the thing is, even when I was a new born baby I rubbed in between my fingers, and still do, just not as much. I'm not ashamed of it, but I don't bring it in public.

Anyways, because of the rubbing, there are so many holes. You can tell it on the yellow bear I've rubbed my whole life (the softest part), but I've recently switched to the black bear. I want to preserve it so it lasts longer, but I don't want to cut it up.An old and worn baby blanket.
 

Would it be a good idea to sew new fabric on the back? If so, any fabric ideas? Something not so hard that it is stiff and something not so thin, it breaks easy. Also something soft that I can be comfortable sleeping with.

An old and worn baby blanket.
 

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
December 10, 20200 found this helpful
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This looks like a very small throw blanket for a crib or laying on the floor. I can see some of the frayed edges and wear and tear on the blanket. I had a baby blanket that was my daughter's that she just loved. I was lucky back then because my grandmother made quilts and was able to save this blanket for me. She added some new quilt backing to the blanket and redid the edges of the blanket. It did change the size of the blanket some but it was still the same blanket.

I found a good site online that you should contact for some help. They do this for a business. If you really love this blanket I would get some help in saving it for you. Try to contact this company and ask them a few questions to see how much they would charge you to do this. www.quiltrepair.com/.../

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
December 10, 20200 found this helpful
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While you could probably do it yourself, it sounds like this blanket is extra special so you will probably want to have it professionally restored. Every town is different so maybe a reputable dry cleaner can tell you people (or maybe they) offer restoration services.

Things you can do to preserve it in the interim are hand wash it in a stationary tub or bath tub. Use woolite or dreft or other super gentle soap (but only use soap if it is dirty) otherwise, cool water rinse just to freshen it--hand soak, do not wring, dry flat if you can or hang carefull.

Post back with an update!

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January 16, 2022

Hi, this is my baby blanket I've had since I was born (I'm 19 now). I sleep with it every night and it is extremely important to me. I am very scared and crying because it's falling apart and idk how to fix it. A worn knitted baby blanket.

 

Can I maybe sew felt over all the falling apart patches? Like in that one picture there's felt on the corner which my grandma did when I was very young and the corner ripped. I am pretty sure this is beyond being able to be repaired with knitting so I figured that would be my best choice. I am really really scared because I can't lose this blanket I am so attached to it.

What should I do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A worn knitted baby blanket.
 
A corner that was repaired in the past.
 
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I have had this blanket basically my whole life. It is white with pink polka dots. Since I have used this blanket for so long, it has worn down, a lot, to the point where there are holes everywhere. I have read many articles saying that I should just cut it into tiny pieces to keep it as a souvenir.

The seams are starting to come off. The fabric is really delicate because if you hold it up to the light, you can see through it. I want to know if there is anything I could do to fix my blanket.Restoring a Worn Out Blanket - very worn white blanket with small pink flowers
 

*In the picture I have it tied that way because I don't want the holes to get bigger*

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
May 9, 20190 found this helpful

You cannot restore fabric that has worn out. Just cut some pieces with a pinking shears and mount in a picture frame.

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May 3, 2018

Restoring a beloved childhood blanket is an important project. If you do not want to cut it apart and remake it anew, consider backing it with a piece of fabric and sewing the two pieces together to reinforce the childhood memory item. This is a page about restoring a childhood blanket.

A worn pink blanket.

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February 28, 2018

This is a page about repairing a cashmere baby blanket. Cashmere blankets can be quite delicate. Repairing it may not be possible but there are options for covering the damaged area.

A pink cashmere baby blanket with satin trim, with some brown staining.

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November 3, 2013

This page is about repairing a crocheted blanket. Matching stitches, patterns and colors make fixing a crocheted covering a challenge.

Crocheted Blanket

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