What Can I Do With Old Worn Quilts?

If you are like me, you may have several old worn out quilts around the house. You don’t want to throw them out because of their sentimental value but they may be well worn. Don’t worry about You can preserve your quilts by using them the following ways:

• Hang an aged quilt on the wall as art in a room.
• Make some quilted pillows for a couch or a bed.
• Make a quilted poncho to wear.
• Make placemats .
• Make a table runner.
• Make a bed runner to lay across the bottom of a bed for contrast.
• Create a mini quilt out of your worn quilt. Frame and hang on the wall.
• Make a runner for a piano top.
• Make your worn quilt into a lap or throw quilt.
• Make a shoulder wrap or shawl out of it.
• Make a bag out of a worn quilt.
• Make a quilted jacket.

I have several old worn quilts that I can’t stand to part with. My sweet mother in law made many quilts for my children and our family over the years. As I was pondering the other day, well thinking about two matching quilts that she made for our sons, it dawned on me I could make some useful things out of those quilts. They have been sitting in the closet just taking up precious space. It’s time to turn them into something awesome and you can too turn your worn quilts into something very special.

Hang Worn Quilts On The Wall As A Piece Of Art

When my husband and I got engaged years ago, his mother made us a beautiful quilt outlined with the temple on it where we were married. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Jordan River Temple. She quilted it all by hand on white and mint colored tricot. To say it’s beautiful, is a huge understatement! For a few years we used it as a comforter but didn’t realize the sun was destroying the fabric. Eventually the fabric broke down and started to wear out. For years, it sat in my closet folded neatly. Time to break it out! I had this idea to hang it in my front room as part of my room makeover into a French Country Living Room With 10 Simple Steps. The nice thing about this is it softens the red wall we have in our front room. It is a great way to showcase a quilt.

Quilted Pillows

I have an old couch. It was given to us. I don’t love it so I cover it with a large white blanket that looks like a couch cover. I have been trying to figure out what kind of pillows I can put on my couch to make it look just right in my family room. Then it hit me. I recently moved a worn quilt from downstairs up to my linen closet. I have another matching one. They show wear and tear on one edge of the quilt. Thought about just throwing them out but I wasn’t ready to do that. Because I think creatively, my brain continues to process creative problems when I am doing other things but I had a thought that could use my two worn blankets to make pillows out of. They turned out pretty cute taking a chance on turning some worn quilts into pillows.

• Cut out two pieces of the quilt to make the size pillow you want.
• Put the two pieces right sides together.
• Sew around them leaving one side open for turning.
• Stuff your pillow with polyester fiber fill or a pillow form.
• Turn and sew across the open end.
• Repeat for more pillows if there is enough quilt to make more than one.
• Add trim to your pillows like pom poms or tassels in each corner of your pillow to dress them up. Or don’t add any trim at all. Style it how you like.

Make A Quilted Poncho

I know this isn’t a home decor idea however what better way to put a quilt to use than making it into a needed clothing item. May I suggest a quilted poncho. Find a pattern or make your own. Cut out the pattern and sew it up. You might be able to sew it in such a way that the edge is already finished with your quilt’s binding. If you have a raw edge, add some pom pom trim by the yard to finish your quilted poncho. You will probably get plenty of compliments on it! People will want to know where you bought it wink wink.

Quilted Placemats

You can still get plenty of wear out of your worn quilt if you make a placemat. Worn quilts can make beautiful placemats. Create your own pattern by cutting out a rectangle, heart, or round shaped pattern. Then cut your placemat(s) out of your worn quilt. Use bias tape, add a small ruffle, or finish the edge with prairie points around the edge with fabric that matches the worn quilt fabric. Pretty cute when it is all said and done.

Create A Table Runner

You can cut out a table runner from your worn quilt. Cut out a length of your worn quilt from the part of your worn quilt that is in good condition. Bind the edge to make it look complete. If you need to add extra fabric, coordinate it with your worn out quilt fabric. Create the look you want and make your table runner. Display on a sofa table or dining room table. Stand back and admire your creativity. There are so many possibilities when it comes to table runners. Don’t be afraid to use your talents on this project!

How About A Bed Runner

Needing something to spruce up your bedding? Maybe the answer lies in making a bed runner from one of your worn quilts. It is basically made similar to a table runner. The purpose of a bed runner is to add some decor to your bed in addition to your pillows. Place the bed runner across the end of your bed on top of your comforter. If you have enough fabric from your worn quilt, make a couple of matching pillows for your bed. Voila! Instant beautiful bedding accessories.

Mini Quilt Framed Art

Mini quilts have a lot of uses. For now let’s talk about preserving a part of your worn quilt for art. Cut out your quilt however big you want it to be. Then place it in a picture frame large enough to frame it nicely. Find a good place to hang it in your home. This min quilt art will not only enhance your decor but will hold memories of creating this quilt. It will last for years to come. You can discard the rest of the quilt if there isn’t enough to use for other projects.

Runner To Place On A Piano

Have you ever seen a runner similar to a table runner placed on a piano? Why not take your worn quilt and make a runner for your piano out of it? You can accent the quilt with pictures or a potted plant or a flower arrangement sitting on top of the runner. It works as a two fold purpose. One for decor and one to protect the top of your piano. Just cut the runner as long and as wide as you want it to be to fit the piano top. Then finish the edge. You can add trim, like ric rack or lace or binding to your runner.

Make A Lap Quilt Or A Throw

If your worn blanket is bigger you can downsize it to make a lap quilt or a throw if you have a part that is in good condition. You could even combine cut out squares of more than one worn quilt to do this. Cut out quilted squares from your old quilts and sew them together. If you don’t have enough fabric to make all the fabric squares you need because of wear and tear showing on your old quilt, add other fabric squares that you have quilted on your machine as you go method like this Quilt As You Go! You Can Do It. Then sew them altogether. Add a new backing What Is Quilt Backing Fabric? Everything You Need To Know and bind your lap or throw quilt this easy peasy way What Is The Easiest Way To Bind A Quilt? To attach the new backing to your quilt topper after sewing the front and back together, you have several options here.

• Tie your quilt with yarn or Perle Cotton thread in several strategic spots like where the squares meet on your quilt or in the middle of your quilt.
• Outline some of the fabric designs on your quilt topper with a running stitch of contrasting Perle Cotton thread color. Similar to the idea here, Is Hand Quilting Easy?
• Or cut out some hearts and applique them on to your quilt by machine or by hand. You could use the blanket stitch method if you want to get a little fancier like this, Can You Use Blanket Stitch For Applique?

That’s A Wrap

Here is another idea for using your worn quilt to make apparel. Why not fashion your beloved old worn quilt into a shoulder wrap to use at night while you are watching tv. Or you could use it outside when Fall nights get chilly and you are strolling through your backyard or just hanging out with your family. Cut your should wrap like you did the table runner. Make sure you make it long enough to wrap around your shoulders and are able to hold each side with your hand in the front where each side meets. This is not only creative but you might start a fashion statement. You could even make several from your worn quilts to roll up in a basket and set by your fire pit in your backyard. Fashionable and useful? Girl! You are going for the win!

Make A Bag Out Of A Quilt

My aunt made me the cutest crazy quilt bag when I was growing up. It was made up of all different pink fabrics lovingly sewn together and fashioned into a large bag with a handle. You could do the same with your old worn quilt. Pretty easy to do too. Cut out two pieces the size you want your bag to be. Sew them together and add a handle from the worn quilt or with contrasting fabric. Add some trim of your choice to finish the top edge. It just might become your most cherished bag. If your quilt was given to a family member as a gift, you could tailor the bag for the person it was made for and give them the bag as a gift.

Make A Popular Quilted Jacket

Do you know quilted jackets are a thing? They are pretty popular these days. Soft, warm, and comfy not to mention beautiful! Why not give this a try with a worn out quilt. If you need to, line your jacket with some new fabric or just leave the jacket the way the quilt is. You can wear memories and be in style at the same time!

Wow! So many ways to put a cherished aged and worn out quilt to use. You don’t have to throw it out if you are attached to it. After giving you these ideas, you can probably come up with other ideas on your own.

You Might Also Like

Interested in sewing with other quilters and while having a fun vacay? What Is A Quilt Retreat?

How about a quick and easy way to make a table runner? How Do You Make A Table Runner With Panel Fabric?

Ideas for making a throw quilt right here How Do I Make A Throw Quilt?