There is a backing on it already but was planning on using batting and putting a new backing on it and quilting it

If it were mine, I'd put a new batting and backing on it leaving the original backing inside it. Then quilt through it all, stitching around the embroidery to protect and enhance all that precious hand work. Once quilted, it will be quite secure and stable and then you can soak it in a bath of "Restoration" quilt wash which lifts out the yellow and stains and takes it back to white. You can buy it online. Follow the instructions and then rinse in cold water and it will look like new. it isn't a bleach and it won't affect the colors, only the white part. This will be lovely once done.

I often quilt antique linens and it gives them a new life. Be sure to put a label on the back telling where it comes from and who restored it. Your descendents will thank you one day.

Thanks toolgranny. The biggest problem is that we aren't sure what to use as backing. The quilt top itself looks like it was done on linen.

I have a question. I'm just a newbie, so I'm not pretending to know anything, just curious. Why would you add another layer of batting and another backing? Isn't that going to make it really heavy? I have a quilt from my grandmother where they used an older quilt for the batting and it's REALLY heavy. Of course, that one has old fashioned cotton batting. It's what what I would characterize as a utility quilt.

If it needs a new backing, why would you not strip the old batting and backing and make a nice fresh environment for that beautiful embroidery? It will have to be quilted again anyway. That way, you would not have two different quilting lines on it.

On the backing fabric, I would try to match the front. Another idea - I don't know how hard it would make it to quilt, but I would consider (after asking someone knowledgeable if it would work) a nice, high thread count white sheet. It would be soft and nice and smooth.

bkay

You never use high thread count sheets as they are very hard to quilt through. Mesh is too tight. Bleached muslin would be a good choice. And if quilted already, removing all the old is a real trial without damaging existing quilting on the top. Yes, it adds layers but to preserve something like this you almost have to. You can also just whiten it and then leave it as it is. Her choice.

The quilt top belongs to a family member and I forgot that there is no backing on it. I think it was made to be used as a spread for a bed as she did flat felled seams on her seams so there isn't any raw seams on the back.

we are also debating where to use oxy to whiten it as have been unable to find Restoration.

We did look at muslin but looks like the embroidery was done on linen. At the fabric shop we were told that it was very expensive to purchase linen.

May have been made for 'Show Only' and not for using.

Restoration is available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Restoration-Hypoallergenic-Powder-Antique-Delicate/dp/B002ISCPD2

bkay

I'd recommend caution here folks, linen & cotton require different care.

Actual linen (spun, then woven from flax fibers) is usually dry cleaned, not laundered.

A quilt shop or fabric shop which doesn't handle linen may not know what they're talking about in terms of cost.

I'd have concerns down the road about washing real linen. I'd test wash & dry a scrap FIRST before buying yardage of it.

BK: Toolgranny is right -- we never use high count fabrics for quilting, wayyyy too difficult to sew through.

I think the issues with the linen would keep me from doing anything to it. I'd use it as a Summer top spread just for the prettiness of it.

Late to the party here, but I've used quite a bit of linen for costuming that I wear on multi-day camping trips. The pieces get dirty and sweaty. I throw them in the regular wash and they come out softer and nicer than before. The best place I've found is fabrics-store.com. They carry several different weights, so you have lots of choices. You can order sample pieces to find a match for your top fabric. You do need to be careful with seams as linen ravels like mad, and wash it first because it shrinks in the first wash. If your top is truly linen, I'd not hesitate to use a linen backing.

Will Restoration cleaner make the reds run?