Since it was tied, it should be easy to take apart. I'd just take apart and dispose of the batting. Then, sandwich it again with new batting and then quilt again.

bkay

I agree with bkay. you may want to cut off the binding and sew on a narrow border, too.

Agree it is best to disassemble and replace the batting. Just cut the ties. Does he still use it on a bed? He may have grown in the intervening years, so you could add sashing or borders. Then sandwich with new cotton batting and quilt.

The quilt is crib size.

undoing ties and unstitching one end would be easy. New borders is a great idea.

I guess I was looking for an alternative to unpicking all the stitches if I did indeed stitch in the ditch around 25-30 blocks.

You need to unpick the whole thing. Trying to insert new batting from one end will be a lesson in frustration. Ask your nephew what size would be most useful to him.

Do you still have any of the original fabric? Not that I would admit to keeping fabric that long - not the same as actually keeping it!

Actually I DO have some scraps for the original quilt............

Lucky for me I was only asking for niece-in-law. She will be the one unpicking the seams and figuring out how to put new batting in.