Give me your ideas for preserving a baby’s old muslin

[Notexactlyasplanned]

Dd is late teens and has a favourite muslin she’s slept with since she was a baby. It’s starting to get very worn and develop holes. She’s keen to find a way to preserve it - and I’ve been wondering if it’s something I could help with as a Christmas present. Neither of us are super good at sewing although a visible mend would be an option - it’s too white and fragile to work as something like a memory bear I think. Any other ideas/suggestions??

The only thing I was thinking of was placing it inside a frame to store it. Is it something she'd want to display though?

Yes, we did wonder about hemming a bit to go into a locker or something. But she hates the idea of cutting it up! Good question in terms of displaying it. I think probably not (it is just a plain white muslin!) more being able to keep hold of it in a safe way.

You could stabilize it by stitching to another muslin, or some fabric that has some sentimental significance (baby clothes or similar). Sashiko would be an easy and pretty way of doing it, you could use coloured thread or plain white. You don’t need to be good at stitching, it can be charmingly wonky.
ETA: What I mean is to lay the delicate muslin over another fabric of the same size or slightly larger, pin it on evenly and and you kind of quilt it on with visible stitching. Loads of stuff online about sashiko.

Wash it and use it as a background behind photos in a photo frame

Some kind of memory board/collage with other sentimental items and a few photos?

Take her to build a bear and put Muslin inside of bear with the heartbeat. When she cuddles teddy she will feel close to Muslin too.

I'd also stitch it to another muslin or fabric. Research how to do visible mending so that you can design how to stitch etc.

Does she want to be able to hold it or see it?

Once stitched it can be hung up (like a banner) so it can still be held.

Oh these are such great ideas everyone! I’ve been looking at sashiko @trainedopossum but am nervous I’ll muck it up and ruin it! She’s leaving it at home this term so as to preserve it and I was going to try and do something with it while she was away but theee ideas are really making me think (would she rather still be able to cuddle it or is a display item better?) so I’m going to have a chat with her and see what she says. Thank you all so much: I’ll let you know what she decides :-)