Giving New Life to a Forgotten Window Frame

Patti Butler
Apr 26
3 min read

Vintage quilt pieces in antique frame — My beautiful project now smiles down at us at the dinner table.

: by Contributing Writer, Patti Butler

There’s a spot high above our dining room table that’s always felt unfinished. It wasn’t the right place for a traditional painting—it’s too high for the details to be appreciated. And a collage or intricate piece would be too difficult to mount and would lose its impact at that height. Still, the space begged for something meaningful and dimensional.

On a trip to Paducah, KY, I visited one of my favorite stops—Anything Goes, a nearby local shop run by the always-helpful Tina. The store is a treasure trove of vintage finds, rustic odds and ends, and repurposing potential. As I wandered through, I was immediately drawn to a stack of old window frames. One, in particular, caught my eye: a six-pane frame, worn and weathered, with chipped white paint on one side and raw wood tones on the other. The caulking was crumbling and uneven, the ropes once used to raise and lower the sash were frayed. But it was exactly what I needed—full of character and just the right size for the space I had in mind.

Back home, I searched online and eventually found vintage quilt cuttings on eBay—salvaged pieces from handmade quilts that had seen better days. The patterns were charming, colorful, and just the right size to fit behind the six glass panes of my window frame.

Prepping the Frame

(Scroll to the bottom to see step-by-step pics of each phase PLUS shopping links for tools)

First, I cleaned the glass thoroughly using a razor scraper and my go-to cleaner from Dollar Tree, Awesome. I was careful not to scrape away the aged white paint around the glass, wanting to keep that timeworn look intact. Once that was done, I followed up with Sprayway glass cleaner and gave the entire frame and panes a detailed vacuuming to remove every bit of dust and debris. I repeated the process on both sides to make sure it was as clean as possible.

Fitting the Quilts

Each pane measured about 13.5" x 7.5", so I had to get creative. The chipboard I had on hand was only 11" x 8.5", so I used two pieces per pane, gluing them together and bridging the gap with a smaller chipboard section. Then I used Tacky Glue to mount each quilt piece onto the chipboard backing.

One quilt piece had been cut into two by the seller, but when placed together, the design matched perfectly. To hide the seam, I glued both pieces down before cutting, carefully pressing the edges together so the seam disappeared. After trimming any excess fabric, I used leftover scraps to fill in any small gaps.

Assembly and Finishing Touches of the New Window Frame

Once all six fabric-covered backings were complete, I placed them behind the glass with the quilt side facing forward. I secured them in place using a point driver and finished by attaching a picture-hanging wire to the back—positioned about a third of the way from the top of the frame.

Now it hangs above our dining room table—a piece of history and heart made from a forgotten frame and rescued quilt scraps. It’s a functional, beautiful piece of wall art that ties together the stories of the past with our home in the present. Every time I look up, I’m reminded of the joy in creating something meaningful from simple materials.