Completed HST projects

[Margo C.]

Well, I am sorry for your trials. I guess maybe I won't wash mine. Since it will only be wall size it won't need washing. I do wonder what will happen when I do the batiks quilt.

[Margo C.]

Hi all, I tried some spot removal with Synthrapol and color catchers. Thanks to all the good advice! I pinned a folded color catcher to the front of the quilt where the bleeding was on the back, then q-tipped some synthrapol onto the dampened area, mushed it around, "rinsed" with wet paper towels, and blotted heavily. The two areas I tried are still drying and I can't tell if it is working. The color catcher sheets on the front have picked up a LOT of dye from the offending triangles. The treatment did remove some bleeding from the front of the quilt near one of the bleeding triangles.

I'll just warn in general terms: Batiks, in dark blue, pink and turquoise may bleed.

I'll keep you posted.
Kathy

Thank you for sharing, Kathy...we've learned much from your experience today. I hope your quilt turns out just as you want it to be. :lol:

Shirley

[Terry K.]

Wow, now I'm scared about my HST project. . .I just sewed the blocks together for my Forest of Friends and have picked a border fabric. . .This is going to be a 50ishx70ish sized quilt which I had planned to use as a throw. Now. . .should I finish the project or should I wash it now while it is almost a top?

[Jo H.]

Terry, I did this with my rescued quilt because it had been stored for who knows how many years and smelled horribly; although it was completely put together but no batting or backing yet. No bleeding on the cream colored fabric even on the colorful really old fabrics but it took me two full days of clipping threads after washing it before I could put it together for quilting.

[Margo C.]

I've never done this, but here is a suggestion you might want to try.

Take your assembled top (or blocks?) and lay it flat on a light colored piece of fabric. Maybe a sheet? Lay another light fabric over the top of it. (another sheet?)

Use a mister to thoroughly wet the entire surface and let it air dry. A fan will help speed the process. When it's dry, check the light fabrics for bleeding and carefully treat, (or remove?) the bleeding fabric. Then you should be able to continue making your quilt with peace of mind about bleeding.

I really hope that the possibility of a couple of bleeding fabrics doesn't cause anyone to abandon this wonderful friendship project. These quilts are too precious to just spend eternity as a UFO!!

[Margo C.]

As Alex and Ricky tell us at the end of their TQS, "Every day is a new day." :lol: And yesterday was certainly a valuable learning experience. I personally learned a lot about products to use when prewashing fabrics. My HSTs are not sewn together yet, so I now will carefully just soak all of them (no agitation/movement of any kind) for about 20 minutes, and then carefully set them on a sheet to air dry (which would also show if there are any fabrics that still bleed). I'd rather be safe than sorry with this quilt because I plan on putting a lot of work into it with other ideas. And...this is definitely one quilt I want to finish and enjoy the rest of my life. What did Ben Franklin say? "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I'm absolutely not a member of the quilt police, but these HSTs are very special to me and I want to preserve them in a beautiful quilt as much as my skills will allow me to do. If it takes me a little longer than I originally planned, that's okay. :lol:

[Lois B.]

Shirley, I'm really not sure how the temperature of the first wash affects the outcome. I can tell you that I am not particularly careful about washing my quilts like a lot of people are. I think that since I'm using cotton fabrics (and battings) they should be able to stand up to a regular wash cycle, just like my regular cotton clothes.
Think jeans and khakis and tee shirts and golf shirts!
But, my quilts are not for show! I make them to be used up and loved to death and I like the softness that comes with lots of use.
I know that people cringe, but I seldom prewash my fabrics unless it's requested, like for this exchange!!!

My quilts are washed in hot water with Orvus Paste (after the first wash with Synthrapol has removed any excess dye) then dried in the dryer, because that's the look I like!

If you want your quilts to look crisp and new and never used, you will need a different approach!

Margo, I like this philosophy. I have a question regarding machine applique and how it holds up to this kind of use. I have used and love machine blanketstitch on some wall hangings but I am wondering about how it holds up to use and lots of washings. Do you have any experience with that. Lois Bruno

[Paula Z.]

Margo, thanks for your suggestion. I have a finished top and am waiting for my longarm quilter. Now I think I would feel safer washing my top somehow before I pay for quilting, but really didn't know the best thing to do at this point. I may try laying it out between sheets as you suggested.

[Margo C.]

Shirley, I'm really not sure how the temperature of the first wash affects the outcome. I can tell you that I am not particularly careful about washing my quilts like a lot of people are. I think that since I'm using cotton fabrics (and battings) they should be able to stand up to a regular wash cycle, just like my regular cotton clothes.
Think jeans and khakis and tee shirts and golf shirts!
But, my quilts are not for show! I make them to be used up and loved to death and I like the softness that comes with lots of use.
I know that people cringe, but I seldom prewash my fabrics unless it's requested, like for this exchange!!!

My quilts are washed in hot water with Orvus Paste (after the first wash with Synthrapol has removed any excess dye) then dried in the dryer, because that's the look I like!

If you want your quilts to look crisp and new and never used, you will need a different approach!

Margo, I like this philosophy. I have a question regarding machine applique and how it holds up to this kind of use. I have used and love machine blanketstitch on some wall hangings but I am wondering about how it holds up to use and lots of washings. Do you have any experience with that. Lois Bruno

Lois, like everything in quilting there are a lot of variables! Is your blanket stitch done on the edges of fused applique shapes? How close together are your stitches? You might get some fraying, depending on the fusible, but the stitches will probably hold the shapes on the background even after use and washing.
Are the edges turned under with no fusible? You shouldn't get any fraying, and the pieces should stay in place just fine.

I made a quilt in 2000 with turned edges and a tiny blind hem stitch done on the machine with monofiliment thread that is in almost constant use, and washed once or twice a year. It's holding up just fine!

[Kathryn S.]

Update: the spot treatment helped some, but I'm finding lots of spots on the back where triangles bled through. So I'm going to get more Synthrapol and try another wash.

Anyway here's my completed quilt, and a detail of the name quilting. In the center row I quilted "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles The Quilt Show April 2011" in metallic thread. Part of that line is in the photo.

Kathy

[Margo C.]

WOW!! Kathy your lay-out and your quilting are WONDERFUL!!!

[Patti P.]

Kathy, nice job on the lettering. The quilt is lovely. Terry, I think I'm going to wash mine before I quilt it too. I finally got my border fabric delivered so I finished the top last night, but the back I anticipate taking awhile to monogram the names, so lots of time to wash the top.

Patti

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[Patti P.]

Kathy, I love your quilt! It turned out beautiful! Good luck with the next washing too!

Shirley

[Margo C.]

Patti, it looks great!!!

[Margo C.]

I'm sorry for all who are having trouble with colours bleeding, but I must say that seeing all the finished or near-finished tops is HAPPINESS! What a wonderful array!