Ooops, I did it again

-


You know when you make a mistake and you end up thinking " Man, I really should have known better!"?

I recently experienced that moment when I took my latest finish out of the wash, hung it to dry, and later found that the backing I used had bled through to the front of the quilt. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if it had covered the entire quilt, but in this case I have a strip of a stronger color on one side of the back:


Heartbreaking to think that after all that time and effort, the piece was ruined just because I forgot to turn to the cold/cold setting for the delicate cycle on the washing machine.

But then it occurred to me to "put it out there." I posted the problem on Instagram and got back several suggestions. The most popular solution was Dawn dish soap. And I'm happy to report I've met with success!!!

It did require some persistence though. First, I tried applying Dawn to the affected areas and then putting it through the wash with a bit of OxiClean for good measure. Twice. There was some modest improvement but you could still remnants of the pink. Finally, I filled the bathtub and soaked the quilt in Dawn overnight. Then I ran it through the wash without any other cleaner to get all the suds out, 'cause that Dawn really works up a lather. The third time was the charm.

Now I'm going to sift through that pile of quilts in the other room and find the last quilt I messed up this way. Maybe it's not a lost cause either. But before I do, I want to express my gratitude to those "quilty" friends on Instagram who shared their tips to save this quilt, and turned my disappointment into rejoicing. You're the best!    


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

-
Ability to be Creative Ability , ( noun )- aptitude, intelligence, innate qualities, powers, potency, talent, capability, competence, proficiency, knowledge, technique, craft, skill, dexterity, artistry, facility, mastery, experience,understanding, faculty This is a partial listing of the synonyms for the word "ability" in Webster's New World Thesaurus . It seems to me that these words can be divided into two categories. The first category would be nouns which people generally think of as qualities that come naturally to the individual-  "innate qualities" . I propose that everyone has intelligence, capability, dexterity, even artistry, though some might say people possess them in varying degrees, and in different combinations. But isn't that called "individuality"? Now consider the second group of words. These are nouns that can be acquired: knowledge, experience, technique, skills, mastery . These are things you have with practice !
Read more

Linen Closet: Lord's Snowfall (2 of 2)

-
Image
Linen Closet- Lord’s Snowfall (2 of 2) "Lord's Snowfall" was appliquéd and quilted all by hand. It measures 87.25 inches x 91.5 inches, and contains 46 unique appliquéd and/or quilted snow crystals which are surrounded by echo quilting.  This quilt has heard many a shared confidence, deep thoughts, and world views. My friends were lovingly supportive through it all and contributed in their special ways. Sara was my "snow crystal teacher" and made sure I was creating authentic snow crystals. Erin shared fabric pieces from her stash which helped make the background transitions more harmonious. Since we came together through church, it's title has special meaning to me. It was finished in February 2018- yes, it took 2 years and 4 months to complete. I have been waiting to show this quilt to you because I entered it in a juried show and hoped I might have the happy news that it had been accepted.... but it wasn't... competition i
Read more

Knitters' Gadget Reviewed

-
Image
If you've ever been excited to start a knitting project and put it off because you know you have to unwind the skein to create a ball of yarn first, a swift and wool winder combo will get you over that hurdle! My daughter requested this as a Christmas gift and she couldn't be more pleased. It's pretty easy to set up:  A skein is unfolded carefully to ensure that the familiar loop of yarn doesn't get twisted and the beginning thread remains facing outward. The collapsible swift expands to make the skein taught and the beginning thread is hooked on to the winder. The yarn is transferred to the bobbin on the winder when the crank is turned. It's a simple and quick process. No more draping the skein across the back of a chair or struggling to keep it on your knees as you wind a ball and work your wrists. No more tangles and knots to grumble over. This creates a nice, neat ball that doesn't stretch or damage the yarn.  Honestly I thought this was just a gimmick when
Read more