washing quilts that have not had the fabric prewashed

Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Den 21-08-2011 20:12, Martha skrev:
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Martha,

There is the "color catcher" sheets (they sell in boxes like dryer
sheets, but are used in the wash. They are supposed to soak up excess dye.

Would it be possible for you to gently handwash before making up the
quilttop? That way you can see if any of the fabrics bleed.

You can also test each fabric for color fastness (use a wet q.tip, for
example).

Hanne in DK

I used color catcher sheets and find they work well.

--
Mary

http://community.webshots.com/user/m...host=community
http://www.surfriderresort.com/
"Martha" wrote in message
...
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Hanne's suggestion to rub with a wet q-tip or white damp cloth would
be OK for spot checking but do not wash the blocks until they are part
of the completed quilt. The edges will fray. Once the entire quilt is
finished and bound wash it in cold water first and let it dry flat. If
all is OK then wash and dry it like it will be in the hospital. I
suggest that you use a polyester batting for something that will be
washed and dried frequently. If after washing in cold water and drying
flat there are problems give the quilt to someone who will always use
cold water and air dry.

Susan

On Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:27:36 +0200, Hanne in DK
wrote:

Den 21-08-2011 20:12, Martha skrev:
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Martha,

There is the "color catcher" sheets (they sell in boxes like dryer
sheets, but are used in the wash. They are supposed to soak up excess dye.

Would it be possible for you to gently handwash before making up the
quilttop? That way you can see if any of the fabrics bleed.

You can also test each fabric for color fastness (use a wet q.tip, for
example).

Hanne in DK

And the bottom line: it does not matter. I ruined a quilt - a take-off of
SunBonnet Sue - except it is Puss in Bonnets - by backing it with a lovely
pink batik. The batik bled all over the kittys and their bonnets.
Baby loves the quilt. It does not matter one whit that the whole deal
is pretty much happy pinked.
I do use color-catchers now - may throw in 3 or 4 if I'm suspecting
mayhem but truly it does not really matter. That precious little one in the
hospital will be comforted and hugged.
If you ever inherit more blocks, you may want to get them soaking wet
(gently) and put them on white towels or sheets or something and see if
there's going to be an event. Polly


"Martha" wrote in message
...
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Like Polly, if I'm washing a fabric that I suspect might bleed color
all over everything, I use 3 or 4 color catcher sheets.

I just discovered the other day that you can by the color catcher
dealies that look like a terry cloth wash cloth. They quit making
them a few years ago, but they're back again.

Donna in Idaho


On Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:07:52 -0500, "Polly Esther"
wrote:
I do use color-catchers now - may throw in 3 or 4 if I'm suspecting
mayhem but truly it does not really matter. That precious little one in the
hospital will be comforted and hugged.
.. Polly

You could always wash the finished quilt with Retayne. And if anything
runs, you can wash it again with color run remover. This chemical does
a very good job of removing runs, and it might also fade the overall
colors.

But you know, I agree with Polly's response: it doesn't really matter
that much. Of course you take pride in doing a good job, but the child
will love it anyway, whatever happens. My advice would be to use a
darker color for the backing, preferably a busy print so any blotches
won't be too obvious. Sometimes dye (especially red) seems to wick
along the quilting thread and accumulate on the backing even more than
on the top.
Roberta in D

On Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:12:30 -0400, Martha
wrote:

Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

You're right, of course. It won't matter to the child.

But it will matter to ME! [wail!]

Good idea about inherited blocks.

Thanks!

Martha








In article ,
"Polly Esther" wrote:

And the bottom line: it does not matter. I ruined a quilt - a take-off of
SunBonnet Sue - except it is Puss in Bonnets - by backing it with a lovely
pink batik. The batik bled all over the kittys and their bonnets.
Baby loves the quilt. It does not matter one whit that the whole deal
is pretty much happy pinked.
I do use color-catchers now - may throw in 3 or 4 if I'm suspecting
mayhem but truly it does not really matter. That precious little one in the
hospital will be comforted and hugged.
If you ever inherit more blocks, you may want to get them soaking wet
(gently) and put them on white towels or sheets or something and see if
there's going to be an event. Polly


"Martha" wrote in message
...
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

In article ,
Roberta Roberta@Home wrote:

Oh.

I hadn't thought of Retayne here.

But you're right, of course.

Thanks!

Martha

I will test the ones not in a quilt yet; a wet q-tip seems a good idea.

Thanks!

Martha



In article ,
Hanne in DK wrote:

Den 21-08-2011 20:12, Martha skrev:
Hello!

I've inherited some blocks, with which I am making a quilt.

But I just figured out that the original owner did not prewash her
fabrics, and there are blues, reds and browns in those blocks.

Normally I prewash fabric with Retayne. I think there is a product I
could buy that when added to the wash makes sure that none of the excess
dye stays on the quilt, but I don't remember the name [sigh!]. Does
anyone?

And are there any other suggestions for washing this quilt the first
[and maybe more] times?

It will go to a child in hospital, so must be washable.

Thanks!

Martha

Martha,

There is the "color catcher" sheets (they sell in boxes like dryer
sheets, but are used in the wash. They are supposed to soak up excess dye.

Would it be possible for you to gently handwash before making up the
quilttop? That way you can see if any of the fabrics bleed.

You can also test each fabric for color fastness (use a wet q.tip, for
example).

Hanne in DK