J Miller

OK, my wife and I have been making a quilt for each of my two remaining aunts. Wife took it upon herself to appropriate the 201-2 and do the quilting. We decided that we'd do a SITD type for several reasons.

Situation A:
When the first quilt was almost done we took a break. Part of the quilt slipped off the machine onto the floor. One of our wonderful little puddy tats peed on it. Luckily for the cat, we didn't see it happen. Had we .... well the cat would not be very happy.
We used cold water to get the pee out and off then used some spray deodorizer on the spots. But the quilt is going to have to be washed before we can ship it. I'm terrified of throwing a new quilt made from new materials in a wash machine. Fading, colors bleeding and of course bunching up and seams coming apart are what I'm worried about.

Situation B:
This morning as she was almost done with quilt #2 and I was making a brunch she said something like are you cooking cinnamon? I said no, just some left over chicken.

Turns out she'd got the quilt backing too close to the machines light for too long and it's got a small burn mark on it.


We were thinking of using peroxide on a q-tip to try and lighten it. No way to replace the backing at this point.

So, for these two things, I need some suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Joe

cathyvv

Situation A: I always wash quilts before I gift them. Learned that with my first quilt - if there's a spot where stitching is 'iffy', washing/drying shows it to me. Then I fix it. I use cold water, and scent free/clear detergent and add a color catcher when washing. Some folks will tell you to use Retayne, but I've never used it so have no opinion on it. So far, all the washed quilts came out just fine. In any case, a slightly faded quilt is more attractive than a quilt with cat pee in it.

Situation B: I haven't had this problem, but am interested in the replies. My first thought was to put the label over it, and that would work. But maybe you already have the label on, so that may not be an option.

Good luck.

thepolyparrot

I always wash quilts when they're finished, too. It softens and fluffs them and removes all the dust, skin oils and whatever might have gathered on it while you were working on it.

If you can take them to a laundromat where they have those giant front-loaders, you'll probably be happier with the results than if you use your home machine. They seem to get the quilt cleaner - be sure to use a few color-catchers, either way.

I would applique a small circle of the background fabric over the burn. It won't show once you get the quilting done. I had to do this in four places on the back of one of my quilts, and they're hard to find.

J Miller

We were planning on taking them to the laundromat and using the big machines. I doubt our home machine could even hold one of these. So, cold water and color catcher ............ what is a color catcher?

Other than the binding we are finished with these two quilts. We don't have any labels to put on them so that's out.
How would you applique the circle of material on a quilted quilt? The threads would go all the way through and that would be seeable.

Joe

Candace

An applique can be applied and no it doesn't need to go through the quilt. If you search for applique video there are tons of free videos on the net to show you how to do it. I would say a label also, is the best way to hide the spot. It only takes a second to write something out with a permanent pen and applique it on.

Similar to the advice above, I always prewash my fabric and then wash the quilt before gifting it.

Colorcatchers can be found in most laundry depts. in chain stores. I know my local grocery stores carry them as do WM etc.

J Miller

Candace,

Thanks, but what is a color catcher? I used to wash my own clothes before I got married, and I've never heard of them.

I've texted my wife, she's out shopping. Hopefully she'll know what they are.

Joe

Muv

Joe,

My bro's mother in law used to end up with cigarette burns on her clothes. She used to embroider pretty little flowers over them.

Candace

They look like dryer softening sheets, but they go in the wash and are coated with a chemical that attracts extra color from the wash water, so it doesn't land on the items in the wash. They help prevent bleeding and some people have good luck using them instead of prewashing.

J Miller

Candace,

Thanks. That makes sense now.

Joe

J Miller

My mom was a smoker and I've seen some of the burns that happened. Unfortunately neither my wife nor I can embroider. So it's either an applique or something.

Joe