Prism99

The biggest risk with washing a quilt top is that the different fabrics may shrink at different rates, resulting in wonkiness that you cannot iron out. Once a top is quilted to a batting and backing, the batting controls how much each fabric can shrink; it does not allow any fabric to shrink more than it does!

Another risk is that the red fabric may bleed; however, that is a risk with the first washing of the quilt as well.

Your situation is further complicated by having the paper still intact. This isn't such as bad thing, actually, as paper stabilizes fabric.

Sometimes you just have to risk washing a top. In your situation, this is probably what I would do.

First, I would wipe a dampened swab on one of the red fabric pieces to see if dye transfers that way. If it does, you know you have a bleeder red fabric to deal with. If no dye transfers, the red can still bleed, but at least it won't be a runaway red bleeder.

Second, I would leave the paper in and machine baste (with very long stitches) the top to an old white flat sheet that is larger than the top. You could actually spray baste the top to the sheet first to keep everything flat while you machine baste. I would also turn the edges of the sheet over the raw edges of the top and machine baste that too. The machine basting will stabilize the quilt top so you don't end up with ravelled seams (baste so that the wrong side of the top is next to the sheet). It will also stabilize the fabrics. Different fabrics can shrink in varying amounts when washed and dried, resulting in a wonky top that will not lie flat even when ironed. The sheet will help keep fabrics from shrinking too much but, to do this, the basting needs to be fairly close together (which is why I suggest lines 2" apart).

To handle possible bleeding, especially of the red fabric, you would need to use Synthrapol and *lots* of *hot* water. Synthrapol suspends loose dye particles in water so they do not settle into other fabrics, but it needs *hot* water to work. You also need *lots* of water to dilute any bleeds that occur. The best way to do this is to use a top-loading washing machine. Fill with hot water, add Synthrapol, then turn the machine off so that there is no machine agitation. Add your top and have a long stick handy (broom handle would work) so you can push down on the top to hand agitate the top. If there is bleeding, you will need to drain out the water and add more hot water and more Synthrapol. Repeat this process until the water stays fairly clear. After draining the soapy water out, fill with rinse water and again stop the machine and hand agitate; repeat until water runs clear. It is very important to never allow machine agitation of the quilt top; this is very hard on the top! However, the spin cycle is fine. Use the spin cycle as needed between agitations and rinses.

Once you are done washing the top, *immediately* take it out of the machine (you do not want the damp fabrics touching each other) and spread it out flat on top of another large flat sheet on the floor. It is ideal if you can do this on top of carpeting, as you can pin the top through the sheet into the carpeting to "block" the quilt so it lies flat while it dries. A couple of fans will speed drying. You do not want to run the top through a dryer because this would greatly increase the possibility of the different fabrics shrinking at different rates.

I realize that the paper is still inside the quilt top. After the top is dry, remove the basting stitches and then remove the paper. The paper may be a bit of a mess but at least it will be contained on the wrong side of the quilt top.

Edit: I was assuming a top-loading washer that has a central agitator. You may be able to machine agitate if you use one of the newer top-loading washers that does not have a central agitator. I'm not sure, as I've never had one of those machines.

Also, if you lay the top out to dry on top of carpeting, it's probably a good idea to place an old blanket underneath the flat sheet -- just in case some dye transfers. Better to have it transfer to an old blanket than to your wall-to-wall carpeting!