What will happen to the butterflies when washed?
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When she was nine, the mother of my college friend hand-stitched a blanket stitch around butterflies and flowers to appliqué them on a large 18” square. The butterflies and flowers are not fused nor are the edges turned under, so I guess this is raw edge with hand-stitched blanket stitch appliqué.
My friend found green fabric for me to sash the blocks and border the quilt. We hand quilted around the butterflies and flowers. Now it really needs to be washed before she gives this quilt to her daughter and grand daughter.
Were quilts in the past appliqued this way? What will happen to the applique butterflies and flowers when washed?