BLEEDING HEARTS: a harrowing tale...
…of a COVID quilt and a box of colour catchers
Prologue: Circa 1997
A collection of lovely cozy plaid, checked, and printed flannels is coveted, acquired, and tucked away.
Chapter 1: March 22, 2020
The world is in lockdown. The future seems uncertain. In the midst of a pandemic the collection is unearthed and brought back into the light. Over the next couple of months it becomes a comforting COVID quilt for its maker, resplendent with hearts and backed with a patchwork of plaids, and in this form it spends much of the next three years migrating between and bringing warmth and solace on bed and couch.
Chapter 2: June 29, 2023 (May contain triggers for those with weak stomachs)
Although safely tucked under another cover, the quilt is found to be not impervious to a sudden explosion of puppy vomit that quickly seeps through the protective cover and drips further down onto the side of the quilt.
Chapter 3: Later that same day…
A frantic trip to a local laundromat sees the quilt merrily tumbling around in a washing machine with some mild detergent and a couple of colour catchers. As it is being transferred from the washer to the dryer, however, it becomes evident that all is not well. Two very dark rectangles of some sort of fabric fall to the floor. The colour is reminiscent of the blood that is rapidly draining from the face of the quilter as she realizes the significance of what she sees.
She pulls the quilt partway out of the dryer and unfolds it to see the carnage of claret-red streaks and blotches spreading like a rash across the cream background of the appliqued heart blocks.
Chapter 4: Even later that day…
Over half a box of colour catchers later (and a terrifying premonition of water-bill-induced bankruptcy) and the red streaks have faded to a barely discernible pink tinge evenly distributed across both the quilt and the colour catchers that have been keeping it company through almost a dozen full-tub baths. An end to this process is declared and only time will tell what the lasting effects on the quilt will be.
Epilogue: About the same time as Chapter 4
As for me, I believe I may have just become a convert to the “PREWASH EVERYTHING” camp!!!
The End (I hope!)