starshine

I would suggest if you can make a lap quilt out of the ruined rwb one it might be appreciated at a Veteran's Hospital for a veteran that is in a wheel chair. At least that part will go to a former soldier. And the ruined part could be made into a blanket for a dog or cat shelter. Both I'm sure will be appreciated.

coopah

I tried that with some batiks I bought at a quilt shop (far away from here) and paid very dear prices. The vinegar did NOT set the colors. So I'm not sure it would help with other colors, either. Also, I tried the Rit Color Remover and it didn't touch whatever it was I was trying to save. So many fabrics and dyes and methods that it makes my head just want to burst!

So sorry to see the photos of your quilt. What a sad thing. May your next project be perfect!

AlaskaAlice

Thank you for this thread..I have been wondering about exchange blocks and this helps to be careful. I will wash all of the swaps before I sew them together.. I did not prewash fq and have had some of them not so color fast. My daughter made a blue and yellow flannel rag quilt and the blue ran into the yellow. sad, she did put new pieces over the yellow but it was so sad! I try to prewash every thing and still once in awhile something slips through..also helps in more accurate size if the shrinkage is taken care of before cutting and sewing!

NJQuilter55

If this happens to you, the best thing to do is to not heat set the runaway dyes by drying the quilt in the dryer. If you air dried it, you might try washing it again with the color catcher sheets and some retayne and see what ahppens. This happened to me once and I found I was able to remove the runaway dye with a second wash and several rinshesincool water, never hot. White vinegar is also good for setting the dyes in the quilt as well once you have removed the migrated dye you don't want to keep. MKe sure you tIe the quilt out of the water asap and do not leave it damp in the washer or tub before you dry it.

qbtexas

Thanks, all, for your kindness, suggestions, and support. I finally had a good cry last night on my boyfriend's shoulder. He was so sweet about it. A friend suggested trying to tea-dye to lessen the impact, but I think it is better to just take that part off...I would never live with it like that.

So...I am going to cut off the 2 columns of blocks that are damaged, and salvage as much binding as I can to help finish the other part. I'll take it to the RWB quilt donation coordinator at the next guild meeting and see what she suggests....if it can be a long lap or wheelchair quilt. I could conceivably take off a row of blocks to bring the rectangle shape a bit more into proportion, if needed. Then, they get something, at least. (as well as a bag of all the leftover fabric for someone else to use---and no, I am not going to start all over with this project--I put as much money, time, and heart into it as I have at this time) And the damaged part that was cut off will go to my boyfriend's dog's house.

Started quilting in 1996, and am not inexperienced....but there is a first time for everything.

GramMER

I have had my concerns about the pre-cuts and not being able to wash them before piecing. There is really no way to wash strips or little squares, even with a mesh laundry bag. When I saw the tub of water from the black Moda fabric, I was convinced not to piece any fabric without washing it first. Saving time by buying precuts may not be a time saver in the long run.

I have been skeptical of fabric exchanges too. I have never dealt with one and may never. I will say this though. A sweet lady named Vicky Reeno from North Carolina (can' remember the spelling) mailed me a box full of cloth one year. She did not ask for anything in exchange. Everything she sent me was beautiful. That donation has been my "stash" for just about every project since then. If Vicky is still on the list, maybe someone will give her a (((HUG))) for me.

Bjbaxter

Sorry that his happened to you, and got worse for trying. I had this happen on a red and white quilt, even though the fabrics had been washed. I ended up soaking the quilt in the bathtub with Synthropol, then in a big commercial washer (all unfortunately are front loaders now). King size quilt, thankfully came out good as new!

sewNso

exactly what i do. soak with OC, then color catchers.