Hello, Your quilt is just Beautiful!!! I love the colors!! :XD: :thumbup: :mrgreen:

Wash in cold water on delicate cycle with Synthrapol and a couple of color catchers. Don't dry in dryer. Just put it on the bed or somewhere flat and block it out.

I used to prewash my fabrics but then I thought "why am I doing this when nothing ever runs" so now I never wash them and I always wash myquilts after finishing them because I want to see any mistakes before I give them away. I have never had any problems. I put the quilt and wash it as I would anything else, but I do half dry them in the dryer and put it on the bed to finish drying. I have instructed the recipients to do it the same way and so far, after a number of years, no problems. I feel that quilts are made to be used so I make sure they are firmly sewed (I am a hand quilter by the way) and that almost guarantees it to not fall apart. Incidentaly, I "quilt" by poking the needle in and pulling it out as if I were sewing a button on. I cannot get the hang of regular quilting and after some practice, it all looks pretty good and the grandchildren are just as warm under them. I tell them that the quilt is like grandma's love and hugs and that is what keeps them warm.

Beautiful quilt.

if you are really worried, you could always fill up a bathtub and hand wash it that way. looks too big for a sink. I would try the color catchers in the tub with that synthrup(SP?) stuff that is supposed to catch the colors. I would start with a corner in the water and then go from there if it bleeds really bad I don't know what to do. good luck let us know how it works. I always pre-wash my batiks just to be sure that they don't bleed. pain in the toosh but it saves heartache later.

I can't answer your question just wanted to say your quilt is beautiful.

Shout color catcher for sure! I had a quilt bleed and was able to get the bleed out with several washings, using the color catchers. I ALWAYS use a color catcher, or two in the first washing of my quilts. I use a color catcher for every wash thereafter, until the bleeding stops.

I would test the color, to see if it bleeds easily. Wash in the larges washer possible, cold water, lots of color catchers. Don't dry in a dryer, hang it if you can.

Or just send it to me. It would look great on my bed.

Local quit shop/store

You quilt is absolutely exquisite! I love the pattern! I love the colors! I have washed quilts in cold water with white vinegar in the water to set the colors and it worked fine.

I would use cold water, gentle cycle, dye catcher(stops fabric from bleeding) and you can purchase special cleaning
solution for quilts at most of your quilting supply stores.
Hope this helps you. The design and color of your quilt is beautiful. Dye catcher can be purchased at Hancocks Fabric Stores. Betty lEE

Ditto here! They really do work wonderfully!
blessings,
MaryAnna

What is a color catcher?

soaking will clean most quilts, agitation is what is bad. so soak, spin out, fill tub and soak again and spin out.

Beautiful quilt Marta, you got good advise on washing....

You are close to me, I'm in Concord....

I am a newbie too, what are color catchers?

I think you should send it to me to wash and keep!! It's so very pretty.

I agree with the color grabber, but I take mine to the newer laundromat and use their front loader, and wash it on cold, with ivory or a mild detergent. Then I brig it home and dry it outside with a sheet over it to protect it from the over head bird droppings and the sun.

I wash in cold water, and use color catchers on a gentle cycle. I was amazed at what the color catchers did catch. And sure was glad I used them.

Color catchers are a laundry product that "catches" bleeding dye in the washer so it does not redeposit itself.

Here is Shout's site about their product -- http://www.shoutitout.com/preserve-colors.aspx

They are available at most places that sells laundry stuff in the stain removal section(grocery stores/big box stores/etc.)

Hope this explanation helps.

If it were my quilt I would have it dry cleaned. Just a thought.
Lucy

The color cathchers. I have had great luck with them. The lady that told me about them said she did not prewash her fabric and so when she finished a quilt she washed it first with one or two color catchers. She said she never had a problem. I am back to prewashing after the thread that talked about the dyes and chemicals in the new fabric. I fold the fabric to store it and when I am ready to use it, I iron it with startch.

The quilt is beautiful. I would be affraid to wash it without doing a spot check on the sashing with cold water and a clean white wash cloth to see if the color will run. It it doesn't then I would use a gentle detergent with cold water in a gentle cycle but I would also stay at the machine during the 1st cycle incase you see bleeding and need to immediately remove the quilt. A suggestion is to always prewash your material with like colors or on their own if you think they may run that way you will know ahead of time if it will have color runs after the quilt is made and washed.

So beautiful! Great job! I agree with all who said cold water and color catchers with mild detergent.

I would REALLY discourage using Oxyclean on this quilt. It can ruin colors especially pinks and purples. It would also be using too much "fire power" if there are no stains you dont need the big guns. I agree that you should find some scraps and put them in a bowl of cold water with a small amount of Woolite (sp?) one at a time and see how they react. If there is no change in the water color especially with the darker colors the purple/fusche, it will be okay.if there is try the color catcher and see what it does. I've never used them so I don't know how good they work. It is usually best, if your quilt is going to be used, to wash all the fabric once with a very small amount of detergent and no fabric softner. Then you know it will be ok. Good luck.

Professional cleaners

beautiful quilt

Your first quilt!! Oh my, You did a fantaastic job. I think you'll make it big in the quilting world! Its a knockout!

absolutely beautiful

what are colorcatchers though - me being an aussie

I was told many years ago to not ask any dry cleaning business to dry clean a hand-made cotton based quilt. Some will not do it, I was told. Why would use of chemicals be preferred over gentle washing, following instructions given by many quilters in this forum. Our mothers and grandmothers washed theirs!

Nice quilt, nice colors

I agree. I had a dark blue border on a scrap quilt. I washed it but it still bled when I washed the quilt. I just kept washing until all bleeding quit and now you would not know it had ever bled.

I love your quilt. Beautiful.

Sure is a whole lot of bleeding going on in my sentences.
Gail

I would use about 3 color catches and wash in gental cycle and it will be fine....I also use quick cycle sometimes, and winkle free cycle...Don't let it sit in the washer once it's off, get it out fast....I don't prewash my fabric and I have washed all my quilts this way before giving them away..

Your quilt is absolutley beautiful!!!

Love your quilt. As stated, use the colour catchers, they are a life saver. Your quilt might take on a "softer" look once it's washed, if you want it back to "new" looking, starch it (spray starch) and iron it.

I would think it would be better to dry it in a dryer so it isn't wet as long. Wouldn't being wet cause the purple to migrate over to the light fabric? I always throw my quilts into the dryer. It also gives them that vintage puff look.

I have never used color catchers, but I usually test little snips of all the fabrics I am going to use by first soaking them in HOT water, them putting the snips on wet, white muslin. Then I put another piece of muslin on top and let it all dry. Then I pull it apart to see if any dye has transfered to the white muslin. If so, that color goes away. Then I don't have to worry about any bleeding in the wash.

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!

Gorgeous colors and pattern, thanks for posting the px!

Orus ? soap is great in cold water and gentle cycle... If you see any color just use more water ane wash till the water is clear... and it will be fine....
ConnieF