I have been working on my very first pieced project for a few weeks. I made a table runner for Valentines Day of 4" squares and a center section of embroidery. All was going quite well, I am very pleased with how well my squares joined together.. that's saying alot since I am a perfectionist!
I attached the binding which went pretty well, a bit too wide when I turned it to stitch it down but I am ok with it... for now. Last thing was to spray the embroidered section to remove the chalk marks. That went well also.... came back from my lunch break to discover that the water had seeped into each side of the embroidered fabric and my tiny red gingham check squares had bleed all over themselves. :cry: :cry: :cry:
I preface all of this by saying I know it was my fault I should have pre washed the fabric especially being a red print. Soooo.... now I am faced with how to repair this mistake.
Any ideas on what I can do?? I am going to put it on the table for the weekend and put a candleholder over each square just for now.It's so nice that they are balanced one on each side...But I would love input on some ideas on what to do... I am afraid tearing this apart is the only way to repair it. Gram was right when she said ' As you sew, So shall ye rip'. Just seeing of there are any other alternatives.
Thank you sew much!
Still crying! :cry:

Edited my post and added a couple of photos. I do have the dye catcher didn't think it would resolve this. I have not ironed it just letting it air dry.
Thanks so much for your quick replies. :-)

those dye catchers do work -

Even try 2 in with the washing

DON'T dry it or iron it until you've gotten it all out.

Ditto what quiltinghere wrote. Use the color catcher in the wash. It works!

Quiltinghere where did you find your adorable avatar, that is just darling!!

its very beary cute! i am sure the color catchers will work for you :-)

That is adorable. I sure hope you get it fixed.

I would spritz water over the squares till wet. hopefull they will blend. then if necessary wash with color catchers.

I agree, wash it several times with a color catcher. it should work. Fingers crossed here for you. A very pretty table runner.. I love the embroidered "Happy Valentine's Day".

How very pretty hope it will come out for you , sure sounds like it will from all the above posts !

I think this is what I would do, too. Maybe use a sponge so you can control what gets wet?

Your work is beautiful. I am so sorry the colors ran.

If all of above fail (hope not) a light pink background behind your embroidery wouldn't be so bad since it IS for Valentine's :):)

agree - wet down the rest of each block to try to even it out then wash

i'm sorry that happened to you. i had a similar thing happen to me on a king size quilt. to fix mine i used the shout color catchers that are sold in the laundry aisle and i put a couple of them in my front load washer and i was able to save mine. i hope you are able to fix yours it is beautiful

Sad but it happens.I hope you can can fix it without having to rip it out. you could applique' something over it too.

blot the rest of those two blocks and smear the dye around until it looks uniform.

Aw, I would be sick too ~ but the Color Catchers do work, I even wrap a couple up with each quilt I make as gifts, and attach them in little baggies. They have saved my bootie a few times with one darn fabric that threatened to ruin the whole project.

i would wash with the dye catchers

Sounds like it is unanimous - Shout color catchers to the rescue! Pretty table runner.

I am curious for future red/white fabrics I have purchased for a quilt - did you prewash? I hope all works out - how heartwrenching to do all that work and to have that happen!

That is darling-hope the color catchers do the trick for you.

let us know if color catchers work for you. I have used them with great success. I know use them when I wash my quilts if there are any strong colors, if I didn't prewash.
good luck

Oooo...I wish you the best of luck.

As long as it's not heat set with the dryer or an iron, the color catcher should work.

Try SHOUT's Advanced Stain Remover. It worked for me when red seeped onto an adjoining fabric - even though the fabric had been soaked in hot water until - supposedly - all the dye had been removed (obviously a bit remained). Red dye is notorious for bleeding!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck.

beautiful runner oh thats some shaded fabric i used.........yes?????/

I have had very good luck with soaking things in Oxyclean. Then laundering with a dye catcher.

I agree. I've even used them after I tie-dyed and they really help!

Your project is so pretty.

I hope you are able to get the dye out with the color catchers. Good luck.

Has anyone noticed that the red didn't go into the white of the embroidery. Wonder why?

Oh my... been there....done that... that is why I always use Retayne, especially when using red. I made a red/white/blue quilted jackets for a friend only to have the red dye completely ruin it.

WOW that is beautiful though

Does anyone know why red dye is so unstable these days? MANY years ago (and since), we've have the same problem, but you'd think modern science would have a solution to this very frustrating situation.

Okay, I hope I never need them, but what are color catchers??

You can find them in the grocery store right with the laundry detergent. They are sheets that you place in the washer, with the wash, and do your load as usual. They soak up the color that is released into the water by the fabric.

This was my first thought too. As long as the whole piece is the same color, no one will know but you.

Love your quilt. When I had a black and white Capris pant fade the black onto the white, I let it soak in cold water after letting it agitate for a while. BEFORE I put it in the dryer, I checked to make sure the fading came out. It did.

I noticed that too. Very fortunate, but strange!

I am overwhelmed at your kindness and fast responses and... support! Thank you all so much!!! You have all given me hope that it's not a lost cause!
I didn't think of the dye catcher at all... I was in a state of panic and heartsick. Thank you so much for the suggestion! I have 2 but they are pretty dark so I will get some new ones before attempting to use one... or two. :-)
I too found it interesting that it didn't run into the white! How lucky was that?? I'll take it whatever caused it to stay away from that piece!
Thank you also for the very nice compliments on my project. I have made quite a few wallhangings before using fusible applique. This is my first attempt at piecing and I must say I am totally hooked! I had so much fun working on this even though it is a super simple project.
I will let you know how everything turns out after using the dye catcher. Thank you, thank you for all of your great ideas but mostly your wonderful support!
This is the most incredible gathering of the worlds most wonderfully helpful people!! What a great place to visit or... call home! :-D

PS: I forgot to mention this particular piece of fabric was a last minute inclusion from my fabric stash. I felt I needed another fabric so I wouldn't have too much repitition of the squares. It is about 10 yrs old so maybe it came from some non colorfast fabric line. Whatever the case, the small amount that is left is going directly in the garbage can, soooo not worth keeping the scraps!

try the dye catchers but in the future prewash!!! All red dyes need to be set also, I add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as a mordant. I do this with any red clothes I have the first time I wash them and only wash them with reds.