Note to self: DON'T do this again!
 

I quilted a top for an acquaintance, and I got it finished and bound on Saturday. It is from her late MIL and it's for her teen-aged DD. I saw quite a few rusty spots on it where there were some pins left on it for a while, so I soaked it in RetroClean. Big mistake...the spots came out, but some of the colors bled! I thought the top had been washed, the back was so ragged when I got it (pictures below). I repaired holes where the hand stitching had come apart from being handled for so long. Another reason I washed it was because I added a charge on that would cover repairing any places that needed it, and I wanted to be sure I had it well repaired. That part is doing great -- so far! I've washed and scrubbed it at least 6 times, and soaked it, and if she wants me to do it for the original price, I'll replace the back part that's discolored and try to patch the front with some older fabric I have. It won't match, but it'll be closer than the new stuff I have.

The ragged back
[ATTACH=CONFIG]358519[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]358521[/ATTACH]

The quilt after quilting, but before washing
[ATTACH=CONFIG]358523[/ATTACH]

The color bleeds on front after washing (2 different places):
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]358526[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]358528[/ATTACH]
more bleeding on back
[ATTACH=CONFIG]358527[/ATTACH]

So, now that I'm just disgusted with myself, I think I'll go have a good cry! AND try to remember not to wash any more customer's quilts! Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulders!

Looks like quite a project!! You're doing good so far!

Try "Awesome" cleaner from Dollar General. It is amazing. Yellow liquid in a spray bottle.

Can you possibly rewash it and use the Color Catcher sheets? I always use these with anything that is valuable to me! I love them. So sorry, and good luck!
Claudia

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try this earlier today, and I scrubbed the places with a toothbrush and washed in really warm water. Then I rescrubbed with Awesome, then some Clorox 2, then rewashed in hot water. The bleeding faded a little (the pictures were made after 4 scrubbings and washings). I thought I might try some Synthropol if I can find some today but I think it's probably too late for that. I won't see this woman until later today to give her the quilt.

I wish I had thought of them when I soaked it in the tub! I did throw one in the washer, but it was too late, it was stained already. Thanks, though, for your suggestion. I'm just hoping I learned something, and that someone else won't make that same mistake!

I recently washed a quilt that my mother and I had made and the red fabric bled onto the white and we were devastated! I googled and it said to mix equal parts of ammonia, liquid dish soap and water and spray on stains and scrub with a brush, let soak for about 15 min and then wash with some Borax. We did that and it all came out beautifully!!! We were so very happy!!!! Learned a big lesson, always prewash reds!!

what a pretty quilt.I am sorry you had such problems with it

I'm going to go after some ammonia and borax, then I'll let you what happens!

what a shame