I am thankful this quilt was finished….and salvaged!
I prewashed all my fabrics and have used this red before so I didn’t expect a disaster yesterday. Sadly, the red ran onto the white background fabric. I used color catchers and they turned out like this!
I washed the quilt a total of three times. I added this to the second and third washes along with more color catchers.
Normally I use the original blue Dawn but I was all out. You have to be careful using this in a front load washer and only add a tablespoon or so. It finally worked! I am not much for name brand stuff but Dawn is the best for so many stains. I also use it when washing out hand dyed fabric as it can keep the dye from resettling on the fabric in places you don’t want it!
Relief! It came out.
No Army veteran wants a pink quilt!
And here are a few more shots. I have been playing with settings on my iPhone camera and wanted to know how they look on the blog.
Okay, so they are all bad when taken at 5 in the morning! I will try again later today when the sun comes out….I hope that happens…..
Anyway, a shot of the back.
Gemma talked on her blog today about forgiving quilting patterns. She quilts with a domestic machine and I quilt with a mid-arm machine but the same principles work for both in this regard. There are times when even a frame can not remove the lumps and bumps in a quilt top. This top was pretty flat but the swag border is very forgiving as are many other “swooping” type designs. Curves can help you take advantage of the bias in the fabric to help tame some of the lumps and bumps. Meandering is a good go to for particularly rebellious tops, and believe me, I have seen them!
I am linking up with Kelly for Needle and Thread Thursday and Gemma at Pretty Bobbins.
Also Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for:
https://katyquilts.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/thankful-thursday-finish/
Because that is exactly how I feel after getting the red out!
KatyQuilts 
Sorry, I just don’t have time to write instructions for people.
I have been looking at pictures of this quilt for a very long time on Pinterest . I finally traced it back to you! I want to make this for my brother who is a marine. I’m not very good at winging it with quilt patterns as I’m new at this hobby. Would you please give me instructions as to how to make this quilt.
thank you in advance
Sue Edgar-Koch
This quilt is beautiful! Thanks for the tip on dawn, I’m going to remember that! Thanks for linking up 🙂
I’m so glad you were able to get the red out of the fabric. I can only imagine that would be heartwrenching- to finish something and then pull it out of the wash to see that! It looks great!
Thanks for linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
I just had a quilt bleed on me! Thanks for the heads up with the Dawn.
I swear by those color catchers! I put them in thinking one thing needs it and the wrong color comes out on the darn thing! I’m so glad that you were able to raise the dye and get rid of it. It’s such a beautiful quilt and it would have been a shame if it couldn’t have been handed in. All’s good in the end!
Lisa. 😊
Beautiful! I’m glad you were able to get the red out..
Great quilt. Excellent work catching that runny red.
Love from England,
Muv
It looks wonderful. I’ve been using the color catchers more and more. Usually they don’t pull much. Sometimes they do! Thanks for the tip on Dawn. I, also, don’t use a lot of brand-name anything. Soaps and detergents I do, because of very sensitive skin. Good to know it works.
Wow! I’m glad you were able to get the red out…I would’ve been sick! It’s lovely too.
Good save!! I can’t imagine putting all that work into a quilt and having it ruined in the wash. I didn’t know the Dawn trick, but why is it you need to be careful using it in a front loader? And did you use regular laundry detergent along with the Dawn washes?
Amazing. I need those color catchers, I was holding my breath when washing one of my quilts this weekend, don’t like that feeling.
Hopping over from Needle & Thread Thursday.
That is so gorgeous and a very great way to honor a member of the services. Love the pattern also!
Very nice! I definitely enjoy the orange peel quilting, and how forgiving it is!
Yikes… that was a close call! Thanks for the info!
Oh so glad to here that you were abke to get the red out! Love your blog.
Love this QOV.. It looks like an original.
Gwen