Front Load Washers & Homespuns or Hand Dyes - NOT GOOD!

Blue Kindle 3 Cover

(Gorgeous new fabric line of hand dyes in aqua, teal and Mediterranean blue.  Also comes in magenta, red and purple. Couldn't resist making Kindle covers out of these.)

 I had a nightmare for a time surrounding my new front load washer.  I have never had a problem with fabrics bleeding as I am meticulous about washing fabrics before I work with them - particularly homespuns. 

However I learned a valuable lesson this past week that I'd like to pass along.

While all the fabrics I was working with were pre-washed, I had a blue nightmare when I washed the tops for the two baby quilts I have been working on.  Because front loaders are particularly "water" efficient - they use very little water.  And although all fabrics had been prewashed - the blue dye in the homespuns still bled out (as expected) - HOWEVER.... due to the lack of water volume in my front loader, decided to redeposit into the white fabric centering the nine patch blocks I used, as well as the white border. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? 



Peace Sign Market Tote

 I have made these same quilts at least 3 or 4 times with absolutely no problem (using my old top load tub washer).  I was shocked and horrified. All of those hours upon hours of piecing and quilting.  Sheesh.  NOT a good week.   But with lessons learned and a fresh outlook unearthed - it's time to forge on. At first I had sworn never to make another homespun quilt again - but I just can't do that as the liquidity of those fabrics make for the most delicious quilts.  One bad (scratch that.... HORRIBLE) experience can not destroy the love I have for homespuns.  We just have to re-evaluate our relationship - and reassert that I am the BOSS and I will not be defeated. End of story.

NOTE TO SELF: Hand wash quilts made with homespuns in a tub FULL of cold water (at least twice) prior to washing in the machine - in SYNTHRAPOL.

UPDATE:  Thank you to all of those who commented with suggestions and sympathy!  Since posting this piece, I have ordered THREE containers of Synthrapol!

Yay!!! Back to Doing What I Love......

Remember this one? I started this a long, long
time ago after I bought all of those delicious homespun fabrics in shades of blues and greens. I finally got this layered and pinned and when I turned it over to check out the back there was one giant pucker towards the center. You know what that means - had to take out all the pins and start over. It's now smooth as can be and ready to go.

I've been having a problem with "looping" on the back of some of my stuff and someone suggested I try "Bottom Line" thread by Superior. I did some sample stitching on a yellow layered scrap just to see how it performed and so far so good - no looping - which will be a dream come true if it continues like it did during my practice. I'd like to quilt some continuous line fishies in the white blocks and probably "ditch" quilt the nine patches for the 36" square quilt. I think I'm going to look for a "wave" pattern for the large quilt. (I made enough blocks for a queen size and a crib size quilt.)

Now we're off to the North Raleigh Christian Academy Varsity Football Game to watch the game, but more importantly, to watch our little flag twirler do her thing!

Laugh as much as you breathe...

and love as long as you live.