If you've been around the blog a while you know that I am obsessive about creating hand dyed fabrics that are completely colorfast. I've written about my process here and here. This process, as you will see, also works on commercial fabric.
My theory is that at some point the fabric will "burp" out the excess or unstable dye and I want that to happen before I sew it into a quilt. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well with my Flora's Fans quilts.
This quilt is made with vintage feedsack fabrics and I am sure that they had all been washed manytimes. I know that this large blue print had been washed because it was already quite faded.
I used this quilt on the guest bed while I was sick over Christmas. Once I recovered I tossed it in the washing machine to get the germs off of it.
Two of the blue fabrics ran like crazy!
The funny thing is that I've already washed this quilt once before and didn't have any problem with colors fading or running.
After I saw this I put it right back in the washing machine and used my soaking process on it. I used very hot water and placed dishes over the quilt to make sure all of the quilt was under water. Then I left it to the next day.
All of the white fabrics are all white again.
YOu can see that the blues are quite faded now from their original color.
They burped and they feel much better. I don't expect to have any more problems with this quilt.
I am also OK with the blues being faded. This quilt is mroe of a "blanket" than a quilt and it will be just as snuggly now as it was during my cold.
Vicki I have had this problem twice now with quilts that had already been washed and didn't know why the heck it happened. One was a small wall hanging that I took down in December to hang a Christmas wall hanging up - the old was kind of dusty so I tossed in the washer as I knew I had washed it before - I ended up washing it three times and spraying Shout on the affected areas each time before I got it all out.
Another was a large quilt that I used to use as a wall hanging - it had been washed several times and then last year I threw it in the wash to freshen it up and the reds ran! It had been washed at least 2 times that I remembered -again I washed it about 3 times before I got most of it out - you have to really know where the problem area is now to see it -- why this happened I do not know - I used cold water like always.
Posted by: Karen | January 04, 2013 at 02:50 PM
I have had an issue with fabrics running too but I think the culprit may be my front loader. I don't think there is enough water that runs through the fabric so even when I run it through multiple times the dye doesn't get a chance to lift off. But I should say the problem is never the back when its been dyed by Vicki. Cheers from Tommyandjimmy/Sally.
Posted by: D | January 04, 2013 at 03:15 PM
I think everybody needs to have a 'sickie blankie' in their home - one that you can cuddle up under when you're not feeling well. Yours looks like a perfect choice. Glad you were able to fix the burp!
Posted by: Mary Anne | January 04, 2013 at 06:33 PM
That is really interesting. Now I will know how to fix my quilts if that happens again.
Thanks!
Posted by: Gene Black | January 04, 2013 at 06:52 PM
That is amazing! I wonder if it will work when I get that new top I forget to wash alone that inevitably rubs against its lighter neighbor in the wash??? Hmmmmm....
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | January 04, 2013 at 08:25 PM
That is so weird. I've experienced the same thing. Maybe all the germs collected in the blues and they were being washed away?!
Posted by: Becky in VA | January 04, 2013 at 09:39 PM
Such an interesting post; I've never heard of quilt burping. I always throw a dryer magnet sheet in the wash and that captures all the excess dye.
Posted by: Sandra at Thistle Co | January 04, 2013 at 09:47 PM
I have had this happen with reds, and it is sad after it has been put in a quilt. I used a bleach stick and that helped to get rid of it without hurting the color, but I do like the faded blue, has a nice aged look to it.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie St. Germain | January 04, 2013 at 10:30 PM
I have washed with Synthropol even after the dye has run and it has helped some with taking the runs out.
Posted by: Jay Dodds | January 04, 2013 at 10:47 PM
Very informative Vicki. Thanks for sharing the info.
Happy New Year To Ya,
LuAnn in Oregon
http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/
Posted by: LuAnn Kessi | January 05, 2013 at 10:28 AM
I made myself a beautiful lace edged sleep shirt out of red china silk. The red just never stopped running; just rubbing on the sheets left red marks. I finally gave up and tossed it. Thanks for sharing your method; I wish I had know about it then.
Posted by: Laceflower | January 05, 2013 at 11:37 AM