Topic: Solid red background for applique? (1/2) - The Quilt Show Forum

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TOPIC: Solid red background for applique?

Solid red background for applique? 15 Aug 2015 10:34 #132346

Monica33
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idaho wrote:

Believe it or not...I have had reds that didn't bleed !!..Always check first in hot water and soap.
A lot of wasted time,

if not needed.

Well, thank you Marilyn. It is good to know that there are some stable dyes out there! But, I will say, my first reaction to your comment was doubt. I think that's a good indicator of my real thoughts on this. Maybe I should start with something small, just to see how it goes, before committing to a multi-year project. If I'm going to spend so much time on it, I don't always want to be worrying about the colour running at the end! I'd rather work on something I can be more confident about. Good to know!

Thank you very much, everyone! You have really helped me to clarify my thoughts on this. Happy quilting!

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Solid red background for applique? 15 Aug 2015 10:04 #132343

JudithA OFFLINE Posts: 520 Thank you received: 269	idaho wrote: Believe it or not...I have had reds that didn't bleed !!..Always check first in hot water and soap. A lot of wasted time, if not needed. Marilyn is right!
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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 14:25 #132319

idaho OFFLINE Posts: 2531 Thank you received: 183	Believe it or not...I have had reds that didn't bleed !!..Always check first in hot water and soap. A lot of wasted time, if not needed.
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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 12:09 #132312

AnnieLu
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The thing about the color catchers is, they are treated with a chemical to attract any dye particles in the water. Since your other fabrics within your quilt wouldn't be treated with this, they would possibly not even back stain at all, even when a color catcher comes out dark. A few years back one of the guild members shared a way of making your own color catchers. I never tried it but I think I'm going to ask her if she is still doing that, and if she is, what the process was. I'll share what I find out.
Luann

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:42 #132308

Monica33
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Learning-As-I-Go wrote:

I made a red, white & black bed quilt for my son, commercial fabrics and then some printable fabric that I printed comic strips onto (black & white only on those); I wash it in cold water with several color catchers each time, and while the color catchers do come out a lovely almost purple, they do the job of not having the red bleed onto the white fabrics in the quilt.

I think if you are planning it as a wall quilt, it should be fine, whatever you do.

Thank you, Heather! It is nice to hear another success story! Your quilt sounds great.

You make a good point that the Color Catcher may still pull colour out even after the first two washes. Maybe Luann's technique will be a better test at that point.

Happy quilting!

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:31 #132307

Learning-As-I-Go
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I made a red, white & black bed quilt for my son, commercial fabrics and then some printable fabric that I printed comic strips onto (black & white only on those); I wash it in cold water with several color catchers each time, and while the color catchers do come out a lovely almost purple, they do the job of not having the red bleed onto the white fabrics in the quilt.

I think if you are planning it as a wall quilt, it should be fine, whatever you do.

Heather, a Texan living in Brasil

http://quiltingonawhim.blogspot.com.br/

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:27 #132305

Monica33
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What a nuisance that replies don't seem to be threaded on this forum! At least I figured out the quotes, finally.

But anyway, thank you everyone! Based on everyone's experience so far, and especially the success of the Retayne, here's my plan.

Wash with Synthrapol to knock out any loose dye.
Wash with Retayne to stabilize the rest of the dye.
Wash with a Color Catcher to see how it worked. Or, possibly use Luann's idea at this point to check if there is still any bleeding.

Any additional thoughts or ideas? I appreciate all the help so far. Happy quilting!

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:18 #132303

Monica33
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AnnieLu wrote:

Monica,
I haven't done much appliqué, but I can certainly understand your concerns.
Just recently I had some color bleeding issues, which I feel I have resolved. You can check out my last few posts on my blog for further information. www.letscreatetoday.blogspot.com
I would definitely cut a small piece of the red, 12" square?, and soak it in hot water with a little Dawn detergent mixed in. I would keep this warm for 12 hours of soaking. You could use a styrofoam cup set inside another styrofoam cup for insulation. Just be sure your fabric swatch can swish around within the size you use. I know it sounds like a long time to wait, but if you do it right after your evening meal you won't be tempted to rinse it at 11 hours!! I have no idea the phenomenon that is associated with that last hour, but it may be just what you need to see if there is any dyes coming out. If your water is clear, rinse your little test piece out and let it dry. Then use it for testing thread colors on top of before quilting. Just a thought.
Hopefully others will have more tips for the appliqué portion.
Luann

Thank you, Luann! This is a new process for me, I have not heard of this before. I think it is a given that the red will bleed at first, the question is how to put an end to it. Maybe I can use your idea to test whether I've been successful! I think my laundry machine will be busy before I can start this project.

Happy quilting!

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:11 #132302

Monica33
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genevacarroll wrote:

Monica,

I think it would be a wonderful quilt. Recently there was the red and white quilt show that was amazing. Freddie Moran says that red is a wonderful background. Her quilts are eye candy. And of course Mary Ellen Hopkins always said that "every red goes with every other red." Yvonne Porcella does wonderful quilts with red.

More importantly, if it makes you happy, go for it! That is how art is made.

Keep us posted. We'd love to watch your progress.

Geneva

Thank you Geneva! Yes, red certainly is wonderful from a design point of view, which is why I'm thinking so hard about it! Somehow, though, I doubt Freddie washes her finished quilts. She will be on to the next one by then!

I'll let you know how things go. Happy quilting!

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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:07 #132301

Monica33 OFFLINE Posts: 59 Thank you received: 2	Cathy, your quilt sounds a lot like mine, because I plan to use 30s repros too. So yes, that's what I was afraid of! My quilt will be a wall quilt, so it won't require regular washing, but I still will have to wash it to get out all the oils once it's done. Or at least, that's been my assumption... Food for thought. Happy quilting!
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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 10:00 #132300

Monica33 OFFLINE Posts: 59 Thank you received: 2	Thank you, Judith! The tip about the Retayne is very helpful. The quilt will be traditional, but a wall quilt, so after it is made, it probably wouldn't be washed many more times. So that could do the trick. Happy quilting!
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Solid red background for applique? 14 Aug 2015 09:57 #132299

Monica33 OFFLINE Posts: 59 Thank you received: 2	Thank you, Nancy! Yes, that is my concern as well, with the seam allowances showing through. I think a test of some kind will probably be in order. Happy quilting!
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Solid red background for applique? 13 Aug 2015 18:02 #132284

rehak
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One other thing I would do when testing the applique fabric would be to fold under a corner of the fabric at the edge and see if the turned under edge shows through the top as whiter. You really don't want to see the turned under edges of your applique. Maybe you could do a small applique, maybe a pillow or something, to test your ideas and fabrics to see if it will work before going for something larger.

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Solid red background for applique? 13 Aug 2015 17:56 #132282

genevacarroll
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Monica,

I think it would be a wonderful quilt. Recently there was the red and white quilt show that was amazing. Freddie Moran says that red is a wonderful background. Her quilts are eye candy. And of course Mary Ellen Hopkins always said that "every red goes with every other red." Yvonne Porcella does wonderful quilts with red.

More importantly, if it makes you happy, go for it! That is how art is made.

Keep us posted. We'd love to watch your progress.

Geneva

Geneva

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Solid red background for applique?