Some of you may remember this piece that I did for Dijanne Cevaal's "K.I.S.S." challenge. I used a white sateen on black Kona, outline stitched in metallic thread, then bobbin stitched and hand stitched using perle cotton.Earlier this month, I submitted it and three other of my quilts to a gallery which usually does fine arts about 4 miles from my house.
I didn't think anything about the fact that I hadn't put any of my quilts in a bag, after all, it was just down the street and I turned them in in the afternoon of the last day. The gallery owner said that I was the last to bring them in.
Yesterday, I stopped in on the way back home....and discovered that all of the white areas had turquoise color transfer. One of the more traditional (and larger quilts) in the show was made with multicolor batiks and the back of it was ....turquoise batik. It was the only quilt in the show that I could see that had this color in it, so I am assuming that they laid that quilt on my smaller quilt (it's 20" x 20") and that the color had to have transferred by just rubbing.....at least I'm hoping there wasn't any moisture involved.
Hree's what it looked like originally (although it was taken with my other camera and the lighting isn't the same). You can see, this is pretty noticeable.So....now I'm left wondering what to do with it. I don't dare wash it because I'm afraid that the perle cottons would bleed.
From now on, all quilts I submit ANYWHERE will have their own bags with labels sewn in and also with tyvek labels backed with a piece of the major fabric in the quilt and on the drawstring.
I'm thinking that perhaps I can use some shiva paintstiks on white in either wite or silver, or a combination.....Any other ideas? What do you think?
13 comments:
Try a dry Mr Clean Magic eraser.
Wow Jaunita! I've never heard of that one....you've tried it? Love them for the shower. :) I'll give it a try even if you haven't used it, but that's a new one! Thanks for the heads up.
What has happened is known as crocking. The good news is that most likely the dye hasn't really penetrated the fiber, but is just sitting on the surface. I have had success, in some instances, removing the excess dye with a Q-tip dipped in a solution of Synthrapol and water. I suggest trying that first.
Maria, with Synthrapol it must be removed by rinsing it from the fabric and I won't be able to thoroughly do that unless I wet the white pieces which may as well be the whole quilt. Synthrapol is a wetting agent which if you don't rinse, then the dye shouldn't be removed....I'm not sure if it would lift by itself...and I'm not even sure that it is only a crocking situation rather than bleeding (if the offending quilt was damp, then it would have bled...and gone into the fibers more). Since it also needs a warm temperature (140 degrees) , that brings the perle cotton more into an issue. I can still try it, using a damp blot...but that's about all I'm willing do do...although I suppose I could count it up to a total loss, turn it into an experiment and throw the whole thing into the washer...
HI Lisa,
Not sure what you should do. However, the magic eraser might work. I use in on my white fridge. I would like to know if it works on fabric.
Curious that you thing the perle cotton might loose color.
Best of luck,
ann
So far, I'll do magic eraser first because that actually is just going to abraide it off...then Maria's suggestion of Synthrapol...with a damp tamp afterwards....and if neither are successful, then I'll have to do some surface work....
I have had difficulty with reds and darker colors on embroidery and perle cottons bleeding before, which is why I'm hesitant to dump it in the wash...
I would take your tea kettle fill with water get it going good and take some syntrapol and rub into the areas and then pour the hot water over the top. My daughter gave me a white skirt of my granddaughters that had some green on it and it took it out.
Since the perle cotton is on the black, I doubt that there should be a problem there. And I find Kona black VERY reliable and stable. If it were mine, I would add a little glisten/shine to some white areas with the white iridescent Shiva paintstiks. I think this might add some nice surprise without changing your original black/white color scheme.
On screen, the blue seems to add depth and interest to the white so I'd be inclined to add a bit more color with paintstiks or caran d'ache watercolors.
But I'm also very curious about the magic eraser so maybe you should try that first and then try the adding color if it doesn't work.
Good luck.
If you use hot enough water with the synthropol - washing the whole thing shouldn't be a problem unless you are worried about shrinkage. It will lift the dyes from the pearle cottons as well. It's saved a few of my disasters.
Thanks...Shrinkage, except for the Perle cotton, isn't a problem. I prewash everything but the threads I use (even the batting if I use cotton battings). And I know that the Kona is colorfast...It will be interesting to see what works best. I think I will try the magic eraser just to see what happens...then go for the synthrapol...and maybe even yet add some Shiva...or something....
I'm still really surprised that this happened...but stuff happens. I also think this may be some fall out that quilts just aren't respected as much as "real" artwork. Snort.
That faint colour looks quite attractive.
If you feel you have to try to remove it, why not try a standard art conservator technique - saliva on a cotton bud. Works for paintings with years of grime - so why not for a textile piece with days of grime ?
Helen, I think I do have to remove it because in real life, it just looks dirty. I might add color/silver AFTER trying to get the color off it.
I really had to laugh at your saliva comment....I once was a museum curator and have worked side-by-side with conservators after two storage room disasters. Spit has the best enzymes in it to remove all sorts of stuff...but it is a more powerful thing than we want to use first. Too bad it has lots of bacteria too..it does work wonders on stopping bleeding and getting blood out of things. Great stuff that!
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