The Big Apple

I have two unfinished quilts from craft camp but they are both requiring some careful thought - about sashing and colours and design - and I was in the mood for something quick and easy and stash busting.

Another strip quilt was an easy way to scratch that itch and I do have plenty of red fabrics. So this apple-red-with-dashes-of-green quilt was made.

Last movie night, there had been an insufficient number of lap quilts to accommodate the requests of each child for something to snuggle under and I love an excuse for a new quilt. And I was also pleased because I had found this apple fabric at Ikea and thought it would make a great quilt backing.



But then all my slack-arsed-instant-gratification-quilting chickens came home to roost.  Because I hadn't pre-washed my fabrics, (I never do) and when I popped it in the machine to get that nice bobbly quilty look, disaster struck.  Or perhaps more appropriately disaster ran.  Included amongst the scraps I used were a red and blue madras (which I should have predicted would run), and a beautiful and very expensive bit of red linen (which I was quite shocked ran).  These culprits ran all over the lovely fresh whiteness on the backing, quite destroying the crisp apple effect.

Just to show you how bad it looks I upped the contrast on the photo editing. The colour ran all around the quilting within each strip of fabric.

I have been told that there is a colour-run remover on the market and online I've read recommendations for oxygen-based bleaches, vinegar and various other remedies.  I'll try whatever I can, and if nothing works, it's still a nice quilt top, and perfectly good for snuggling under. And I suppose it's also a good reminder about cutting corners, though to be honest I doubt I'll always pre-wash fabrics from now on -  maybe just red linen and fabric of unknown provenance.