Wednesday, October 12, 2011

WIP Wednesday & A Giveaway!!!!

this week i am sharing what i got done while i was at the Renegade's quilt camp in McCall this past weekend.  if you stick with me through the entire post you will see a giveaway at the bottom.  no jumping ahead.  there might be a quiz.

no, this is not mine.  Denise put this together at camp.  amazing i know.  she does beautiful work & is very talented.  she is also super nice so she shares her knowledge with the rest of us.

another Denise creation.  she started this at my house back in May & finished it up at camp with adding the boarders to it.

i made this quilt awhile back.  i quilted & bound it at camp.  i think i have about 13 quilts or so that need quilted.  at least one is done.

i used a studio dye cutter to cut the tumblers which went super quick.

i love the front but i also love the back.  its a modern twist on the back & i am beginning to love this look more & more.



i quilted & bound this baby quilt that i made at the previous camp.  i called this my WAG quilt.  i gave it to the gal today who asked me to make it for her & she loved it.



i took my serger to camp with me as well.  i made 9 pairs of pajama pants.  i can not show you all 9 pairs here because 7 of them are for gifts & some people do read my blog.  the 2 i am showing here are for me.  i have 1 more pair to make then i am done with pajama pants for awhile.

i put together this top at camp as well.  these blocks came from a block swap thing i did with some local quilters/friends.  our theme was a holiday or a season.  i picked Christmas.

an up close shot of my focus fabric.  i am pleased with how it turned out.  so add that to the list of quilts to be quilted.

i took my 2010 Modern Siggy Swap quilt to quilt while i was at camp.  i got it done but not without some challenges.  i spray basted it in the garage at camp. i then got Denise to look at it with me to talk about the quilting of it.  it was then that i discovered i had put the bottom row on wrong.  ugh.  so, i peeled back the quilt, unsewed the bottom row, fixed it & re-basted it.  yuck.

i used rainbow variegated thread for the quilting.  i just did swirls around each block.  this is a shot of the back of the quilt.  the quilting frames each siggy block.

i am very happy with how it turned out.  white is not a color that i normally use but for this i thought it was the right way to go.

so now for the $64,000 question.
do i wash it?  yes or no?
if i wash it then how?  or do i use special quilt washing soap?
i want to wash it but i am afraid of lightening some of the signatures or having some of them bleed.  someone said as long as its heat set i should be fine washing it.  i don't know what to do.  i want the puckery look of a washed quilt but i don't want to loose any of the signatures.

HELP

this is where i get your advice & you get a chance to win something fun.


my previous post was #200 for me & so i thought i should have a giveaway.  i am giving away 2 'countdown to christmas' charm packs.


for 1 entry leave me a comment about washing my siggy quilt.  would you wash it?  if so how?  or any tips, tricks you may have for me regarding this issue.


for a 2nd entry blog, Tweet, Facebook or tell a friend about my giveaway & leave me a comment letting me know what you did.


so, that's 2 chances to enter.  you must leave a comment for each item.  i will leave the giveaway open until 5:00 pm (pst) Monday the 17th.

so get out there & spread the word!!!!!!

65 comments:

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

I say special soap extra color catchers and rewrite and faded signatures. IN fact I would photo in sections incase. But if heat set they should be fine

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

I tweeted!

Sharon Pernes said...

I love washi g my quilts. I do it as soon as I finish the quilt. I just machine wash it on the hand wash setting (I have a delegates and a hand wash cycle) with a teeny tiny bit of detergent.

Vesuviusmama said...

Yikes! I don't know! I would wash it, but I am very much a "do it and hope for the best" kind of gal. Unfortunately, the best doesn't always come my way. I don't have enough experience to really advise you, but it makes sense to me that heat setting the ink should preserve the signatures. Good luck! And thanks for the chance to win so Christmas fabrics. My Christmas fabrics are old and icky.

Sarah Craig said...

I've been fairly fortunate with signed quilts -we use ultra fine Sharpies to sign ours, and it washes well. Any color with red in it will tend to bleed a little, though. Color catchers are invaluable. The idea of taking photos of the signatures so you can recreate them if they fade is not a bad idea. Or tracing over anything you think might not hold up well before washing. But I would definitely wash it!

And all your quilts are lovely - I particularly like the way you quilted the siggy quilt, and the tumblers are wonderful!!

Sarah Craig said...

And I just blogged about your giveaway here...

http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-cookin-at-sweatshop-week-10.html

Which also got sent out to Facebook, too! Two, two, two hits in one!!

Jocelyn said...

Heat setting is probably one of the best things you can do if you are going to wash this quilt. But the really old fashioned way is to stitch the names. It would take a little time, but the stitching would be permanent for countless washings. Hope it works for you.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Not sure I'd wash it, but, if I did, I'd iron the siggys really well, then use a color catcher, just in case. Love the quilting on it.

Bailey said...

Love the tumbler quilt. The only suggestion I have, as I haven't done a quilt with writing or with so much white, is to use one of those color catcher things. My local quilt group did a baby quilt with a lot of bright colors with some white and we used one and it came out great. It's one of those things though that you don't know how it would have come out without the color catcher so it could just be coincidence and it would have been just as fine without it. Good luck!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Just love all the quilts you shared. Since you spray basted, definitely wash. As some have already suggested - color catchers and I would use a delicate cycle - I don't usually use any soap on a first wash - just want to clear out the baste spray, dust and lint.

Anonymous said...

Defiantely color catchers and the heat set signatures should be fine!

Peach Rainbow said...

Congrats on your 200 posts & thanks for the giveaway.
Your siggy quilt looks beautiful!
I am a beginner and I am sorry I cannot advise you about something I haven't done :(

Anonymous said...

I tweeted @lealee33

Peach Rainbow said...

Shared on FB, hoping some expert would advise us ;D
http://www.facebook.com/PeachRainbow/posts/272850612747670

Catskill Quilter said...

You have been SUPER busy! I vote not to wash!

robin said...

I'd carefully wash it on gentle cycle, with a gentle soap like Woolite.

robin said...

Tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/birdie00000/status/124340670415638528

Brenda said...

Long time since we talked. I would heat set, gentle wash cycle little soap. Good luck!

Brenda said...

I posted on FB

Gill said...

I'd play safe and not wash it because I'd worry about losing the signatures!

Gill said...

I don't have a blog, FB etc so I've emailed all the girls in my sewing group! I hope this is OK??

Brita said...

Would I wash it? Yes, you'll have to wash it sometime! It's really a great quilt :-)

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

Maybe you could try washing the quilt with some of those products that lock the colors (sorry, can't remember the name). I'll be interested to hear what you decide.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter your great giveaway!

Deb said...

If you used a sharpie for signing you should be fine, but definitely heat set, and then use the magnet catcher in the wash - definitely cold water! Very nice!

jodi meenan - gmmeenan at gmail dot com said...

love the tumbler and siggy quilts! Sorry, no advice from me, I'm too much of a newbie. I want to make my 25-yr-old daughter some pj pants for Christmas - yours are great! What pattern did you use, please? And thanks for the chance!

Michele T said...

I do not wash quilts before giving them as gifts. I like the brand new look; however, you should heat set the signatures.

Anonymous said...

NEAT QUILT!
I'D USE A COLOR CATCHER+GENTLE WASH WITH LUKE WARM WATER+MILD SOAP. THANKS SO FOR SHARING A REALLY NEAT FABRIC GIVEAWAY FOR CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY QUILTING!

jldouglas@wispwest.net

Sallie said...

I wouldn't wash it. Thanks for the giveaway!

JustPam said...

I would not wash the quilt unless it got dirty. What were the signatures made with? I heat set a label I had made and it disappeared with washing. If you didn't use special ink for permanent fabric marking, you may be able to use something to set it, but I wouldn't depend on heat unless the ink was made to be heat set.

Rebecca said...

Personally, I wouldn't even think about washing it unless I spilled something on it. Then I'd probably write on some garbage fabric and wash that, and see if it comes out or not.
THANKS for the chance at one of those lovely Christmas charm packs!
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

No, I wouldn't wash it unless, like Rebecca, I spilled on it. Good luck!

TJM wanna be quilt artist said...

Hate to tell you to wash it and have them fade BUT I would wash I love a freshly washed new quilt.
I might think of using the color catcher as suggested...if you are worriedvI think there is a fabric spray now that helps set the signatures a little without stiffening the fabric.
Good luck..I look forward to reading what you end up doing.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

I included your giveaway in my blog today:
http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-more-swaps-completed.html

Mhairi said...

Have a look at the DYLON site. I think they recommend using salt to fix the colours. That is what I used to do with my tie-dyed shirts etc.
If it is going to be used then it needs to be washed eventually but if it is for display then I wouldn't wash it.

hueisei said...

I will wash it on my gentle Hand, using gentle force and slowly .. Hehe.. I treasure stuffs I made :)

hueisei said...

Tweeted here :- https://twitter.com/hueisei/status/124837765748756480

Melissa Corry said...

I would go for heat setting it and then using the color catcher as well. That should make it work okay.

Needled Mom said...

I'm not sure that I would wash it until you need to do so, but I'd do it in cold water and add a couple of those Color Grabbers to the load.

Diane said...

Heat set first ... wash cold water ... good luck!

DeAnna said...

Made several siggy quilts. Wash it very gently as the signatures can fade. Be sure to heat set well before washing.

Deborah in Atlanta said...

I'd heat set the signatures and wash on delicate cycle with a minimum of detergent and a lot of color catchers. You know it will definitely be washed at some point down the road, and you wouldn't want it to be ruined then. Make sure it's going to serve them well, so take precautions up-front so they won't be devastated if something happens to it when they wash it.

Kathy said...

I tweeted about it (KShahann) Shahann at yahoo dot com.

WoolenSails said...

I would be afraid to wash it, lol. It they used waterproof inks, it should be ok. I wash my quilts like any other item, since they are used, I make them so they can take a wash.

Debbie

Kathy said...

It would be expensive, but I would probaby take it to the dry cleaners.

Sallie said...

I blogged about your giveaway at http://salliessampler.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-on-friday.html

Marcia W. said...

Personally, if my quilt, I wouldn't wash it.
If you do wash it, try Dreft or other delicate detergent on delicate washing machine cycle and cold water. Add a color catcher sheet just in case. Drying the quilt should crinkle it some.
There are specialty quilt detergents on the market, yet I haven't tried one.

Anonymous said...

Well, I wouldn't wash it. The names are precious and you'd hate to lose them. Maybe it'll get that soft wrinkly look from use? VermontPines@aol.com

Pat V. said...

I agree that if you heat set the signatures they should be fine. Color catchers are great, but if you really think the colors will bleed add some retayne to the wash. I agree also that you should wash with cold water, delicate cycle.

Thanks so much for the chance to win fabric!

Crystal said...

I'd probably be too worried to wash it too, but if I did, then cold water for sure. Thanks for the giveaway!

Crystal said...

Tweeted about this great giveaway. Thanks!
http://twitter.com/#!/BabyDollMaker/status/125049347376295936

Bev C said...

Some lovely quilts, if it is not dirty I wouldn't wash it just yet. I made a quilt for mu Mum's surprise 70th Birthday and got everyone to sign with a Pigma Pen, it is still going strong 13 years later. Good luck with finishing your other quilts. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.

Janet said...

Give it a good iron to doubly make sure it is all heat set, then wash it in cold water with a mild soap. It should still crinkle up and you'll find out if anything is going to fade without doing much damage. Thanks for a chance at your giveaway.

chefpa said...

Yes, wash it. Cold water, delicate cycle. Quilts are so much nicer when they're all crinkly after a washing!

Carla G said...

I'm new to quilting, so haven't finished my first quilt yet. So, I don't know too much about washing quilts. But I would wash it in cold on gentle cycle with the color catchers. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but I'm a newbie & am learning from all these wonderful quilters blogs online. Thanks for a great giveaway! :)

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

Since I'm a new quilter, I haven't washed any finished quilts yet, but I have finished and washed rag quilts. I learned that Shout Color Catchers will save quilts from being ruined by dye bleeding (but learned it after I had fuchsia bleed so badly on my first rag quilt that the white fabric near it turned light pink), and that delicate cycle is the way to go. Sorry I can't be more help :( I'm thinking you should be able to touch up any Sharpie fading if it does occur.

Becky said...

I don't think I would wash this one. Good luck with your decision. Congrats on 200 plus posts!

Shannon said...

I am not sure that there is much I can add. I think you have received a bunch of great advice. I hope it works out for you when you wash it. For me I would take LOTS of pictures then wash it and hope for the best.

ElfRenee said...

I'm not sure! I would probably be nervous about washing it. I never want to wash the things I weave.

QuiltSue said...

I would heat set the siggies by pressing them (using a cloth over them though)and then cold water wash the quilt.

Deb said...

I don't think I could use it without it being washed. I'd have to wash it gently with mild soap, cold water to feel that it was clean.

Deb said...

I'm telling a friend about this giveaway for a 2nd chance.

LethargicLass said...

I also have a siggy quilt right now that I am debating washing... I think I am just going to go for it because otherwise it will gnaw at me forever lol

Patty said...

I would suggest you do a trial wash by creating a 'dummy' signature quilt and write a bunch of stuff on it and then wash it as gently as you can. See what happens. (The quilt is beautiful!)

Anonymous said...

I would wash it in cold water with a "Shout Color Catcher Sheet." I just washed a red and yellow quilt and had no problems with the fabric running. I have washed a white and red quilt with the Shout Sheet and no problems there either. You could always try it on a sample block first. I always wash my quilts but never without the Color Catcher! Dawn ~ vermont66@yahoo.com ~ www.dawnscomfycorner.blogspot.com

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