Wow, thanks for all your very nice comments about the boy’s boxers! I was quite surprised yesterday when TheFirstChild appeared wearing those pink boxers– I said “Have you been reading my blog?” That was just too coincidental. He said no, but I think he was just trying to prove me wrong! Oh well, I lost the bet — SweetiePie knows him better than I do — I guess it’s a sign that it’s time for her to become his handler and not me LOL!
Now, time for the bunny drawing. I still do things the old fashioned way, so I printed out everyone’s name and put them in a bowl (some day I’ll learn how to use those random generator thingies!) And the winner is:
Do we need a close-up???
Congratulations Darlene! Come on Down! Send me your address and I’ll get little Bunnyversary in the mail to you. Thank you so much to all the rest of you for entering — AND for stopping by here to read over the last year. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know so many of you!
Now, I have a question for all you quilters. Remember this Christmas tree skirt that I made for MeMum? Well, water from the Christmas tree spilled on it and the colors in that *&(^$@@! red fabric ran! I can’t believe it — in the raging debate over whether to pre-shrink fabric, I ALWAYS say pre-shrink to set the colors. And I ALWAYS pre-wash my fabrics, so this really whizzes me off! So, do any of you quilters have some magic elixir to take care of this problem AFTER the fact? MeMum would really like to wash that tree skirt, but now she’s afraid to do it. She’s pretty upset about the whole thing (’cause after all, I’m the MyMomLovesMeBestDaughter ROFLOL) and would really like a solution. I remember reading somewhere along the line about some sort of dye magnet product. Does anyone know anything about it? Does it really work? And will it work after the fabrics are already put together? I’d really appreciate any suggestions any of you might have.
Well, now I’m off to be grumpy the rest of the day — I have to go back to work tomorrow. BooHoo — I know I should be glad I have a job, but I could sure use a few more weeks of vacation! I hope you’re enjoying YOUR day!
XOXO,
Anna
Congratulations to Darlene – I’m only slightly jealous as I have a bunny of my own but two would have been nice!!! Glad to hear about firstchild’s boxers! Lucy x
Thats too bad about your beautiful tree skirt! I think you are talking about Retayne. I use it on anything thats red, and so far, so good! Hope this helps you out!
Sorry about your fabric running.I always pre-wash to shrink and set the colours.I use “Shout Color Catcher” when I wash my new fabrics (Meijers around $3- for a box of 24).They look like a dryer sheet and when you wash darks or reds they turn that colour.Sometimes I try washing some red and whites together and there doesn’t seem to be any problems.
Congratulations Darlene! We are all a bit jealous!
Your son is great. Who knows, he might be a daily reader of your blog!
after washing a final rinse with vinegar in the water might set the dye….it works for yarn! Well done that winner!
Is it retayne or synthropol? I get confused. Good luck! That’s a heartbreaker.
Rit makes a product called color remover, which does work for red dye runs. HOWEVER, I usually just try washing and washing and washing again first. It should come out with the regular washing as long as she doesn’t dry it.
If that doesn’t work, try the color remover.
If that doesn’t work, I would take the bleach pen to it, but you have to be careful with those suckers.
Oh yea, and the dye magnet product are Shout Color Catchers. It might not be a bad idea to toss one in when she starts the washing process.
Oh yes more jealousy from across the miles…sob, sob… enjoy your little bunny Darlene !
So sad you have to go back to work, specially having to clean the house before you go…isn’t it a never ending job !!!! I hope you got a little crafting done though ?
I missed out again – oh well, I will have to keep on reading your wonderful blog to check out any more giveaways!!
I have absolutely no idea about how to help your mum with her christmas tree skirt – sorry.
Glad your son wore the pink boxers – I know mine would have!!!!
Hi Anna,
I haven’t written in a while… so sorry! So, I had a lot of reading to catch up on today.
I love the story about the pink boxers!! So cute!
What fun to make boxers… I only make my family pillowcases.
We have rib roast, etc. on Christmas day. New Year’s Day we had hospital food this year… small accident.
I have a lot of work to do on my body before our wedding June 28th. My body is too sore and black and blue to exercise. I’ve been trying to watch my food intake pretty carefully but my husband just made snickerdoodles and brought me a cup of tea. I devoured them!!! What date is your wedding?
Do you have a dress yet?? If so… what’s it like?
I found one on J Crew in the bridesmaid collection, but I don’t know what size I’ll be at the end of June and they sell out quickly. The bridesmaid’s dresses came from there… aloe green silk or taffeta or something. The wedding is hot pink and kelly green.
I just realized I’m in your comment section and not on an email… WHOOPS!
I need a nap… will write tomorrow.
Hugs,
Joni
Ah – that’s awful about the tree skirt! I thought that was something Synthrapol would fix. I’ve never used it, but it seems to me that I’ve heard of it fixing bleeding in finished quilts.
Good luck. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out.
I’m so sorry about the tree skirt – it is really beautiful. I’m sure some of the suggestions will work, although retayne is more of a preventive than a cure. You might want to call the help line for some of these products and they would be able to help you decide what to do. I was working on a beautiful cross stitch picture one time. It was georgeous an I was so excited as it progressed. I opened up the case I had it in one day and some foolish person (that would be me) had left an ink pen in with it. Big blue ink stain – ruined. I cried. Good luck with yours.
Hi Anna. LOVED the boxers–nice job. And what cute prints.
Sorry about the tree skirt. And sorry to hear your vacation is over. I used to get that “Sunday night feeling” when I was working after the weekend and holidays were over.
Congrats Darlene!
XO
Yes, Yes, Yes, I have had this happen to me and I ALWAYS pre-wash. What I have done is wash it again with a Shout Color Catcher in the washing machine. You can find them with all your laundry detergents. I use them now ALL the time when I pre-wash my fabric. They are great!! As for my quilt that ran after it was together and having been pre-washed prior to quilting, it is back to beautiful!! Good Luck!!
Anna, I am sick about the Beautiful Christmas Tree skirt, however I have no solution. Sorry. Glad your son wore the pink boxers good for him! Congrats to Darlene! Have a good week. Jewels
Well that just plain stinks on that adorable tree skirt. I have friends who have had good luck with that dye magnet. Lesson learned here for me, I never pre-wash my fabric. I hope you can get it out that piece was a treasure.
Congrats to Darlene on winning the bunny. Sorry your va-ca is over. But you sure had some fun during your time off.
Hugs Sister – Karen
Darn…missed out on the bunny…maybe next time.
Sorry to hear about the tree skirt. I hope the Shout Colour Catcher will work…please update us. I’ve had a red quilt run and I used OxiClean and it worked great except it seemed to eat one of the red fabrics…only a certain one…don’t know why.
Good luck.
Lucky Darlene! But good for her!
I try to stop all shrinkage, & dye worries before sewing, but there is always the &*^%$ aberration!
Hope it works out well.
Sorry to hear about the tree skirt. I’d say wash it. I recently hear Barbara Chainey speak and she had the same problem with one of her quilts…and she washed it with a good biological powder in hot water and she said all the excess dye came out. I don’t that I’d be brave enough to do that with your tree skirt with all that redwork…but I can’t think of any other way of dealing with it.
I vote the Rit Color Remover. I’ve used it for this exact problem for a red bleed and it worked for me. I hope it works for you. Its such a darling skirt.
So much to read and catch up on! I’ve never tried roast beef your way, but it sure sounds worth a try…..Your Giingerbread house post was a hoot! We used to make them when the kids were home. I think we may have to start up again, but this time with your kind of “alternative” themes! Best of luck in the new year. I look forward to reading lots more of your always-up-beat posts!
Congrats Darlene!! Did she do some major whining to win that bunny cause you know how she can be. LOL!!!!
Sorry about the tree skirt. That red can sure be a problem. I’ve even heard that the red dmc floss can run too. Sounds like you’ve been given many suggestions on what to do.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom’s tree skirt – I can imagine how upset she is. I don’t have a magic elixir although I wish I did.
On a brighter side – I can’t believe I won. Oh my goodness I’m so excited. Actually, I’m stunned!!!! :-)
Thank you, Anna! I’ll send an e-mail with my address.
Congrats Darlene! Good that your son is wearing the pink boxers – men shouldn’t be afraid of wearing pink!
I had an outfit that had another fabric bleed onto it in the wash. Once I started using Shout Color Catchers in the wash, I noticed that the former bleeding had disappeared. I can’t guarantee that it would work. I never prewash fabric, and I always add a Color Catcher sheet with my gifts of pillow cases or quilts. My sister and I used two sheets when we washed a quilt my mother had made with Jinny Beyer prints (notorious for bleeding). The quilt had green, rust and beige prints – the sheets came out yellow – but no bleeding of the fabric. We breathed a collective heavy sigh of relief. It’s one of the best products on the market.
Ok I know I’m late here, but I thought I’d add my 2 cents worth. As I do a ton of redwork embroidery I always have synthropol on hand. You can get it from Drahma trading company. It’s used mainly for people who dye their own fabrics but works well for just about anything that has to do with excess colour. How it works, it removes and hold excess colour in suspended animation while in the washing machine, so that the colour is lifted from the fibres. Does that make sense? Best product I’ve ever used, better than colour catcher sheets as I use a lot of overdyed floss that always bleeds. I’ve had quilts and blocks where the overdyed floss has run after a quick rinse to remove the blue pen, so into the wash with the synth… and voila, no trace of colour or bleeding.
Congrats to Darlene – rats, I didn’t win!! Phooey! LOL!!
I certainly DO remember that tree skirt – I asked you if you would like to adopt me! My heart is broken for you and your mum!! I used to pre-wash everything, but these days I don’t. Wonder if I should start doing it again? Especially the reds! I use Engleside’s All American Quilt Wash and nothing’s run yet. Maybe that would work.