...the same blue fabric, used in the flower below, was washed the same way, stitched the same way and did not bleed. I guess I should throw what's left of that fabric into the washer with some dark jeans and other navy fabrics and let it bleed away.
These flowers are on the primitive basket blocks made for Cheri Payne's Baskets of Plenty sew-along. I took them off the wall again today, arranged them on the floor, decided that several backgrounds were too light and sprayed walnut dye on them. When I rinsed them out, there was that blue bleeding onto the background. I guess that little round flower is just going to have a halo.
Have you had experience with blue fabrics bleeding?
--Nancy.
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Yes, I have had blue bleed. The more intense shades of blue.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I assumed blue wouldn't bleed. Did it damage a quilt or did you catch it before you stitched the quilt?
DeleteI wonder if there was something in the walnut dye that unhinged the blue? Loosened the mordant or whatever.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I've had blues bleed - fabrics and yarns both. Reds get the bad reputation, but blues can be tricksy, too.
Hi, Gayle. I didn't think about something being in the walnut dye to cause the bleeding but I suppose it's possible. I'll have to experiment with the walnut dye and another piece of the blue fabric. Hmmmm. This is my first experience with blue bleeding but I'll be as careful with it, especially dark blues, as with red from now on.
DeleteOh yes--blues as well as reds, of course. I made a blue and white quilt last year and didn't use color catchers the first time I washed it--lots of bleeding from several different fabrics. I rewashed it with about 5 color catchers and it took out a lot of the bleeding, but not all. What's left isn't too noticeable, so I can live with it, but it's kind of disheartening when it happens.
ReplyDeleteHi, Karen. I know to watch reds but now I'll watch blues, too. How disappointing to spend time on a quilt -- all blue and white -- only to have it bleed. That's good it's not very noticeable now. You are probably too young to remember "blueing." It was a laundry product that my grandmother and mom used to use on whites to make them whiter. I suppose it was a much milder version of blue that the blues that bleed on our whites these days, though. I think I'm going to ignore the blue halo around this block and hope it "disappears."
DeleteA little bleeding doesn't matter a lot I think. Your applique quilt is going to be very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right, Christine. I was surprised to see the blue, and disappointed, too, but it's not too, too bad to leave. Thanks for your kind words about the quilt.
DeleteI bought a pair of black jeans and they became more indigo as I wore them and washed them. They are now just regular denim blue. Kinda crazy! You could embroider some large lazy daisy or herringbone stitches in the halo if you wanted to.
ReplyDeleteHi, Robin. What a surprise that black jeans turned blue. That is crazy! I have been thinking of ways to quilt this block to "hide" or draw the eye away from the blue. Embroidering something might work. Thanks for the suggestion.
DeleteHaven't had blue bleed on my yet. I'm sure my turn will come.
ReplyDeleteIn your photo it doesn't appear extremely noticeable. Maybe in real life it is more distinct.
You could give the color catchers a try.
Hi, Janet. This is the first time I have had blue bleed -- but I hope it doesn't happen to you. It's probably a combination of manufacturer and shade of blue, but who knows. I think I'm probably just going to leave it. This quilt will be a little busy, I think, and maybe no one will notice, but if they do.... Oh, well. Maybe they'll think it's their vision or the light?
DeleteI am in the middle of making a quilt and every one of the green fabrics that I have appliqued onto it has bled! They have ALL been pre-washed. NONE of the red bled. So … what is it? The background fabric? Just CRAZY!
ReplyDelete