This is my blue-pink-red sampler quilt. I digged this one out the closet to show it to you and ask for your advise. It's one from my early quilting years. Today I still love the colors and fabrics I choose then. I also like the different blocks and quilting patterns. And I love to bring this quilt to a good ending.....if only I knew how!
It doesn't show on this photo....but I have a major problem!
To trace the quilting patterns on the fabric I used a special inkpen. The ink supposed to come out with water. Ehh..no, not this pen!! I don't know what went wrong but all the ink lines are bleached out. Did I leave the ink on to long? Did I use the wrong pen? Well the harm has been done, see photo below!
What to do?? I even thought about cutting the quilt in smaller parts and leave the bleached parts out. What do you think? I'm a bit desperate on this one. So If you have any suggestions are ideas, please tell me I really want to know!
34 comments:
sorry i can be of no help for this one. the quilt is so lovely seems it would be tricky to cut out the bleached part and still keep the pattern. hopefully some experienced quilters will have some advice for you. good luck!
Can you replace the parts that have marks? I say as Kristin I hope some experienced quilters will guide you.
cannot help you..but....the quilt has wonderful colours....love your work very much ....Barbara
I have had this problem on a quilt too. Apparently the cause is ironing the fabric while the pen marks are still in the fabric.
If the quilt is already laid out and largely quilted already, it is a bit difficult to replace the piece of fabric. Where are the marks in relation to the quilt as a whole? Are they very extensive?
Wow, I love the quilt very much. It is too bad about the markings. The only suggestions I have to offer would be to replace those pieces, applique over them, or use a heavy weight thread to quilt over them hopefully hiding the marking. Please keep us up to date on what you choose to do.
How upsetting Corry. Are you able to wash the quilt? I'd be thinking about putting it through a gentle cycle in the washing machine with some mild washing detergent or perhaps some synthropol.
Do you think you could machine stitch over the top of the bleached areas? I would try a wide zig-zag stitch on 0 length with either a regular or free motion foot. You could try it on a sample piece of fabric first. Another option would be to do an embroidery type stitch over the top either by hand or machine. Might work, it's too nice a quilt to not try to fix. Good luck!!
Hi Corry,
I can't help at all but I am in awe of your work - it's such a beautiful quilt. I love the colours and the blocks - just fabulous. I hope you can sort out your problem.
cheers
l
x
The only thing I can think of is to cover it with embroidery like chain stitch.
What a shame - this is a lovely quilt. Could you possibly colour in the bleached parts gently with a fabric pen/marker if you could find something in a similar colour - then hopefully once you've actually quiltied them they wouldn't show so much - only a thought
No idea how to help but the piecing is fantastic.
Oh that is such a shame! The quilt is stunning! I think you've had some good suggestions - like using a chain stitch to embroider over the lines or using a fabric pen to cover them. Alternatively you could just love it like it is - after all, quilts always have a history!
Lucy x
Can you email/call the manufacturer of the pen and see if they have any suggestions? Very beautiful quilt.
What a shame. I agree heat is the problem.
You have gotten some great sugestions,I think the more you try to hide it the more it will stick out, you will always know it is there. .
What ever you decide to do, I hope you finish this lovely quilt, then if it still bothers you give it away and move on. Did I say,It is a wonderful quilt.
Please don't cut it into pieces! I think the problem is only on a few sashing stripes isn't it? If you still have the same fabric you could try to remove carefully the seam stitches, then remove those bleached stripes and put another new stripes on those places stitching them by hand. May be this is too much work but that quilt deserves it!
Ai, wat zonde! Het is zo'n prachtige quilt. Ik hoop dat je er nog iets aan kunt doen, er zit al zoveel werk (en stof!)in. Mooie kleurencombi ook.
Plesse don't cut it up. I would just quilt over the lines, & love love the quilt. It is beautiful, & the work, & your colour choices make it outstanding.
Als de gebleekte stukken sashing eruit halen en vervangen geen optie is, kun je dan misschien nieuwe stukken erop appliceren?
Ik heb er geen verstand van, maar als ik zo'n quilt zie met al die verschillende stukjes en stofjes, dan vermoed ik toch dat hier uren en uren werk in zitten. Of niet? Wat een engelengeduld moet je wel niet hebben!
Corry!
What a shame! I think I'd just quilt over the bleached marks and call it 'heritage' marks! I have a bunch of antique quilts and they all have blemishes like that. I love them anyway. I just love the blocks in your quilt and the colours...they are awesome. I love your 'zakdoeken' quilt block too...so fun. I live in Canada, but am of Dutch heritage..my parent both immigrated from Holland in the early 50's and I am born here. But, my first language was Dutch. I remember those handkerchiefs...my grandmother used to bring them when she came to visit, but they only came in blue and red then!
Jacqui in Canada
ik denk ook aan appliceren. of misschien verder bleken zodat er een patroontje ontstaat alsof het bij de stof hoort en dan daarover heen quilten/
You know, we have scars on us and we still are in one piece and still functional! I would leave it and enjoy it, I am sorry about the marking pen, darn it, but the quilt is so lovely!
Julie
Hi Corry:
Your quilt is beautiful, and the 'bleaching' may not be too noticeable when the quilt is in use. I would NOT cut it up. I would have a label on it saying something like: "what not to do next time"
I know that those pens, either washable or disappearing are chemical reactors which come back and stay for many years. You will not be able to 'unbleach' it. You may try some form of fabric paint to cover it, if it bothers you.
Most professional quilters that mark their quilts for hand quilting, use use pencil. Particularly Gwen Marston, who does not erase the pencil lines after hand quilting. I have found her method to be the best. The only people that frown at pencil marks are 'the judges' at competitions.
We have judged your quilt, #1.
O wat zonde. Ik heb dit zelden gehoord of gezien maar als de lijnen gebleekt zijn dan is er moeilijk wat aan te doen. Als je nog dezelfde stof hebt kan je het "gebleekte" stuk met naad eruit knippen, nadat je eerst eromheen alles goed hebt vast geregen. Dan een nieuw stuk met de jij en ik steek op de naad appliqueren. Op deze manier worden ook antieke quilts gerepareerd. het is moeilijk om mij zo duidelijk te maken. Mail mij anders even dan probeer ik het beter uit te leggen. Ik zie hierin een oplossing. Het is een prachtige quilt! zonde om hem te verknippen.
Lucy
Corry
the quilt is beautiful. I am no expert but would embroider over the marks and then it would become part of it making it a truly personal and one-off creation of your own. Good luck with whatever you decide to do Mary
Hello, First off congratulations for tackling this problem and not leaving it unfinished in your cupboard. My suggestion would be to make bias strips and hand stitch these over the markings. You could even add some flowers and leaves to make it fit in more. Best wishes and looking forward to seeing it finished.
Bev C
Northam West Australia
I would use a chain stitch for embroidery or applique over the entire border. It is just too lovely to abandon or do over.
This is such a lovely quilt and you have put so much work into it. How about just quilting over the marks then displaying the quilt folded on a quilt stand or the end of a bed with the offending part hidden. This way you can still enjoy it's beauty. Just a suggestion. Good luck.
Are all the sashings bleached out equally? If so, maybe you should leave it as is as you will notice any applique pieces since the thickness will be different and replacing the sashing would be a tedious job. From the first photo, it does not seem so visible but photos can be deceptive. I do like the idea of using an embroidery stitch over it to camaflouge the lines.
It is not your fault. The water pens are really bad for the fabric. There was a quilt shop here in the area that had so many complaints of the same thing happening that they decided not to sell them any longer. In most cases, you washed the lines away but later they returned. I used to tell people who I gave lessons to that they should simply throw those pens out.
I hope you come up with a solution that works for you and you can feel good about. This quilt is far too beautiful not to use.
~~ Heidi ~~
I am so sorry for the bleach marks!!! if anything, you brought this to my attention, and i will no longer use the pen!!!
Such a beautiful quilt! I think I would finish quilting it and have the bleached areas be a conversation starter to point out the possible dangers of marking pencils.
The only ideas I had, were already voiced by people above. But I do want to say my jaw dropped a little when I first saw that quilt. You are so talented. And that's from your EARLY quilting days?!
I agree with you that such a beautiful creation should find a happy ending. I'm positive that it's possible (I tend to be an optimist), however I don't know what the answer is. Hmmm, I just had a thought.....would it be possible to contact someone who specializes in textile preservation/restoration?
Love your quilt and I know how you feel when the lines remain after you've washed them out. I've done this trick on one quilt and it worked for me. Crayola crayons! Try to find a colour that closely matches your fabric (you may have to use two or three different colours and blend them in)and lightly start colouring in the white areas. Once you have the desired colour, then set the colouring with a hot iron (be sure to cover your work with a paper towel first then iron on top of the paper). You can always go back and touch up your colouring at any time. Good luck with your challenge!
vermoedelijk is warmte de boosdoener en dat kan ook warmte en straling van de zon zijn. Je mag met sommige inktsoorten niet in de zon quilten ( terwijl dat nu juist zo prettig is ) Ik denk dat het niet meer zo opvalt als je gewoon over de lijnen heenquilt en misschien krijgt ie juist een beetje antieke "look" daardoor. Ik ken dit soort verhalen wel van een bevriende lesgeefster die al veel langer quilt, ik teken zelf altijd met wit krijtpotlood op donkere stoffen en met een dun speciaal potlood op lichte stoffen. probeer je steekjes zo klein mogelijk te maken, dan trekt de stof lekker in en valt de bleke lijn in de ingetrokken stof.
marcella
http://nuttigenfraai.web-log.nl
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