Since I can’t really consider myself a quilter anymore, I’m not sure I should be giving quilting advice but I highly recommend Shout’s Color Catchers.
Every single piece of fabric in my stash has been washed before it ever landed in the fabric closet. Sometimes when I would pull a fabric out to use in a quilt, if it seemed like a bleeder, I’d wash it again before using it in the quilt. This is the quilt I washed this morning.
Even though I knew the fabrics had been washed before going into the quilt, I threw a Color Catcher in the wash and this is how it came out.
Color Catcher
The backing is solid white so any amount of bleeding could have been a disaster but there is not one bit of bleeding onto the white.
Backing
The inspiration for this quilt was a border print.
Border
It actually had several borders.
I made this quilt when I couldn’t get enough lime green so it will always be one of my favorite Christmas quilts and this will be one I hope Nicole and Addie love some day.
Nancie says
I have enjoyed reading your Blog since 2012. I always use at least 2-3 color catchers every time I wash a Quilt of Valor prior to presenting a QOV to a veteran. It is so worth the extra effort. Keep on blogging….
Laura says
I use Color Catchers for both quilts and clothing. They work!
Joyce in Oregon says
Love, love, love this quilt!
Nelle Coursey says
You know they are going to love it! Addie will be beside herself when she sees this!! I love this, and thanks for the advice on the Shout.
Sherrill Pecere says
I just wait til the quilt is finished then wash it with several of those in the machine. Hasn’t failed yet. And with all the QOV’s I’ve made over the past couple of years (with the red, WHITE and blue), I give the recipient a baggy with the color catchers and instructions for washing first time or two (if they do). LOVE those things!
Sharon Decker says
My fabrics do not get washed until the quilt is totally finished. I then wash it with color catchers. This has worked for me for years. Have not had a quilt bleed color onto itself.
dezertsuz says
I like those a lot, too, but sometimes they are hard to find. I did see them on Amazon, though.
Karen Kunte says
A friend and I have noticed that quilts that had been washed in regular washers then in the new HE (high efficiency) tend to bleed when they hadn’t been before. Even had a table cloth run that had been washed numerous times in the old washer. I am very thankful for the ColorCatchers as I am another that just washes the finished quilt. Those Color Catchers have saved me more than once!
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t know. I have the newer HE washer and that seemed like a lot of bleeding in the Color Catcher yesterday.
barbara says
I use color catchers but those may work better
Jeri Niksich says
I’m a color catch girl as well, and hand the recipient a couple to use also. I absolutely love the quilt especially the boarders! I know it’s been years since you made it but…if you used a pattern do you remember the name.
vivoaks says
I recently received a bunch of fabric from a friend who’s relative passed away. I decided to wash some of it yesterday and didn’t want to separate it. Just to be safe I put in TWO Shout Color Catchers and I now wish I’d put in 3!! Both were a nice, dark purple when they came out, and a piece of white fabric had a bit of red spotting on it. I never used to put in more than one, but did yesterday and it helped. I keep them in my laundry area at all times!!!