I've made no secret here that I'm almost fanatic about pre-washing my fabric before using it in my quilts. No matter the color or lack of intensity, 'Be prepared' is the motto of this longtime scout. I'd prefer a little work now to avoid surprises later. Until this time, through all of our moves, the appliances came with the house so in August, I found myself shopping for a new washer-dryer set. I never pay attention to things like what's new in appliances until confronted with replacing something, so imagine my surprise when I couldn't find any like I'd had...only these new high effieciency models.
Now, I'm all for progress, but if given the choice, would really just prefer to use what I'm used to. When I asked about the availabilty of any non-HE model, the slaesman replied, 'Oh, you mean the granny-style?'. Hrumpff. I'll bet that's in the sales training. In the end, due mostly to space considerations, I came home with the new models, which I did learn to like, flashing lights/beeping alerts and all. Until November, when I wanted to pre-wash some new fabric.
As you can see from the diagram under the hood, these washers use much less water and it's normal for the contents to not be totally covered by it during the cycle. Well gosh, how's my new fabric supposed to slosh around and shed all of those loose dye molecules if it's all jammed together with just a bit of water?
Some pieces of Malka's new line...waiting for a dunk.
I thought about this for a while and Googled around, deciding that if I continued my original practice to first soak my fabric in a sink, I'd not only be able to identify any possible offenders pre-washing machine, but now it would all weigh more...wet...which would trick the machine into sensing a bigger load and subsequently add more water! It seems to have worked well on the small bit of fabric I have washed since the summer. Really, I moved so much yardage (tonnage?) when we moved, it seriously discouraged much further accumulation (That effect does wear off, however, over time...)
Which brings me to yesterday's adventure. Do you remember that last March, Molly returned to the states for a week while things settled down in Tokyo after the earthquake? She had grabbed a few things she wouldn't want to lose if things got bad again while she was away and then left some of those items with me, for safekeeping, for a while. Including her quilt.
I decided to pull it out and wash it up for her, since my machine is so much bigger than her Japanese mini-version. And to ensure a good, sloshy rinse, I decided to follow my fabric washing routine and put it in the utility sink for a pre-wash soaking.
Gahhh! You can imagine my horror when I returned to transfer the quilt to the machine. What the #@*! was this?!! There it sat in this murky, inky mess. Oh well...in for a penny, in for a pound...I decided to move forward and hope for the best.
Luckily, I had some Color Catchers on the shelf, so I emptied a full box in with the quilt.
I set the machine on 'Bulky', pressed start and held my breath...for about 45 minutes.
When the machine stopped, I was somewhat dismayed (though relieved) to find the now-dark blue Color Catchers, but at quick glance, the quilt looked ok. I decided on another rinse and threw 5 more Color Catchers in. They emerged pure white. BIG sigh of relief!
Ta-da! I'm not sure what the lesson is here, if there even is one. I'm *pretty sure* that I prewashed the backing and border fabric when I made the quilt, though I remember rushing to get it finished for a Christmas mailing deadline that first year Molly was living in Japan. Did I skip the pre-wash because the print looked so safe? If so, lesson learned, again. All's well that ends well.
Today I'm putting the quilt in a suitcase to bring to Molly, because it's that time of year again...Tokyo Quilt Festival! I plan to be at the show on Friday (20th) and Monday (23rd), so if you see me there, please, do say hello! I'll be the one with the camera and the big bag of fabric. *wink*
Have a safe trip Jan!!
I was mysteriously craving Om-rice today, so my stomach is definitely jealous of your trip. (I still haven't worked through all the fabric I bought last time I was in Japan, so it's better if your stash grows than mine..hehe)
take care~
Posted by: jessica | January 14, 2012 at 03:23 PM
Wow, that's a lot of blue. I always wash my fabric first, whether it's for quilts or clothing. I mostly do it for the shrinkage factor - I'd rather have the shrinking happen before I've finished sewing!
Posted by: Carole | January 14, 2012 at 03:38 PM
I forgot to say - have a wonderful and safe trip!
Posted by: Carole | January 14, 2012 at 03:38 PM
time to be jealous again... it happens every January.
Posted by: Monica | January 14, 2012 at 03:52 PM
That was a lot of color coming out of that quilt. The quilt came out well. The color seems pure and the quilt looks yummy. We got a front load washer last time round and I have to admit the clothes come out cleaner.
Posted by: Karen Beigh | January 14, 2012 at 05:15 PM
I used to pre-wash all my fabrics for quilts until I had a quilt get ruined despite my having laundered it first. Now, I don't bother with the extra work (since I hate doing laundry anyway) and just throw in some Color Catchers afterwards. Plus I like the vintage feel of a crinkly quilt so it works for me.
Glad you adventure turned out well, though!
Posted by: Asiyah | January 14, 2012 at 06:10 PM
YIKES!!! That's a lot of blue color catchers!!! BUt I'm glad the quilt was saved. And I agree with you on the new machines. I prefer the "granny style" ones too.
Posted by: Lynn | January 14, 2012 at 06:48 PM
I always prewash too - amazing how there can still be surprises! I'm glad it turned out well in the end. Have fun with your fabric accumulation in Tokyo!! :0)
Posted by: Janet | January 14, 2012 at 07:28 PM
I met you at the Tokyo quilt show once a couple of years ago. Hope to see you there this time. Have a safe trip.
Posted by: Mazie C | January 14, 2012 at 07:44 PM
I agree, I pre wash everything. In two all hand appliqued and quilted quilts I had bleeding. Even after a prewash. My colors were red. One was berries and one was strawberries. Same with you I am not sure why. I am glad you were able to save the quilt. Its a beauty. Belated Happy New year. Glad you are getting settled in the house.
Posted by: Meredith | January 14, 2012 at 08:23 PM
Well, I have a granny washing machine. :P I can't bring myself to get rid of it until it really dies even though there are more efficient ones available now. And... I can't wait to see what you find at the Tokyo Quilt Festival!! I will be living vicariously through you and will appreciate every minute of it!
Posted by: Anita | January 15, 2012 at 12:05 AM
What an amazing amount of blue that came out of the quilt, thank goodness for dye catchers. My machine has the same tiny amount of water use but I also have the option of setting the water level.
Posted by: Janet | January 15, 2012 at 01:01 AM
Can't wait to get my fresh, clean quilt back this week! Thanks for doing the hard work for me.
Posted by: molly | January 15, 2012 at 02:10 AM
Great save Jan! I always prewash, for shrinkage, bleeding and for health reasons. I hate the smell and feel of unwashed fabric so I can't believe it's good for us to be breathing in whatever comes off it. I have had one quilt effected by bleeding after the fabrics were already prewashed. It was a scrap quilt, so perhaps some sneaky unwashed scraps got in, but it's a Christmas quilt and the neutral corner triangles are pink. It still looks nice and most people wouldn't know my original intention. Have a wonderful time in Japan!
Posted by: Kristin | January 15, 2012 at 04:13 AM
Wow what a story! I always pre-wash and your story is precisely why I do. The quilt is fabulous...looks wonderful all washed up and ready to go.
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | January 15, 2012 at 04:52 AM
I would have died!! I used to pre wash all my fabrics and now I don't....but thinking I should again, yikes!!
You are so lucky to be going to the quilt festival, I would be so excited to have access to all the wonderful japanese fabrics! Have a great trip!
Posted by: Jeannette | January 15, 2012 at 05:55 AM
What a heart-stopping moment! Glad you made a save with the color catchers, though.
Like others, I'll be living vicariously through you while you are in Japan and the show--can hardly wait to see the quilts on your blog when you return. Travel safely--
E.
Posted by: Elizabeth E. | January 15, 2012 at 06:10 PM
Colour catchers to the rescue. How lucky were you? What temperature water were you using? I don't prewash due to laziness and I like to work with the sizing that most fabrics come with. It seems easier to cut and sew. However, I've had some bad experiences (now you're nodding wisely) that have been saved by colour catcher.
Posted by: liz | January 15, 2012 at 08:19 PM
You cracked me up with the whole box of color catchers! I'm so happy that the quilt emerged safely and that you did too - that must have been a heart stopping moment. Have a wonderful, safe trip! (and thanks for the tips about those new washers - the do-gooders are going to drive me over the edge!)
Posted by: Thimbleanna | January 16, 2012 at 01:46 PM
Three cheers for color catchers! I pre-wash all of my fabric with them all of the time. Have a wonderful, safe trip. I can't wait to see the pictures!
Posted by: Jenny G. | January 17, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Have a wonderful trip and snap those pictures. I will be waiting green with envy to see them. Oh boy I am getting some of those color catchers because sometimes aI wash and sometimes I don't.
Posted by: Heidi Hanssen | January 18, 2012 at 05:18 PM
Have fun (as if I even need to say that)! We have a front-load washer, and I hate that you can't do small loads. Or really big loads.
Posted by: Mariko | January 19, 2012 at 06:43 PM
Oh my, that is such a beautiful quilt! Is that one of your patterns? Is it available for purchase? I love it!
Posted by: Kate/Massachusetts | January 21, 2012 at 09:19 AM
Scary! I love Color Catchers. ; )
Have a great trip!!
Posted by: Vicki | January 27, 2012 at 08:46 AM